92 190E valve job and still have to put oil? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Moneypit SEL · #16 07-10-2005, 06:04 PM

IMHO, a quart of oil every 1800 miles on an engine with 200k miles is not bad at all. It's certainly better than the 1qt/500 miles before the valve job. I also don't think the garage would have easily been able to tell that some oil was getting past the rings when so much more was coming past the valves. I'd have to say that you got what you paid for. Further, what you didn't pay for was a new motor, although it seems that you're expecting similar results out of your 200k motor.

/soapbox

Kebowers · #17 07-10-2005, 07:22 PM

To determine the condition of the piston ring seal--do a compression check--first 'dry' and then with a tablespoon of oil added to each cylinder and cranked a few seconds before checking. If the two measured pressures are reasonable close (10-20# different) ring seal is good. a large difference indicates leaky ring seal.

With 5W30 oils, you can (and in So Ca-will) lose up to 20% of the oil from EVAPORATION, especially with 'conventional' lube oils. 5W30 is too light for that climate. 20W40 or 20W50 is much more appropriate.

Joseph_190E · #18 07-11-2005, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke2.6

All engines consume oil. A quart every 4-5K or more is great. A quart every 2K is so-so, but within normal limits, especially on these Mercedes inline sixes. So you started at a quart every 500 and now it's 1500-2000. If it were me, I would have ordered a valve seal change, which is relatively inexpensive. Once the valve springs are off a good mechanic can tell how much valve guide wear is evident, and at that point you decide whether to just continue with the seal change or pull the head for overhaul.

If the shop told you that a "valve job" would eliminate oil consumption they are either fools or shysters, or maybe you just misinterpreted what they said. All engines consume oil as it is needed to lubricate the valve guides and rings and a little always slips past. It's a matter of what is acceptable, and I would not consider major work (especially on an old car unless I was restoring it) until consumption got down to well under a quart every 500 miles.
Duke

Duke,
When I took it to them they said to it would need a VJ. However, I asked them how about a valve stem seal? They said, in order to do the job properly and complete, especially with the mileage you have, we recommend a VJ. They also said that if they only do a valve stem seal replacement and later it is still consuming oil, then i'd have to spend more money to do a VJ. So they recommend just doing a VJ.
Also the mileage didn't really go from 500-1200. At 500 I was using 5W30. Had I been using 20W30 I would change every 1200 miles. So technically it went from 1200 miles to 1800 miles.

Joseph

Duke2.6 · #19 07-11-2005, 11:02 PM

What can anyone say? Always get a second opinion and query the forum for opinions first.

Duke

Jim Anderson · #20 07-12-2005, 11:00 AM

When I bought mine at about 75,000 miles it burned a quart of 10w30 every 700 miles. I switched to 20w50 and its been at a quart every 1200 miles ever since, although lately it seems like its creeping up a little. I changed the valve guide seals and that didn't change anything, except I got an excuse to buy a compressor.

Bruno_300TE · #21 07-12-2005, 05:01 PM

My 92 300TE had the head gasket and valve seals (no guides) done at 90 kmiles. I bought it with 120kmiles. It has 145kmiles now. Since I've owned it it burns about a quart in 1000 miles. I was thinking about giving it a valve job in the near future but I'll stay away from that after reading this thread.
Bruno