I just changed the oil in my 1984 380sl (500 euro) and when I went to get rid of the old oil I found 3 or 4 pieces of plastic in the bottom of the bucket that appear to be brown/orange pieces of plastic about the sise of a stick match head. Anybody have any thoughts on this and how much of a problem could this be.

Could be a timing chain guide coming apart.

Does this engine have plastic oil tubes for the cam and rockers?

Sixto
93 300SD

Does it make a ziiiiip sound when starting before the oil pressure comes up? Might want to remove the valve covers and take a peak.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

This engine does have the plastic oilers for the cams. I would say it is either pieces of the chain guides or the oilers, most likely the guides. I would not start the engine again until you pull the covers off and inspect them. You might have dodged an expensive bullet by finding the pieces before one of them broke and the chain jumped.

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I really gets fun when they all don't run

84 500SL
99 Jeep XJ
93 Jeep YJ
03 Custom Softail

are you talking about the valve covers or the front of the engine?

Remove the timing chain covers (upper and lower) to inspect the condition of the plastic guides. If they break and cause the timing chain to jump position the engine would likely self-destruct. Remove the valve covers to inspect the condition of the plastic oilers. After inspecting both the guides and oilers you should be able to determine the origin of the plastic pieces you found in the old engine oil.

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Fred Hoelzle

I know the valve covers are easy to get off but how much of a job is it to get at the timing chain covers, and is this a diy job. Also does the water pump have to come out?