Greetings,

The car (1984 380SE) sometimes emits dense white smoke from ehaust when starting, sometimes for a few seconds and disappears, and sometimes it would continue but decrease in intensity. Friends have also reported short-burst of black-ish smoke under strong acceleration. The car uses around 1L/1000km of oil.

Do I *definetly*have a valve guide seal problem?

I also read in one other post by stevebfl that vacuumm modulator (diaphram) could also be faulty, sucking oil through v/g seals or diaphram during high manifold vacuum.

The engine also have flares when shifting 2nd to 3rd, either hangs a bit then shifts, or flares if accelerate a bit harder.
Looking at this, do I have a bad vacuum modulator as well?

There is also about 2-3 seconds delay when putting into reverse, does this have anything to do with vacuum modulator, or is it a sign of a transmission rebuild getting close? How long would I have before it won't get into reverse?

Regards,
Bill

no idea ont he oil issue, but as for the tranny when is the last time the fluid and filter was changed?

Perhaps the tranny needs ot be simply adjusted.

Alon

__________________
'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

Greeting,

The trans oil and filter was last changed 6 months ago, by MB dealer, and they didn't say anything. Just before that, I had another MB specialist workshop to look at the car, and he mentioned about the reverse and 2nd-3rd gear change, but He said that nothing really can be done on the trans except an (expensive) rebuild. He also advised that sometimes its best not to change trans oil on a old car (why?). But I got a feeling that maybe he just want to make more money...