Hi all,

I have a 1995 e320 that has developed an irritating valve tick since I replaced the head gasket to fix the infamous leak (after about 190k, I am at 210k now, I finally could stand no more of the stinky smell and constant checking). My best guess is that some microscopic piece of gunk has stuffed up one of the hydraulic valve lifters and instead of pumping up it is just bouncing around in there embarrassing me when I am driving around a parking lot.

My question is if it is a reasonable plan of attack to add various cleaning stuff for the top end (ie SeaFoam) and if that doesn't do anything, which it has not for the last few days, then I open the valve cover and start examining lifters.
If it becomes obvious that a lifter needs to be replaced is that something that someone who somehow managed to replace a head gasket would be capable of doing?

Of course if anyone has any other suggestions on what this annoying ticking could be I am all ears on that.

Thanks very much,
Jim Lee
1995 e320 wagon

I once thought I had valve noise on one of my cars. Turned out it was the smog pump. Remember, the smog pump runs for about two minutes on a cold start. You would expect to hear lifter tick/valve noise in the first minute after a cold start as well, hence my misdiagnosis.

Try disconnecting the pump and see if the noise is still there.

J. M. van Swaay

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1994 E320 Wagon, 230,000 miles
1995 E320 Sedan, 106,000 miles
1994 E500 Sedan, 79,000 miles