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  #1  
Old 05-19-2012, 11:42 AM
1987 560 sel
 
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 9
560 sel Timing Chain Help

Well, I noticed on my 560 sel yesterday that from a dead stop when I took off some blue smoke was puffing. Not a lot but enough to notice, I am not leaking any oil but it was finally just a tad under MAX line. So after checking the other Forums and just looking all over the web everything for the W126 seems to scream Timing Chaing, Guids, Valve Cover Gaskets! I have 152k on the car and i purchased it about two weeks ago. Seller was not sure on service records but I had a machanic go over it and the car was in very good condition. Obviously I did not have the guids or chain looked at. So.... I have worked on VW's I have worked on Motorcycles and I have put a propain grill together once! How huge of a DIY job is this? Can anyone point me to some good links with pics on how to do all of this? Any advice from those of you who have done this already? Thanks. I love the car and I want to keep her going for as long as possible. I think any issues it is havin are more from age than wear and tear because the car is just clean and strait.

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  #2  
Old 05-19-2012, 11:47 AM
Aquaticedge's Avatar
Bump on a log
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: See Biography
Posts: 3,148
this project is a lot more then putting a grill together and a lot more complex then a motorcycle... This perhaps should be moved into the Tech help as there is far more traffic in there for your car. You can search the forum by clicking the search Tab on the very top on the forum home page. Alternatively you can search the Tech help Forum, by clicking on Tech help, and at the very top of the topics listings there is 2 buttons. Forum tools and Search this forum, You'll want the 'Search this forum' option there is a wealth of information here on most every car.

Also, Please post the year of your car and if you know it, what engine it has. It will help people Identify quickly what you'll need to do possibly
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1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed
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  #3  
Old 05-19-2012, 12:14 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,061
Take the car to a trusted mercedes benz mechanic. make sure they have experience with 560SELs. leave the car with them overnight. ask them to have another tech start the car COLD while they listen to the engine for unusual sounds upon start up. if they hear something, then further diagnosis is required, if not, you can begin saving up for the repair.

also, you will want to use a motor oil that has zinc additives due to the valves/hydrocompensators. Chevron Delo 400 or Amsoil Premium Synthetic are good choices.
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  #4  
Old 05-19-2012, 01:50 PM
Jim B.'s Avatar
Who's flying this thing ?
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: N. California./ N. Nevada
Posts: 3,611
The 560 has a real long timing chain, and the generally agreed-upon wisdom tells us to change it out as routine maintenance every 100,000 miles, or in your case, right NOW at 152,000 with no evidence it has EVER been done, at 21-25 years (depending on the year of your 560SEL).

The timing chain slips, on these, most often on the left bank, when the plastic guides, usually the LOWER ones, crack and crumble.

If it lets go at speed the damage is irredeemably catastrophic.


If you hear a rattling noise on startup in the morning, (as mentioned above) even if it goes right away, in a few moments, that is an indication that the chain is about to let go NOW!

The fix is a new timing chain, new upper and lower plastic guide rails, a new tensioner, valve cover gaskets, and while you are in there, I would throw in a set of new injectors and cam oilers, since you are in there anyway already at this point.

Then you'd REALLY be set.
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Last edited by Jim B.; 05-19-2012 at 02:36 PM.
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  #5  
Old 05-19-2012, 02:21 PM
jplinville's Avatar
Conservative
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Dayton, Ohio region
Posts: 302
Have you been able to get to the oil filter yet?
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1987 560SL
85,000 miles




Meet on the level, leave on the square. Great words to live by

Were we directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we should soon want bread. - Thomas Jefferson: Autobiography, 1821.
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  #6  
Old 05-19-2012, 04:06 PM
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,061
as Jim B says, if you don't have proof that this repair has ever been done, do it now! find a mechanic that knows what they are doing and even if it costs a few nickels to have a competent mechanic do it, shell out and do it. otherwise, park the car because it isn't worth the risk of continued operation.
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  #7  
Old 05-19-2012, 06:56 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Modesto CA
Posts: 4,078
Whoa up!
The stated sympton is: blue exhaust smoke upon driving off froma stop.
Blue exhaust smoke is caused by oil being burnt in the combustion chambers. Oil enters the chambers by either bypassing the piston oil control rings, or through worn VALVE guides.
Timing chain guids (sic) are not involved in oil control.
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  #8  
Old 05-20-2012, 11:34 AM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 829
given the mileage and the blue smoke, it sounds like it needs both a valve job and a chain, guides, etc. again, the chain and blue smoke are not related. good luck, chuck.
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  #9  
Old 05-20-2012, 12:07 PM
gerryvz's Avatar
"Unhinged Troll" - Jim B.
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Posts: 1,268
Blue smoke at startup on an M117 with 150K+ miles is going to be valve guides & seals. Unlikely that it would be rings or bottom-end related.

The chain & upper rails is a good preventative maintenance item every 100K, but as was said has NOTHING to do with blue smoke at startup or starting from a traffic light.

To do the valve guides, the heads have to come off. Don't let a garage try to sell you a cheap Band-aid valve guide seal fix -- that's only temporary. If you plan to keep the car, redo the top-end. It will be good for another 150-200K miles.

Cheers,
Gerry


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