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  #16  
Old 12-24-2002, 10:08 PM
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As another personal report, both of our 300E's have run (almost) exclusively synthetic (either Mobil One or Castrol Syn) on approximately the 7500 mile change interval. Both cars followed the prescribed maintenance intervals religiously while they were under warranty, but as the cars got older, this schedule was followed less and less closely. Started on 15W50, then moved to 5W50 after a few years, then ran 10W30 for a couple years (before I realized it was not a MB-approved viscosity), and am now switching back to 15W50.

1987 300E (237k) - Had a valve job done about 8 years ago around 140-150k miles. Valve seals last year (about 215k), now uses about a quart every 1200 miles, fouls a couple plugs, and I have intermittant lifter noise until the engine fully warms.

1991 300E (185k) - Valve seals this past year (about 175k), uses a quart every 800-1000 miles. Has not had any other engine work, as far as I can remember. I think it is also fouling a couple of plugs.

I believe there is value to what Larry says about oil change intervals.

-anthony

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  #17  
Old 12-25-2002, 04:19 AM
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Location: Houston, Texas
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csnow is correct... again.

99% of blown head gaskets are due to overheating -- not because they somehow wear out over time. Corrosion is a factor, but the corrosion wouldn't occur in the first place if the head gasket didn't allow the water through to do the corroding.

When my head gasket was blown, I took it to at least 5 different shops and the first question they all asked me was, "did you overheat the engine?"
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'01 E430, Sport 72,000 mi
'98 C280, 126,500 mi
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  #18  
Old 12-25-2002, 09:17 AM
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I'm keeping an open mind. I talked to the mechanic yesterday and he was quite positive all needed them - He said they leak oil from the front and/or from the rear. Could this be beacuse they are not changing valve seals soon enough? If the coolant was not changed often enough, could this be another cause?

Merry Christmas!
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Last edited by md21722; 12-25-2002 at 09:23 AM.
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  #19  
Old 12-25-2002, 01:43 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Woolwich, Maine
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Mobil Delvac ! in all my cars too. Reduced oil consumption and 6,000 mile oil change intervals. Works great. Jim
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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)
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  #20  
Old 12-28-2002, 09:58 AM
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Location: Joliet Illinois
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Joel,

Based on my experience with the M103, high oil consumpion is usually due to worn valve stem seals. The seals can be replaced rather easily and inexpensively without removing the head. Also, the rapping noise on start up might be due to a faulty check valve that is at the base of the oil filter housing. I saw a post on this subject a while back. Apparently, the valve prevents oil from draining out of the upper engine when it is shut off. If the check valve leaks, you will get a clattering noise for a few seconds on startup until the oil makes its way back up there.

Just thought I would inform you of these things before you decided to get the complete head rebuilt.

John
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  #21  
Old 12-28-2002, 07:26 PM
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Location: Seattle
Posts: 596
How does one replace this check valve?
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1986 300E Anthracite + ECodes + MB Mileage Award
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  #22  
Old 12-31-2002, 08:03 AM
1992300e
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John

Hi John,

Thanks for the post. What you write makes a lot of sense. The car runs very well other than what I wrote. I am a big proponent of "don't fix what aint broke".

I'll order the seals and inspect the check valve, I'll look up the check valve on my CD tonight. I'll search around the posts for it too.

Would love to get away with valve seals and check valve.

Thanks again,
Joel
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  #23  
Old 12-31-2002, 11:12 AM
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Location: Mass
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Quote:
Originally posted by md21722
I'm keeping an open mind. I talked to the mechanic yesterday and he was quite positive all needed them - He said they leak oil from the front and/or from the rear. Could this be beacuse they are not changing valve seals soon enough? If the coolant was not changed often enough, could this be another cause?
I have 200k on my 103 motor and my headgasket does not seep.
The 104 motor is known for a higher incedence of headgasket failure. I'm not sure we are actually debating opposing sides. I'm just making a distinction between gasket failure and other problems. Head work is certainly likely to be required on both, which is different from HEADGASKET failure.

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