Smokes after Idle.. Bad valve seal?

[gmask]

Another recent development with my car has been that it smokes after idling. I've read here that this could be a bad valve seal. I changed the spark plugs and all but #5 looked tan .. #5 is white to light gray so I'm guessing it's the one with the bad seal.

Anyway I pretty sure this something I shouldn't attempt to replace myself as I don't have the right tools. If I take this in to a shop will they do the one seal or want to do all of them? About how much will it cost? I'm hoping no more than $300.

[gmask]

So I was thinking of using my pocket knife to do the seals... sound like a good idea?

[Mark DiSilvestro]

If you can do it with your pocketknife, go for it! (Maybe you have one of those Swiss ones with the 35 separate tools built in!)
If it needs valve seals, do them all.
#5 plug sounds like it's running hot or lean-
possible vacuum leak? Or (less likely),
I've seen coolant leave whitish stains as it burns-possible head gasket seepage?
Is the smoke blue and smells like burning oil, or is it white and has a sweet odor, like burning antifreeze?
Have you checked the 'Good Mercedes Shops' section for someone in LA you can discuss repair costs with?

Happy Motoring, Mark

[gmask]

>>>If you can do it with your pocketknife, go for it! (Maybe you have one of those Swiss ones with the 35 separate tools built in!)

Yeah I'm feeling confident these days... I'm not prepared to built a spring retractor but I did notice that Autozone lends tools and have a Vavle spring Retractor.. should work???

>>>#5 plug sounds like it's running hot or lean-
possible vacuum leak? Or (less likely),
I've seen coolant leave whitish stains as it burns-possible head gasket seepage?

>>>Is the smoke blue and smells like burning oil, or is it white and has a sweet odor, like burning antifreeze?

It's blue and it smells gassy.. I really don't think it's the gasdket.. it better not be it was replaced not so long ago.

>>Have you checked the 'Good Mercedes Shops' section for someone in LA you can discuss repair costs with?

None mentioned that are very close.. especially when there is a dozen MB shops on Pico near where I live.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

One other cause of smoking, in rare cases, is brake fluid being sucked from the vacuum brake booster, due to fluid build up over time, from a leaky master cylinder.

I don't know if Auto-zones' tool will work on Mercedes without pulling the camshaft or head. If you can find the right tool and plan on doing the valve seals yourself without pulling the head, you'll need some way of holding the valves closed when you compress the valve springs. The usuall way is with compressed air fed in to the sparkplug holes from an air compressor. If the valve guides are badly worn, new seals may not solve the problem. It might have been a good idea to do all this with the head gasket job. Can you ask the person who did the head gasket?

Happy Motoring, Mark

[ctaylor738]

I bought my spring compressor for the M110 engine from Technic Tool Supply in Ventura. 805.654.8290. It was $135 but I have to believe it would be the same price for the M130.

Here's the link:

http://www.technictool.com/mercedes%20valve%20spring.htm

[gmask]

Originally posted by ctaylor738
I bought my spring compressor for the M110 engine from Technic Tool Supply in Ventura. 805.654.8290. It was $135 but I have to believe it would be the same price for the M130.

Here's the link:

http://www.technictool.com/mercedes%20valve%20spring.htm

M123-0361 US$ 165.00 .. Ouch!?!?!? I guess I could allways sell on it ebay for cost later ;-)

[gmask]

Originally posted by ctaylor738
I bought my spring compressor for the M110 engine from Technic Tool Supply in Ventura. 805.654.8290. It was $135 but I have to believe it would be the same price for the M130.

Here's the link:

http://www.technictool.com/mercedes%20valve%20spring.htm

Oh yeah do I also need the Pressing Device tool.. Technic tool doesn't seem to have the right one for a 130??

[ctaylor738]

Dunno about that one - what does it do?

[gmask]

Originally posted by ctaylor738
Dunno about that one - what does it do?

After getting the springs off do I really need a tool to insert the seals?


I found this other website with a different looking spring compressor for less but I trhink it may be for a deisel..

http://www.************************/product_page.asp?attFlag=0&appFlag=0&productname=Valve+Spring+Compressors&productfamily=Valve+Adjusting+Tools&subcat=Engine+%26+Electrical+Tools&category=Specialty+Tools&make=MERCEDES%2DBENZ&model=250&submodel=+&series=114&year=1972&vehicletype=CAR&keyword=&vendorid=&search=

[gmask]

>>>One other cause of smoking, in rare cases, is brake fluid being sucked from the vacuum brake booster, due to fluid build up over time, from a leaky master cylinder.

So how would I test this idea??

>>>Can you ask the person who did the head gasket?

Err.. I could but I really don't like the guy.. I have also moved since then

[gmask]

I took a couple of pictures of some discoloration around the racker base.. does it tell you guys anything?

[ctaylor738]

Dunno, never seen or noticed it before on any of mine.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Discoloration may be just from the way the parts were hardened at the factory. I they've been getting oil, it may not be a problem.

To check for fluid getting from the brake booster, disconnect the Vacuum line at the booster and check to see if it's very wet inside the line or inside the threaded booster fitting. Plug the line and run the engine to see if there's any reduction in the smoking.

It sounds like a good time to find a shop manual for your car.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[gmask]

Originally posted by Mark DiSilvestro
Discoloration may be just from the way the parts were hardened at the factory. I they've been getting oil, it may not be a problem.

To check for fluid getting from the brake booster, disconnect the Vacuum line at the booster and check to see if it's very wet inside the line or inside the threaded booster fitting. Plug the line and run the engine to see if there's any reduction in the smoking.

It sounds like a good time to find a shop manual for your car.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Yeah.. I have just about every manual imaginable. I'm leaning towards the blown head gasket theory now.. I've tried to find some other explaination.. but I'm definately seeing tiny drops of oil floating in the top of the radiator.. ARGHHHHH!!!!! The smoke is I guess mostly steam with enough oil in it to give it a blue tint.. it's smoking alot more now.

Anyway I guess I'm preparing to do my first DIY head gasket job. The engine simply isn't worth a pro repair and I jus tbought a 71 250 part scar with a running engine for several hundred dollars as a back up and parts car. So expect some questions on merging two cars into one perfectly functioning car ;-)