Tight exhaust valve cold become exhaust valves held open when they heat up, so you lose compression. Doesn't take much of a leak to mess up the idle.

Intake valves don't get so hot, so they "grow" less.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!