Valve guides for 1996 E300 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

190E-Bpy · #1 09-13-2007, 04:35 PM

Hey all. My 1996 E300 (168K miles) had an outer leak on the head gasket, so in the shop it went. Apparently the valve guides need to be replaced. I'm in a rental and the car has been in the shop for 4 days and they couldn't find vavle guides...it'll take 1 week to ship from Germany.

Anyone have a source? I called Rusty and GermanStar and no dice.

Anyone? How stupid would I be to tell them to put it back together with the old guides? The part only costs $4 each. Can they overnught them from germany?

thanks

e300D97 · #2 09-13-2007, 04:56 PM

Valve guides if I am not mistaken would cause you to burn more oil and you would see blue smoke. I think they are looking at higher oil pressures in the PCV system, sounds like you need to have the PCV system cleaned.

TMAllison · #3 09-13-2007, 05:06 PM

What did Fastlane Phil (our hosts) say?

190E-Bpy · #4 09-13-2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMAllison

What did Fastlane Phil (our hosts) say?

I'm hoping

190E-Bpy · #5 09-13-2007, 05:13 PM

Waiting call back.

BTW, MB will not expedite shipping from Germany. It comes VOR (??) and that takes about 1 week.

pawoSD · #6 09-13-2007, 05:16 PM

Getting stuff from MB germany takes forever. It took our dealer almost 3 weeks to get one of the terminal block units (the power block on the passenger side) in from Germany....

190E-Bpy · #7 09-13-2007, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 190E-Bpy

Waiting call back.

BTW, MB will not expedite shipping from Germany. It comes VOR (??) and that takes about 1 week.

..............

190E-Bpy · #8 09-13-2007, 05:07 PM

I did actually manage to burn some oil between changes, enough to get my light to come on. Granted it was 10K between changes but I was a little surprised. I don't notice an appreciable amount of smoke when I drive, at dusk when i gun it uphill I notice some fumes/haze.

190E-Bpy · #9 09-13-2007, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e300D97

Valve guides if I am not mistaken would cause you to burn more oil and you would see blue smoke. I think they are looking at higher oil pressures in the PCV system, sounds like you need to have the PCV system cleaned.

They pulled my head and the shop that checks the head, mills it etc said the valve guides were worn. Are you sugesting if I'm not seeing blue smoke I should be OK with the old valve guides?

Thanks

e300D97 · #10 09-14-2007, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 190E-Bpy

They pulled my head and the shop that checks the head, mills it etc said the valve guides were worn. Are you sugesting if I'm not seeing blue smoke I should be OK with the old valve guides?

Thanks

Its possible that the valve guides are worn, however I dont think its the cause of the leaky head gasket that you mention in your first posting. I dont know enough about valve guides, but I am guessing if you are running oil changes from 10-16k miles you might have some valve train damage. You mind as well have him check the timing chain, tensioner and guides while he is in there.

190E-Bpy · #11 09-14-2007, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e300D97

Its possible that the valve guides are worn, however I dont think its the cause of the leaky head gasket that you mention in your first posting. I dont know enough about valve guides, but I am guessing if you are running oil changes from 10-16k miles you might have some valve train damage. You mind as well have him check the timing chain, tensioner and guides while he is in there.

I've read in other posts about a coolant leak from the rear of the engine passenger side "common" on my engine. Ther eis no mixing of coolant and oil which is good and I do think i could drive for another 10-20K miles in present condition. However rather than push it off and chance an overheat possibly warping the head I wouuld do the right thing and have them change the gasket. Everything else at the shop tested fine so I assume the valve guides are not in "spec" anymore. They didn't give me the size. I will ask though.