does valve adjustment really help the power???????
 

ive got a 85 300d turbo.. i just found out the dealer had a recall on the trap oxidizer ,,mine was never done,, so i took it in and they replaced it for free.. cool huh? anyways.. the alda line is fine and that adjustment on that round thing is done.. still not enough power when taking off.. im thinking of having the valves adjusted... who knows when they were done.. i know they say its suppose to be done like every 25.000 miles or so.. i want to know if it will really help? please advise... thanks.

more like every 15K miles... and yes, it will help power and starting smoothness. it will also help prolong the life of the valves.
if they changed your trap, they should have changed the turbo as well, yours could be damaged from the original trap. get a turbo gauge, and plumb it into the alda line, and see what your PSI is at full throttle.

YES, this is a MUST do service...
 

if there have been excess miles since last adjustment, it may need to be adjusted several times within a month.

Loss of gap = valve held open = compression loss = carbon deposits on valve seat and face = MPG loss + power Loss =
you buy this car, and have the valves adjusted, then 3 - 30 days later power/MPG drop again = the carbon deposits on valve seat and face have at least partially broken up = Loss of gap = valve held open = valves must be adjusted again.


You need to learn this DIY...

Valve adjustment OM617 FYI.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=107729





Have a great day.

WHunter is right. YES, this is a MUST do service every 12-15k miles or every year. It is required maintenance, not something you just think about doing every so often.

Valve adjustments are a must do service!
 

I do my valves every 10K! If your not sure when the valves were adjusted last, do a valve adjustment now and check it again in about 200 miles when more carbon has worn off the valve seats and valves! Not doing this results in a valve job requiring head removal and a large chunk of cash, some every Benz owner never seems to have enough of since extra cash usually means another Benz is found somewhere we cannot live without!:D

mine runs much smoother after doing the valves

I just did mine yesterday, three were tight, and a couple a little loose. sounded like there was one ticking. I just did this a couple thousands miles ago, but this being my new engine I just want to keep my eye on things. I don`t know why three were loose.
Doing valve ajustments isn`t that big a deal, the hardest part is getting that darn valve cover off and on. after the 4th try of the gasket falling off it just drops in place.

Paying a shop to do the job is over $100.00 with labor tax, gasket environmental fee etc...
So the cost of a set of Hazet wrenches doesn`t see too bad looking it in those terms. Plus I like the little star on them:rolleyes:.

After having VW`s years ago, they need the valves done frequently,
and my Datsun Diesel is every 12000 mi., so valves isn`t any big deal. the MB does have the fuel lines to work around, but Iam not removing them ea time as some have suggested.

Charlie

While much of what has been said is very true...

Here is the ultimate reason to keep the valves at the proper gap:

At least half of the cooling which a valve gets comes from the time it is in contact with the head... seems funny... but true...

So , if your valves get to the point to where they do not contact the head well enough to convey that part of their heat load to the head they are going to burn up...

and this can happen within miles of the non contact situation happening...

So do not worry if you can not feel more power, if the engine is not smoother to the extent that you can feel it, or you get better fuel mileage...

Just be sure to keep the valves at the proper settings to keep them from burning.