White Smoke & Oil in Air Filter - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

legasea · #1 03-22-2008, 01:22 PM

83 300D Turbo (lots of miles!)
Last night driving home I looked in my rear view mirror and noticed
smoke (white?) when I accelerated. I could see it when another car
was close by in their headlights. It does put out a little white smoke at idle, I smelled it today and it smells like diesel exhaust. Car does not burn any oil between changes. I then checked my air filter and it had oil on it and the canister had 1/16 of oil on the bottom. The previous owner just had the valves adjusted. Another note...a week ago I opened up my Alda adjustment screw 1/2 turn to improve off line acceleration, which did improve. Anything I can check to determine why its smoking and why there is oil in my air filter or is night time fogging normal? It looked excessive when I stepped on it. I was going to turn the Alda adjustment back 1/2 turn but I think that would only effect black smoke.

toomany MBZ · #2 03-22-2008, 04:03 PM

White smoke, the color can be difficult to determine, usually means water. Blue, to light blue smoke is usually oil, black is less than completely burned fuel.
Oil in the air filter could be blow by coming through the hose from the cam (valve) cover.

legasea · #3 03-22-2008, 06:00 PM

What are the normal suspect areas where water or coolant will enter?
Are there any places I can visually check? I will begin to monitor the coolant levels.

toomany MBZ · #4 03-22-2008, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legasea

What are the normal suspect areas where water or coolant will enter?
Are there any places I can visually check? I will begin to monitor the coolant levels.

Head gasket.
Good luck.

Burnzy · #5 03-22-2008, 09:02 PM

I notice the same thing happening to me at night. It looks like a lot of smoke when somebody is right behind me with their lights on. I have had the car for 10 months and the coolant level is fine, I have never had to add any. The car runs great, starts right up every day and burns about a half qt of oil every 2000 miles/6 months (I have put 3500 miles on it in the 10 months I have owned it). During daylight hours there is no visible smoke unless I floor it, which as I understand, is pretty normal. Should these cars not emit any visible smoke under normal operation? Why is the smoke only visible at night? Is this something to worry about? I must say, I notice poeple don't tailgate me after I take off after the light turns green...day or night.

Travis · #6 03-23-2008, 12:55 AM

I've noticed this two over the last couple of years in my 85 300SD - there is a constant oil slime in the air cleaner housing. I clean it off every time I'm in there and it keeps reappearing. I've taken the breather assembly apart (the little black barrel inside the air filter housing) and tried to tighten things up a bit to no avail. Anyone have suggestions on either bypassing the air cleaner or fixing the one that's there?

Thanks!

TheDon · #7 03-23-2008, 01:21 AM

at night.... That is normal..

Its the particulates from unburnt fuel.I love romping on it and fogging two lanes of the highway

the oil residue is from the blowby.. check your connection for the CCV tube.. if its the 3 piece version they are known to... suck at doing their job. Upgrade it to the W116 version. Also make sure its connected to the oil seperator.

stcbenz83 · #8 03-23-2008, 01:47 PM

Yea very normal for at night, i love punching it at night and lookin in the rear view

I really like it when people are ridding my but to put it into 3rd and put the peddal to the floor, they either back off or change lanes

mobetta · #9 03-24-2008, 09:33 AM

clogged up air filter (like from too much oil in the housing?) can increase the smokeyness.

SD Blue · #10 03-24-2008, 10:15 AM

The best thing I've found to solve the problem of oil in the air filter housing is to seal the top edge of the oil separator. Clean the area real well with brake cleaner, apply RTV and let it cure before running.

winmutt · #11 03-24-2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD Blue

The best thing I've found to solve the problem of oil in the air filter housing is to seal the top edge of the oil separator. Clean the area real well with brake cleaner, apply RTV and let it cure before running.

I second this.

Cr from Texas · #12 10-05-2008, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winmutt

I second this.

Ok, I've been searching about how much oil is normal in the air cleaner housing. I have a puddle on the low side.
Before I seal the top edge of the oil seperator housing as described here, do I need to take it apart and clean it? Looks like two metal tabs could be bent back and allow it to open.
Please advise - I'm afraid I'll break off the tabs.

Also, my air cleaner has a hole (about 3 mm) in the housing and external to the filter. Is that normal? Is it a drain?

coonerboy · #13 10-05-2008, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cr from Texas

Ok, I've been searching about how much oil is normal in the air cleaner housing. I have a puddle on the low side.
Before I seal the top edge of the oil seperator housing as described here, do I need to take it apart and clean it? Looks like two metal tabs could be bent back and allow it to open.
Please advise - I'm afraid I'll break off the tabs.

Also, my air cleaner has a hole (about 3 mm) in the housing and external to the filter. Is that normal? Is it a drain?

I'm pretty sure those holes are normal. I have a couple in my air cleaner. They are on the bottom, correct?

Cr from Texas · #14 10-05-2008, 07:39 PM

Yes they are in the bottom. I have 4 (3 for the mounts) all about the same size.

It occurred to me that the return tube from the oil seperator could be plugged (or a defective check valve). I needed to add a quart of oil so I did so by putting it down that return tube. It took awhile, but it all went to the crankcase so I guess it's OK.

SD Blue · #15 10-05-2008, 08:29 PM

I opened my oil separator by bending the tabs but after doing so, I don't believe it was necessary. All that really needs to be done is spray the rim, where the sealant is to be applied, with brake cleaner to remove any oil film and promote good adhesion.