Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-25-2013, 08:40 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Barrington, RI
Posts: 5,874
1992 300D White Smoke, Clicking Episode

My 92 300D has worked flawlessly (other than garden variety repairs) over the last 110,000 miles....currently has 244,000. This afternoon, my son was pulling onto highway, hard acceleration, and heard a clicking sound from the engine compartment and noticed LOTS of white smoke coming out the tailpipe. So he pulled over and called me.

I was able to replicate the symptoms and drove the car four miles home. However, by the end of the trip the clicking had stopped and the white smoke almost disappeared.

Oil level is fine, coolant level is fine.

Earlier in the day, I replaced the o-ring on the stop lever. Can't imagine I could have messed anything up on the IP, but who knows? Also, I added a quart of dino oil to a system filled with 5w40 synthetic (I have an oil leak somewhere and didn't want to dump in liquid gold).

As I read some threads, I thought I'd toss this out and see what anyone's thoughts are.

I also notice an oil leak by the #1 exhaust pipe.

Thanks.

__________________
14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Last edited by shertex; 05-25-2013 at 10:06 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-26-2013, 05:47 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Barrington, RI
Posts: 5,874
I took the car out again, maybe an hour and a half later....engine still warm. No clicking, no smoke.

Took it out again early this morning, thinking that perhaps clicking and/or smoke would reappear with a cold engine. Car runs fine.

So that's good....but I'm still stumped.
__________________
14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-26-2013, 08:54 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Barrington, RI
Posts: 5,874
Is there any chance that my replacing the O-ring on the stop lever could have temporarily introduced some air into the IP? Could that be the cause of the problem?
__________________
14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-26-2013, 02:45 PM
MBZ123's Avatar
So F&@%ING Hollywood Baby
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SoCal
Posts: 326
Whatever you do...

Don't ease up with the monitoring or it could be costly. But you know this.

WRT the SDL, I'm down to checking fluids every third trip. I'm constantly hawkeyeing the temp gauge and have had multiple noises, some fixed, some not and those that have faded on their own. So far so good and so paranoid on my part, but I'll accept that in lieu of the alternative. Only clicking that persists is a tappet on cyl2 about 50% of total drive time. I'm hoping the syn will correct it, but it's only had 1500 miles to work at it thus far.

If I had a episode similar to yours then I would be extremely cautious. Air in the pump is possible, but not likely IMO. And it doesn't explain the smoke. I would definitely research the oil leak around exh1. There is something to be found here, I just can't recall specifics.

MBZ123
__________________
1987 300SDL "Rhona" 218k
1986 300SDL "Johanna" 166k - Abducted 5/15 outta SFV Reward 4 info
1984 300TD "Petra" 212k - Parts yard pirate, arrrrgh
1982 300CD "FrankenFemme" 178k - Eyes only TS-XWRKS transplant abomination (loc. classified)
1980 230CE "Lulu" aka "Terminal" 277k - Dying the slow death
1985 300CD "Gerda" 203k - She ain't playin' SOLD
1983 300TD "Svetlana" 240k...and pleading for more. SOLD


"What a heavy load Einstein must've had...F&@%!NG morons everywhere!" - David Lynch
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-26-2013, 03:02 PM
vstech's Avatar
DD MOD, HVAC,MCP,Mac,GMAC
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mount Holly, NC
Posts: 26,835
FIRST thing I'd do is pull the vacuum pump and verify it's pristine.
__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-26-2013, 03:23 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Barrington, RI
Posts: 5,874
Quote:
Originally Posted by vstech View Post
FIRST thing I'd do is pull the vacuum pump and verify it's pristine.
Why....do you think the VP could account for clicking sound?

It was replaced at 45,000 miles....but of course that was a while ago.
__________________
14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-26-2013, 05:09 PM
vstech's Avatar
DD MOD, HVAC,MCP,Mac,GMAC
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mount Holly, NC
Posts: 26,835
ANY time clicking or really any issues are found on an om60x motor, I suspect the VP first. likely it's simply air in the fuel causing the issue, but your new VP has 200K on it... inspection is a good idea.
__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 05-26-2013, 08:29 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Barrington, RI
Posts: 5,874
White smoke back tonight....but haven't been able to replicate clicking.
__________________
14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-26-2013, 09:13 PM
layback40's Avatar
Not Banned
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Victoria Australia - down under!!
Posts: 4,023
White smoke makes me think of injector timing or low compression.
Could be bad timing chain.
could be stuck valve.
Or many other things.
Need many more details.
__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-27-2013, 07:58 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Barrington, RI
Posts: 5,874
Quote:
Originally Posted by layback40 View Post
White smoke makes me think of injector timing or low compression.
Could be bad timing chain.
could be stuck valve.
Or many other things.
Need many more details.
The only thing I'm able to add is that, performance wise, everything is perfect: idle, driving, acceleration, etc....

I changed the fuel and air filters just for grins....will take to my indie this week.
__________________
14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 05-27-2013, 08:53 PM
Diesel911's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Long Beach,CA
Posts: 51,038
As the other Member said a sticky Hydraulic Lifter could account for the tapping; and I think the the Smoke.

You could also have some bad Fuel or even some Water in the Fuel System. When that passes through it could knock a little and cause a smoke issue.

If the sound shows up while the Car is idling try to locate where the sound is coming from. Use a piece of Broom Stick or a large Screwdriver against the parts and your Ear on the other end. Start with the Vacuum Pump and keep your Face and what you are listening with away from moving or hot Parts.
__________________
84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 05-31-2013, 01:07 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Barrington, RI
Posts: 5,874
Took it to the mechanic where I have most of my work done. He believes it's a head gasket failure with oil entering the #1 cylinder. It's been quite some time since he's done a head gasket, so there are a couple of other shops further away that I would have do the work....if that's what I decide to do.

I'm not opposed as such to dropping a chunk of change on the car. But I do worry about other damage that's already been done....and the wisdom of spending $1500 or so into a car with 244k on it.
__________________
14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 05-31-2013, 01:33 PM
dieseldiehard's Avatar
Dieseldiehard
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Bay Area No Calif.
Posts: 4,368
has the water temp been normal during this episode? and has the level remained the same (not needing to be topped up?) If using water then possibly a cracked head but also could be the head gasket.

I was also going to suggest it was a head gasket. The mileage really not a factor, if the car is in good shape and you like it then thats the price for keeping it running. Lots of gassers have head gasket issues too. I would also have the head skim cut and pressure checked, if off to replace the gasket because you don't want to throw the labor onto a head with possible problems.
__________________
'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 05-31-2013, 02:02 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Barrington, RI
Posts: 5,874
Water temp and level have been fine.
__________________
14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 05-31-2013, 03:56 PM
winmutt's Avatar
85 300D 4spd+tow+h4
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Atl Gawga
Posts: 9,346
Injector is nailing my bet. Does it white smoke at idle?

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:30 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page