I went from rough starting, chugging, sputtering cold starts, loud tapping, bad idle to absolutely perfect start and idle.

It's amazing how much of a difference such small adjustments made! I noticed each valve was way too tight, I mean to the point where every adjustment was a full turn and some were more. I made sure to lock each nut as well.

Question for the pros: If the lock not is not secured tightly to the adjustment nut, could it do damage or would the valve just fall out of adjustment?

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1976 Mercedes 240D (Sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D Turbo Diesel: 500,000KM
1986 Mercedes 300E (Sold)
1988 Mercedes 300E (Sold)
2002 Mercedes C240 (Sold)
2008 Mercedes C350 4matic

A great site for purchasing industrial rubber products!

Industrial Rubber

with the proper valve adjustment. Main results were more "power", easier starting, and BEING ABLE TO TALK WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN on the highway, without raising our voices! Totally different car!

If the adjustment hardware is loose, the nuts can rattle around on the threads and damage them eventually, I suppose, but these are rather hard components.

I did the adjustment with the 3 proper wrenches. Once I got the hang of it, it went quickly. The third wrench mostly sat there doing nothing- but on two of them the lower nut caused the spring cap to rotate. The 3rd wrench held it form rotating, and I made the adjustment with no further problems.

I highly recommend the proper 3 wrenches, and regular valve adjustments!

Have fun,

snapped_bolt

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'81 240D For now, a good place to borrow new parts
'80 300TD Probably will be put back into service!
'79 240D BACK IN SERVICE SINCE 09/16; limited use, oil leak. Guide pin r/sealed/replaced. Still a leak. Front crank seal....

The old "deferred maintenance", lol. If you can perceive the difference a valve adjustment makes, you were waaaay overdue. But good on you for completing the task.

I do like your thread title though. He adjusted his valves and you'll NEVER BELIEVE what happened next!! or maybe Gain incredible engine performance with this one weird old trick!!

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1998 E300 turbodiesel

America's Rights and Freedoms Are Not The Enemy!

Now, if you want to really smooth things out, do another valve adjustment in about 500mi. You will be smiling.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

^^^ oh whys this?

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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

After reading a post several years ago about an old MB mechanic's recommendations for valve adjustments, I decided to try this. I was really pleased with how smooth the engine became. The valves were pretty tight on mine as well.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

I do mine once a season, no more than 50 miles or so. So far they haven't changed but I still think it's worth checking as I want max performance.

Dan

Long neglected valve adjustment leads to carbon build up on the valves. As the carbon burns off and is worn off after they're adjusted properly, the valve lash changes and needs to be re adjusted. I'd keep doing it, every 500 miles or so until it holds steady again.

Good reminder, I need to do mine as well.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap