My 89 560 SEC has begun to use oil, approx 1 qt every 300 miles. Does not smoke at all when running but has smoked after idling for 6-8 minutes and the taking off. Help, the car runs great but whats up with this oil consumption. Any help is greatly appreciated...

not sure if this is your problem, but what i have seen many times on 420 and 560 models is this, the cam oiler tube on the drivers side will become dislodged and allow oil so spray into the vent in the valve cover, the oil will travel in the vent chamber to the hose that goes from the drivers side valve cover to the intake manifold, it will allow oil to enter the engine and will cause oil loss and smoking, i have mostly see this occur when the car is facing down hill, either while driving or idling.

Although Ray has made a good point with the oiler tube on the left bank, this situation causes lots of smoke, and you indicated that this is not the case. You can try valve seals, but I'm afraid you're looking at a valve job. It is classic on the 5.6 engines.

Peter

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Auto Zentral Ltd.

Thanks for the quick response form carson356 and autozen. What is the approximate cost for a valve job on a 560? Thanks again. Steve

It depends on where you live. Here in the bay area where 1400 sq ft houses go for $500,000, it might be a little more than in other area. I recently started some chiropractic treatment. In Marin County where BJ Honeycutts wife Peg lived while he was in Korea an office visit is $60. Across the San Fran Bay it is $40. I live 35 miles North in a slighter lower rent district and visits are $30. Check around your are and don;t go for price alone.

Peter

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Auto Zentral Ltd.

Sounds like a valve job to me. My 560SEL had the same symptoms. Looked worse than my diesel when taking off the line and for the next 1/2 mile.

Mine started consuming 1qt/250 miles and degraded to 1qt/100 miles

Mine required a valve job and replacement of all valve guides.

Aside from the tools it cost about ~$1500 to DIY, from a garage expect between $4,000 to $6,000. I also did some other preventative work while I was under the hood.

Where are you located?

Good Luck!


Scott

Scott, I live near Dallas, TX

i have seen reputable shops want to sell customers new engines for the problem i refer to, if he removed the drivers valve cover to see if the end of the tube is loose, he is only out the time, new gasket and copper seals, i would look, you never really know until you inspect it.

bummer... if you were around Denver, a DIY'er, and needed a hand, I'd offer assistance since there are a few things which are better done with a second pair of hands.



Out of curiosity, whats the miliage on the car, and how often has it been driven in the past few years?

Mine had 69,000 when it started to burn oil, but it had an average of 1,000 to 2,000 miles/year for the last 5 years before I bought it. So much for a low-milage benz... Oh well, new top end and the engine is running great, except for an oil leak I have somewhere now that I'm sure I caused...

Good luck!


Scott