You may want to check the vacum modulator at the transmission. It may be letting fluid up into the intake and causing your smoking. Just pull the vacum line where it connects to the transmission and see if transmission fluid is there. If so replace the modulator.

I think ATF getting into engine through the vacuum modulator would give out a dark smoke, not a whiteish/blueish one.

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Current Benzes

1989 300TE "Alice"
1990 300CE "Sam Spade"
1991 300CE "Beowulf" RIP (06.1991 - 10.10.2007)
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2002 C320 Wagon "Molly Fox"

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Not in this weather!

Did you have a leak-down test done on the short block while the heads where off.?
Assenmacher sells a tool I use, that bolts to the block over the bore and lets you use your leak-down tester run a pressure/leak test on each pot.
Any pot leaking over 15% is candidate for rings or at least, further investigation.

Good reading is 2% to 12%.

ATF will white smoke, like a lot of steam, but hangs around longer.
.

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Thanks for the info...

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Current Benzes

1989 300TE "Alice"
1990 300CE "Sam Spade"
1991 300CE "Beowulf" RIP (06.1991 - 10.10.2007)
1998 E320 "Orson"
2002 C320 Wagon "Molly Fox"

Res non semper sunt quae esse videntur

My Gallery

Not in this weather!

I'm still scratching my head on this one.

The transmission fluid contamination seems plausible, and I did have a trans fault code when I had the car scanned @ MB.

I had my tech check the vaccum line last year when the problem 1st surfaced and he reported that it was "bone dry"; but perhaps it just sucks it clean, and leaves no traces?

Can anyone identify the vaccum line and its location?

I'm thinking I may use a temporary block on the line and see if the contamination problem subsides.

Still working on it, but I'm driving it now, so I'm more in-tune with the car.

I've established a few ideas-

Engine is good; when not smoking it passes local Memphis emissions test -
Yesterday @ the inspection station, vehicle was well below CO and hydrocarbon limits.

After driving 30 minutes, smoke begins, along with a slight misfire accross the board (all cylinders), then oil (or contaminate is burned off and engine runs perfectly again).

Keep in mind, I took both heads off, had them machined, replaced all 48 valve stem seals and every gasket on the top end. Also new plugs, wires, and distributors.

When the car is in a smoking fit, it emits whitish , steamyish smoke that rolls like fog. Smoke is not sweet like antifreeze and coolant level has not changed, car doesn't overheat.

I noticed a wet residue running through the crankcase vent tube @ the left (passenger) valve cover when the car was smoking.

A tech @ the local dealer suggested the check valve on the oil pump being bad and the pressure being too high?

Car has had new throttle actuators and was serviced @ plaza, though the shop forman didn't remember the car and wouldn't help me with any clues...

This is something I've a little experience with as I have dealt with bad vacuum modulators beginning with my first,a '63 Mercury Meteor.

Tranny fluid is almost pure white and very acrid when it burns,that's one clue.
Also dependant upon the inside diameter of the line the smoke will be either greater or less.

Additionally in certain speed ranges and shift positions you will be able to tell when it will happen,while in drive the tranny may have greater pressure thus seeming to make more smoke.

I do not know where the modulator is on your car but the very fact you have fluid in your vacuum lines would incline me to look there first,unfortunately some Mercedes,notably my '98 did away with a tranny dip stick,how about yours?

Ohh,has the brake fluid gone down?

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Sure sounds like the engine is sucking in something that's not supposed to be there. Tranny fluid will definitely burn white, and look like fog out the tail pipe depending on how much is being burnt. It is surprising how much moisture rides along with oil vapor in the crankcase ventilation system.

First thing I would try is getting the engine up to temperature and smoking, then remove the oil fill cap (place a rag over the hole if necessary) and see if it makes a differenece. You may have to wait a bit for any moisture in the system to burn out of the exhaust. It should be possible to remove suspect hoses and lines (plugging where necessary) to see if you can isolate where the fluid is coming from.

Just throwing out a wag, but what about a stuck EGR?

My friends M120 had one of the EGR's stick open. Car had a slight miss, and smoked a bit on start up. Smelled like a carb running rich actualy.

Luckly the problem was caught and correct fast, so the cats were not hurt, ouch they are pricey!

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1969 280SE
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2007 Tiara 3200

I agree with the brake fluid. Although I am not sure about the brake booster setup on those cars.

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....Very typical on older ford and gm vehicles....Leaking Transmission modulator smokes more when you decelerate ...high vacuum....
No doubt its got a drinking problem
Drinking and Driving……
No respect for the law…..
sounds like transmission fluid. Transmission fluid smokes like crazy and you only need a small amount
May be a little experiment here Dr Frankenstein…..
Can you put some transmission fluid in a spray or squeeze bottle..
Rev it up slightly and bottle feed it with a quick squirt…..
You should get the same effect….SMOKE
Does it look and smell the same....??
Don’t try it with brake fluid!!
You can however remove the master cylinder and look behind the master and look into the booster.
Is it wet???

Try this. http://v12uberalles.com/

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Oh, I remember a thread on this problem... There was another V12 with the same problem. It turned out to be a vacuum line leading into the throttle body that was injecting motor oil into the intake. I will see if I can dig up the thread...

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

It would be GREAT if you could find that thread!!!

As an experiment , I removed the vacuum line from the trans to the intake (@the intake) , drove the car; still smoked after about 30 mins...

Now I'm guessing its either brake fluid , or oil .

Any ideas on what else I could disconnect?

maybe this will help.............
http://www.faqfarm.com/Q/What_can_cause_white_smoke_from_the_exhaust
You need to determin what kind of fluid this is....and go from there..