'92 300SE. Sometimes as short as overnight, others it takes a day or so, but eventually, several of the valve lifters leak down and I get a ticka-ticka-ticka sound at startup.

All but one of the ticking lifters are fully silenced by the time the oil pressure hits 3 on the gauge - maybe 2-3 seconds after startup.

One persistent beggar will tick for some time afterwards, but once there's a little heat in the motor, he's quiet, too.

I run Castrol 20W-50 and change it regularly.

My mechanic suggests I try an oil treatment like seafoam on a couple of cycles to see if we can clean out what is probably some coking of the oil around the check-balls in the lifters.

Car runs fine, smooth at idle, etc.

I'd like to avoid paying probably $1500 to have the lifters replaced. I can do the work myself, but I simply don't have the time.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Regards

MMO (Marvel Mystery Oil) silenced my noisy lifters. I put 1/2 quart in the crankcase, and a quart or so in the gas tank. It took a few days but it made a difference.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

I have read some suggesting to use Mobil 1 synthetic.
My SEC has 237,000 and tics too. Well, it did. I tried synthetic right after I got the car to clean it out. Boy does this stuff clean!
Then after 7000 miles or so I went back to my regular high mileage oil.

I noticed the ticking had returned. So I am currently using Mobil 1 15wt 50.

$8.00 a quart is a little stiff to handle, but this stuff really works.
Ticking gone again.

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Selling used Mercedes parts on Ebay...always changing...
cdplayer51 take a look!
____________

Heck if it works
great
Sure beats a engine rebuild...

Might even try it myself...

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83 500 SEC Euro 198K

I had that trouble with my 84 500sec when I first got it. I put rotella in it. I switched to mobil one 10w30 and it went away. Thinking it was cleaned out I went back to rotella and it came back. Then I switched to mobil one permanently. I ran the mobil one a bit longer and the money thing worked out about equal.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Why use a lighter oil?
don't specs go 20W50 on hi mile engines?

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83 500 SEC Euro 198K

20W50 is extremely heavy, I don't see why you would run it in any car.

Try some synthetic 5w40, see if that doesn't clear them up. I know Delvac 1 helped the lifters on my 603 a lot.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Be careful using diesel rated lube oils in gas engines. Some of the additives can foul the cat.

Ouch

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83 500 SEC Euro 198K

Not on a 25 year old M117.

I wonder how close Delvac 1 is to the 5w40 Mobil 1 that the dealers now use? On an 07 that may be an issue. I know they just changed Delvac 1 so its safe to use on the latest diesels with the all their emissions goodies.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I am supposed to have a high compression euro engine
so it does need thick oil
& it runs hot

Engine top at least looks pretty clean

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83 500 SEC Euro 198K

I'm kind of surprised the M104 is ticking though, how many miles? My friend has a 97 S320 and his is smooth as silk. 80k miles, I don't know what the PO was using but he has been using Mobil 1 0w40 for the past 10k miles. The M104 is a really nice motor!

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I don't think the euro specs change anything oil wise. I would recommend the synthetic especially if you have ticking hydraulic valve adjusters. (they actually are not lifters).

If you are running hot that is not likely an oil related issue and should be sorted out.

Now in my 280e (with mechanical lifters) euro, I was running 10w30 moblil one and caught a slight knock on start up that I suspected was bearing knock from the thin oil running off the bearings, so I switched to 20w50 castrol and that stopped.

Different oils for different motors. You have to be careful. The newer oils don't always work in the older engines.

Synthetics are no panacea.

Tom W

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.