New valve stem seals--now a miss? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

lee polowczuk · #16 12-20-2007, 03:02 PM

I think it's well documented that valve stem seals need to be changed at the type of mileage I have on my cars.

When you have bad valve stem seals, the oil doesn't leak.. it leaks down into the cylinder and burns off.

I have some minor leaks in my car, too... i guess i just live with them.

My valve cover gasket was close to being petrified...

A quart every 1200 miles isnt' bad... my 260e was going through a quart at 400... the CE was going through a quart at 650-700 at 164k. At 142k it was going through a quart at 1200 miles

Texholdem · #17 12-20-2007, 03:23 PM

Hi Lee,

thanks for the prompt reply. I have the same 1989 300CE and it is at 97K now, I guess it is also time to do the valve stem seal job (or to get it done because of my two left hands

).

lee polowczuk · #18 12-20-2007, 04:02 PM

the valve stem job wasn't hard... it did take me more than a year to get the guts to do it...

i was terrified that a valve might drop down into the head if I didn't get the engine to TDC correctly.

Anyway... i "practiced" on the 260E... it took 6-7 hours including breaks....

the CE still took me 6 hours.... some of that has to do with the cheap 10 dollar spring compressor that you buy or borrow... but most of all it just takes that type of time...

anyway... good luck....

donbryce · #19 12-20-2007, 09:00 PM

OK, I'll bite....what was the problem with the plug, and how did you finally isolate it? I thought you had only gone a few miles after the seal job, so did this short distance foul the plug up, or was there something totally unrelated to the seal that was wrong with it?

lee polowczuk · #20 12-21-2007, 08:29 AM

i am going to try to explain it the best I can..... I did the seal job...and buttoned everything up.

I then started the car..it started but with difficulty and was real rough. So i shut it off. I checked some wires and it seemed like there was one or two that were not quite engaged with the plug.

Started it up again... it started, but with a not so distinctive miss. I have always had smooth running Mercedes, so I was a bit nervous... like maybe one of the stem seals wasn't on right and it was causing an issue with a valve. Keep in mind, I am not a technician or a mechanic, but I do all of my own work, because on these older cars it's just a matter of screwdrivers, wrenches and sockets.

Back to the issue... so i look under the hood... oh no problem..there's a vacuum hose not hooked up. I hook it up. No difference.

So I pull each wire individually... engine gets worse. I pull #3. Seems to be the same... that must be the culprit. I change wires with the 260e. No difference. Must be the spark plug. But I convince myself that it can't be the spark plug. I just put them in in April.

I call on the troops. The troops (Tom, Don) say its probably a fouled plug... no foul. I put in a can of BG44k... it was about due. I do this once a year. Drive for about 10 miles... no difference.. no fouled plug.

I check OVP... no problem with OVP. Everyone says plug.. I say to myself can't be a plug.

I loosen each nut on the fuel distributor (per David) It's definitely #3. So I am thinking fuel injector.

Instead I pull a plug from the 260e. Problem solved.

I go to the dealer and get a new plug.

So, what happened to this plug? Did it short out or something when I tried to start the car up the first time?

Bottom line... listen to the people on this board. I can't tell you how many times, I have a problem and it is the simplest thing. Yet I convince myself of doom.

So yesterday... I stop by this shop to see if I can get a replacement wire.(another story).. and tell the guy that I did the valve stem seals... he said how many miles on the car..I tell him. He said that job will only last 20k miles, then I will need a complete valve job, or have to do the seals again. I wonder what the people on this board think? I would tend to believe them more than a indy mercedes tech.. no sh...i...t.

Sorry for the long post

donbryce · #21 12-21-2007, 08:52 AM

So, it wasn't a fouled plug then. Mine took quite a few miles to build up enough sludge to foul the gap and mis-fire, which occurred on a vacation trip, and the cause wasn't obvious until I returned home and methodically pulled every one, certain that 1 was fouled, and also 90% sure that one of my self-installed seals caused it. It was a real good feeling when the culprit (#8 plug) was found (good because I was proving my theory correct, and also good that I knew how to fix it).
Sounds to me that you have reason to pat yourself on the back for doing the seal job correctly (although time will tell, as one may still not be seated and could work loose), and for pursuing the issue to it's conclusion....with or without a definitive answer.

lee polowczuk · #22 12-21-2007, 09:03 AM

Time will tell on the valve stem seal job. Especially since I did the 260e as well. My wife drove that several days (she drives 60 miles round trip) and it is running fine.

She is back in the CE today and very happy. I had her drive the Expedition for a couple of days and she wasn't thrilled driving it. It was her Mom car for a number of years.

t walgamuth · #23 12-21-2007, 09:22 AM

His logic about lasting only 20K was that the guides are worn?

If that is the thinking he may have a point but I think picking 20K as how long they will last is pulling it out of his a$$.

If the guides are loose it will shorten the life of the seals I imagine, but I would have to think it will last a lot longer than that.

Tom W

lee polowczuk · #24 12-21-2007, 09:59 AM

His assumed logic is at 164k the valve guides are worn and would damage the seals in 20k.

I have no idea. I guess I should have told him about the 260e with 214k. Now I suspect those valve guides are worn!

david s poole · #25 12-21-2007, 10:15 AM

i quart in 1200mls is not what i would call excessive for a 103 engine especially if it regularly sees rpm's north of 5000.

Texholdem · #26 12-21-2007, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david s poole

i quart in 1200mls is not what i would call excessive for a 103 engine especially if it regularly sees rpm's north of 5000.

A pretext for me to chicken out of the valve stem seal job, for now

btw, i'm going to check what 5000 rpm translated into mph, a guess: 70mph?

P.S. Dec 24, 2007: I was wrong, 70 mph is about 3300 rpm. 5000 rpm must be over 120 mph, which I cannot say for sure because never reached it in the states. My US driving record is clean

, not even a speeding ticket.

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