i got everything bolted back together from a head gasket change..fill the fluids..start the car. runs and sounds like absolute ****. leaking coolant from somewhere on the back of the engine ..but not the heater hose, hooked up a vac guage its oscillating from 2-5hg. feels like its only running on 3 cylinders. idles at 800 and revs up pretty quick when you give it gas. no codes..no backfiring..no smoke

ill run a compression check but it kinda seems like i f-ed up my head gasket repair somehow. everything went together smoothly im a lil disappointed and a little bit frustrated

actually it looks like its only leaking from that o-ringed water line under the thermostat. so thats an easy fix.

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1993 e300
1995 e320
1994 e320
2006 s500 4matic
2004 Jeep wj overland
2001 Ducati 748
2004 Honda shadow aero

Thanks for sharing?

check the coils for correct orientation1/6 2/5 3/4 has the correct way on the cover

I swapped them around with some spares I had. No change. Exhaust smells rich.


Was just asking for help/ ideas on how to fix my car

__________________
1993 e300
1995 e320
1994 e320
2006 s500 4matic
2004 Jeep wj overland
2001 Ducati 748
2004 Honda shadow aero

It almost sounded as if you solved with the last line "actually it looks like its only leaking from that o-ringed water line under the thermostat. so thats an easy fix. " but maybe not.

What would cause the back 3 cylinders to not fire? I started the engine cold and checked the exhaust ports for heat. Cylinders 4 5 6 are ice cold while 1 2 3 quickly heated up.

__________________
1993 e300
1995 e320
1994 e320
2006 s500 4matic
2004 Jeep wj overland
2001 Ducati 748
2004 Honda shadow aero

Perform a compression test before further diagnosis

Cylinder 6 has zero compression. Guess I need to do a leak down test now to figure out exactly what’s going on. Maybe a valve got damaged somehow?

__________________
1993 e300
1995 e320
1994 e320
2006 s500 4matic
2004 Jeep wj overland
2001 Ducati 748
2004 Honda shadow aero

How did you time? did you verify the positions of the cams with a 4mm pin flat against the head surface? crank at OT? intake sprocket turned CW?

Yup did everything. I’m 100 percent the timing is spot on. I checked.. rotated the engine double checked.. rotated a few times checked again. Variable Intake cam sprocket turned clockwise. I ran a shope inside and there’s no physical damage. Piston top is untouched.

__________________
1993 e300
1995 e320
1994 e320
2006 s500 4matic
2004 Jeep wj overland
2001 Ducati 748
2004 Honda shadow aero

Post the compression data of all 6 cyl with spark plugs removed. Obviously there is a mechanical fault (since 0 compression at cyl #6) I would get that sorted first.

Ok I’ll do that after work.

The only thing I can think of is that I put a lil bit of oil on the cylinder walls .. maybe it pooled on the piston and hydro locked or I had an issue with the exhaust cam being out of timing when I installed the head. I didn’t force anything. Maybe that was enough to bend a valve a little.

__________________
1993 e300
1995 e320
1994 e320
2006 s500 4matic
2004 Jeep wj overland
2001 Ducati 748
2004 Honda shadow aero

Head is off. Number 6 valves are bent a lil. Not fully seating.

__________________
1993 e300
1995 e320
1994 e320
2006 s500 4matic
2004 Jeep wj overland
2001 Ducati 748
2004 Honda shadow aero

what about cylinders 4,5 ?better check all of them, did you get a head gasket yet ? I may have 1 ill donate to your cause, im an mb tech was given about 4 104 gaskets from another engine guy that moved, im in L.A, just come pick it up im off Monday, I even have used valves if you need them

Number 4 and 5 appear to be ok. I’ll have the shop check everything. I was going to do a big pelican parts order next Friday. I probably could use those valves tho. The machine shop will definitely charge me a good penny for theirs. What part of la? It’ll be about a 2+ hour drive for me

__________________
1993 e300
1995 e320
1994 e320
2006 s500 4matic
2004 Jeep wj overland
2001 Ducati 748
2004 Honda shadow aero