I am getting ready to replace valve stem seals. I ordered the valve seals, but they are all the same size. After reading posts from others, all with different models than mine, are the exhaust and intake selas the same size on my 88 560SEL?

Couple other questions. Is it better to pull the cams when changing out the seals, or leave them in place and work around them? Taking the cams and gears out looks like it will create a problem turning the engine over to get to TDC for each piston. The timing chain willl be laying there loose. However, with the cams out makes the springs much more accessable. Any advice from some one who has done this on a V8?

Thanks

My mechanic uses compressed air to hold the valves up and just displaced the rocker arms from under the cam. Very easy, since you have hydraulic lifters and not the solid lifters on my 280SE!

I think all the replacement seals are the small size. They work fine. Replacing them will eliminate the oil consumption problem.

Check your "radiator" cap, too -- it's often dead by now, and not holding pressure or, more rarely, not releasing vacuum!

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Thanks for the R-cap advice.

I am planning to use air to hold up the valves, but thank you for the hint. Most important at this stage are the valve seal sizes. I will have to pull them out to see for sure.

Thanks you,
David 88 560SEL