Noisy tappets/valves - E280 W124

[Philirv]

I have had my E280 since March of 2002. I bought it from a main dealer in Blackburn. Upon it's first service, the MB specialist in Reading informed me that there was oil weaping from the front and rear of the cylinder head gasket, some which was collecting at the bottom of the engine pan (Just as predicted by Honest John - see car-by-car breakdown on W124).

I drove the car for another 3 months in this condition but come the colder weather in October, I found that if the car stood still for 48 hours, that a hydraulic adjuster on one of the tappets had become lazy enough to cause a tap and a misfire. Apparently, this was caused by oil starvation caused by weapage at back and front of cylinder head.

The situation got gradually worse, so after MUCH complaints letters etc, the dealer agreed to change the gasket and the 'lazy' hydraulic adjusters. In total it cost over 2 grand to do this.

One year on, and the tap is back. I started the car yesterday after 5 days of non-use, and a distinct misfire had returned which went away after 2 minutes of running.

The car has only 76k miles on it now, and has been serviced religiously.

I'm at the end of my tether !

Has anyone had a similar experience ?


Short of selling the car, how can I solve this problem.

 

[Brian WH]

Originally posted by Philirv
Apparently, this was caused by oil starvation caused by weapage at back and front of cylinder head.

It certainly was caused by oil starvation, but I cannot believe that a small leak on the cylinder head would make that difference??

I would suggest that the more likely cause is a blockage on the oil feed to the rockers, due to gunge in the feed pipes. These want checking and cleaning out, which should have been done when they changed the hydraulic adjuster?

I could be wrong but I think the question needs asking mate.

 

[cmgdaug]

Tappet noise on start up is nothing to be concerned about. It will refill with oil and be perfectly OK. It is usually a sign of oil degradation in my experience, and a need to change the oil. Synthetic will not degrade so readily, so is better to use.

Noisy tappets do not usually cause a misfire, so I cannot see the connection. Is it your imagination, with respect. If it is a misfire, then that aspect needs investigation as a seperate issue.

Gasket weep is also not a problem and can go on for years with no ill effect.

I have found that keeping the oil level nearer the minimum mark on the dipstick has all but eliminated my weep.

There was an American bulletin that recommended this and reduced the amount of oil needed on an oil change from 7.5 litres to 7 litres.

David Williams E320 Coupe 1995 (W124)

 

[Philirv]

Thanks for your responses on this.

The car is due for a major service and oil change on the 30th, so I'm going to get my local specialist, John Griffiths in Reading to replace with fully synthetic oil to help unblock oil-ways.

I'll let you know how it runs afterwards.

Regarding MB dealers in general, I would have to concur with Jezza that they are generally 'crap'.

Ta

Philip Irving