Top end wear?

[ollieplimsoles]

Just given my 1991 2.0 Auto190E a full service and everything is fine... except for this. Whenever started from cold there is a bit of a clatter from the engine which settles after the car has been running a while - the car runs smoothly thereafter.

Been told that this could be due to camshaft or valve wear or both. The car has 124000 miles on the clock. I only intend to use the car a maximum of 3000 miles per year as a 'modern classic' and have taken out classic car insurance.

Is it really worth the hassle to replace camshaft & or valves for such a small annual mileage? I don't imagine it would present a problem at MoT time either - what do you think?

Thanks in advance.

Mark S

 

[TKB13]

IMO it is unlikely to be camshaft wear but more likely hydraulic tappets past their best. They're not expensive at around a tenner each fron GSF or ECP.
Not considered a serious problem provided the noise disappears once the oil has circulated properly. There is also an additive product on the market for this very problem which may be worth a try.
Not an MOT problem either.

 

[Ian B Walker]

I would advise against using any additive in these or any merc engine. They have a habit of hiding things more problamatical and the end result could be expensive. change the tappet buckets as has been mentioned and see if that makes any difference. Or even the timing chain. At 124k it is near time it was changed.

 

[grober]

what viscosity grade of oil is in the car. Normally I would advocate a 10w40 semi-synthetic for your age of car, but a change to a fully synthetic 0w40, 5w50 might help oil circulation when cold. But be prepared for some leaks. Otherwise its down to the tappet buckets, timing chain or timing chain tensioner.