w123 230 CE Noisy Timing chain

[Mark Zygadlo]

W123 '84 230 CE. The engine is very clattery when started from cold for a few seconds but as soon as the oil pressure comes up on the guage, the noise disappears. I have been told this is probably the timing chain and it seems to be coming from the front of the engine. Oil pressure when idling warm is above between 2 and 3. As it should be, I think.
Even when running warm there is a slight uneven noise from the same area.
I see from my Russek manual that the engine has a hydraulic chain tensioner.
The question is: is the tensioner the problem, slow or sticky to work until the oil pressure is up to max, or is it the chain itself?
Thanks.

 

[Sp!ke]

My first thoughts would be the hydraulic valve lifters (assuming your W123 engine has them).

How old is the oil and what oil was used exactly?

 

[Mark Zygadlo]

Spike.
Thanks for your response. I have checked the manual; the tappets/ lifters are mechanical.
I am interested in the oil question though. I have just got the car and the oil is clean so I have not changed it. I just drove from Scotland to Cornwall and back, via London, about 1200 miles, and it used about half a litre which I have topped up. Would the oil make a great difference, providing it's in good condition?
I just checked out your pics of the next model, the W124; very smart. I ran the W124 230 TE for a while, also a manual; it was a great car. I traded it for a W123. 300TD which I seriously miss and which is why I got the coupe.
Mark.

 

[vijilants]

W123 '84 230 CE. The engine is very clattery when started from cold for a few seconds but as soon as the oil pressure comes up on the guage, the noise disappears. I have been told this is probably the timing chain and it seems to be coming from the front of the engine. Oil pressure when idling warm is above between 2 and 3. As it should be, I think.
Even when running warm there is a slight uneven noise from the same area.
I see from my Russek manual that the engine has a hydraulic chain tensioner.
The question is: is the tensioner the problem, slow or sticky to work until the oil pressure is up to max, or is it the chain itself?
Thanks.

Depends on if the chain has ever been changed. Whats sort of mileage has the car done ?

When doing the chain, its best to replace the tensioner at the same time.

 

[Mark Zygadlo]

137,000. I have only just got the car but saw no mention of the chain being changed in the history, which is by no means complete.
Sounds like I have to do the whole job.
Have you ever done this? Any tips?
Mark

 

[vijilants]

137,000. I have only just got the car but saw no mention of the chain being changed in the history, which is by no means complete.
Sounds like I have to do the whole job.
Have you ever done this? Any tips?
Mark

I had it done on a w123 coupe I previously owned...I left it to a guy that specialised in older Mercs.

If I were you I'd do the same as depending on the engine, even though these engines may look fairly simple, there are certain techniques required to set up the tensioner and if these are not adhered to, disaster occurs.

 

[stever]

AFAIK, it's recommended to change them at 60,000 miles, so do it ASAP!

 

[grober]

The single row timing chain is a known weak point on these engines. Later incarnations of the engine had duplex chains fitted to combat this. Mercedes-Benz M102 engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
and
Mercedes-Benz W123 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Best to rebuild the front end of the engine with a new chain+tensioner+ guides if it hasn't been done before.

 

[Mark Zygadlo]

Thanks to all of you who have responded to this question. I get the picture; I will get this done as soon as I can. Thanks again, Mark

 

[simonja]

W123 Merc engine

W123 '84 230 CE. The engine is very clattery when started from cold for a few seconds but as soon as the oil pressure comes up on the guage, the noise disappears. I have been told this is probably the timing chain and it seems to be coming from the front of the engine. Oil pressure when idling warm is above between 2 and 3. As it should be, I think.
Even when running warm there is a slight uneven noise from the same area.
I see from my Russek manual that the engine has a hydraulic chain tensioner.
The question is: is the tensioner the problem, slow or sticky to work until the oil pressure is up to max, or is it the chain itself?
Thanks.

Hi Mark i have a 83 W123 recon engine if your interested.

 

[Mark Zygadlo]

Hi Simonja.
Thanks. I am still optimistic but it might be worth bearing in mind if you are not in a rush to sell it. What's it worth? How many miles has it done since recon? I'm not sure what the procedure is for buying and selling through the forum.

 

[SG76]

Hi Mark i have a 83 W123 recon engine if your interested.

Hey man, how much do you want for the recon Engine?

 

[jaymanek]

IVe got a good W123 230E engine too... Can be heard running..

 

[krimat2005]

I have checked the manual; the tappets/ lifters are mechanical

I thought they do require adjusting every 12k-15k if they mechanical?? I would make sure if this isn't the reason of your problems. And I've never heard about changing the timing chain every 60k?? Not on the old MB's.

 

[grober]

I thought they do require adjusting every 12k-15k if they mechanical?? I would make sure if this isn't the reason of your problems. And I've never heard about changing the timing chain every 60k?? Not on the old MB's.

The single timing chain do wear much more than the duplex ones. While 60K would be a precautionary figure and a chain might last a lot longer the posters car has done twice that! Some people just change the chain in situ without changing the guides or tensioner but at 137,000 miles they are all probably due renewal. I would try renewing the tensioner first to see if that quietens things down.

 

[SG76]

IVe got a good W123 230E engine too... Can be heard running..

Sounds good to me what sort of money are you looking for? How many miles on it etc...

Many thanks.