Noisy engine - When I start my 1988 200T there is a sort of

[oldman]

When I start my 1988 200T there is a sort of knocking noise from the engine. This lasts for about 5 minutes and then stops. Other than this there are no problems. It has covered 108000 miles.
Any suggestions as to the cause, and if possible a rough guess of the cost / time involved.

[Neil Eglintine]

It's kind of difficult to diagnose on such little information. Two obvious possibilities spring to mind, a 'lazy' hydraulic tappet, or piston slap. The tappet is much more likely, and well discussed in this forum. Try searching for similar queries about the 190 engine.

[white190]

I had a simular problem with my 190 and it was cured by replacing all the hydraulic tappets....they were only 5 quid each and it was easier to replace them all than try to find the defective one.....It wasn't even a hard job....no special MB tools required.

I hope it is the tappets as its a nice quick cheap fix.

Forgot to say If you replace the tappets make sure you change the oil and oil filter at the same time.... to make sure your oil pressure is as high as possible.



(Edited by white190 at 1:25 pm on Nov. 6, 2002)

[kiwi_bloke]

i had the same problem with my 86 190e. Simple oil change with 15 w 40 oil and the filters changed and it stoped it with in a couple of days.....

regards

josh :lol:

[dieselman]

Probably the oil viscosity is too heavy causing the tappets not to fill until the oil is thinned by engine heat.
Change for lower winter viscosity as Kiwi says.

[kiwi_bloke]

its amazing what a 17 year old knows huh? Another thing i shoud have mentioned is a bottle of engine flush wouldnt go astray when you change the oil......youll be suprised what it does....

josh

[Dave K]

DON'T USE ENGINE FLUSH :!: :!: At least, not on an older engine that hasn't been flushed at every oil change. Chances are, some old baked on oil will dislodge and block an oilway, resulting in huge damage :cry: . Plenty of evidence of this happening by way forums on other makes.

Sorry Kiwi bloke - don't mean to scorn your suggestion. Just passing on some wisdom. Used to live in NZ myself (Auckland).

[dieselman]

Dave

I don't agree with your statement about engine flush causing problems on a car that has had oil changes at reasonable intervals and not run on sludge.
I know the "old MG brigade" claim to have had problems, but they forget to tell you about the engines that are knackered due to oil starvation when the pickup blocks, when they have not been flushed ever.

If really concerned about sludge remove the sump and cam cover and scrape them out first.

I have flushed some very crappy engines and never had a problem. It is best to use "flushing oil" rarther than "engine flush" as it removes much more.

Any car with hydraulic tappets should be flushed occasionally, and will show tappet problems long before the sludge has built up to a dangerous level.

[kiwi_bloke]

yea no worries dave! Im learning all the time! Your older and wiser hehe.... It was just my last resort for a 'sticky' tappet.... it did cause some more noticible engine noise....since its calmed down....

An auckland boy....hehe im from taranaki.....