1980 350 sl smoke in breather/air intake tray

[goldman 107]

1980 350 sl highish mileage, (but very low oil consumption) excessive smoke on start up through breather and fairlly wet (oil) in air intake tray, is this normal? given age and 100k+

 

[turbopete]

not sure if its normal or not, but i think id check that all the breather pipes etc are clear and cleaned as a starting point. is the smoke on start up black, blue or white?

 

[goldman 107]

thanks for your info, turbopete, blue smoke,i have examined and cleaned accessable breathers (tops of cam covers) no blockages so far, would blue smoke(in air intake with top removed) indicate this there is slight pressure in the crankcase or oil slipping past the rings, although as stated oil consumption is virtually nil and no blue smoke out of the exhaust hot or cold, are these previously mentioned breathers (cam covers tops) the most likely culprits, thanks for your time G.D

 

[television]

The main one is the pipe from the bottom of the engine (Crankcase) where it goes into the air intake.

Crankcase compression can be felt by putting your hand over the oil filler cap, though if it is not burning oil, not a major problem.

Do you know what type of oil is in the engine

 

[meanie]

To get an accurate answer,carry out a cylinder leakage test-oil vapours collect in the air filter box & then to a lesser extent accumulate on the air flap.This is normal.
At 100000 these engines are just run in.

 

[goldman 107]

thanks for replies and help, breather that goes into air box comes from l/h/s bank rocker/cam cover, havent looked underneath yet i. crankcase area,no appreciable pressure out of oil filler, just blue smoke, fair bit (oil) congregated in bottom of air intake tray and traces of oil (dirty) inside air flap, curious, oil is semi synthetic 10/40 (comma eurolite!!) have checked oilman, (recommends mobil 10/40 semi/syn) thanks again,