300sl buring lots of oil

[classicsl]

Purchased my 88 300sl in august and was due a service and therefore filled up with nice clean oil. oil light came on recently and having checked it, it is run right down to the min level on the dipstick. from what i can tell there are no serious leaks, what could cause the car to burn so much oil in about 1500 miles??

 

[mjtray]

Likely to be hardend valve stem seals......you will notice this if you decelerate from speed and see a cloud of smoke in your rear view mirror as you step on the gas again....quite common on the M103 engines

Its actually a fairly easy repair to get done, as the head does not have to be removed.

If you are getting blue smoke all the time.....things could be more serious, ie oil getting past the rings.

Just to check...are you sure the car is burning it, or could it be an oil leak from elsewhere.....any puddles of oil under the car...or leaks down the side of the engine block. Look at the rear of the block.

 

[Mikesmerc]

My brothers 190 guzzeled oil before he got the stem seals done, now doesnt burn a drop. Hard to believe that these little caps left in so much oil.
Mjtray, I thought that you would have to remove the valve collets and springs to replace the seals, if so what stops the valve falling in to the cylinder?, compressed air or the piston itself?
Regards
Mike

 

[mjtray]

Compressed air

 

[mlc]

Classicsl - what a bad lad you are! Changed the oil in August and check it for the first time in the new year. I suspect that the owners manual tells you that the oil should be checked every week or every fill up.

Assuming that down to the minimum means you needed to add a litre I think you will find you are well within MB's limits. The earlier 350 engine could use a litre per 500 miles and I think our SLK states upto a litre per 1000 miles.

Are you sure that you used the recommended oil? Modern (and thinner) oils will pass by the rings and guide seals a lot easier so you use more - consider using an oil more suitable to the design date of the engine.

Hope this helps.

Mark.

 

[Terminator]

Agree with MLC.

My 300CE gets through a litre every 1000 miles but there are no leaks or clouds of smoke. Topping up with new oil every 1000 miles might not be a bad thing for the longevity of the engine. Just try to find an inexpensive source of the correct oil!

 

[LNM]

mine drinks it too, keep a bottle in the boot at all times. There are a few little leaks here + there too.

Thats when its not having its effing head gasket done. :x