Engine Life 230TE

[Pinchcliff]

Hi, newbie here, I've just bought a 1985 230TE (last of the W123 series). It has done 170,000 and runs fine without any obvious knocks or bangs. How long could I expect to get from this type of engine? The car is a 2 owner vehicle with a very comprehensive service history so appears to have been very well looked after. From looking around I've seen several people qouting engine changes at 150,000ish. Am worrying unduly or is my engine about to self destruct?

 

[Cole@MBS]

Not with that little mileage on it!!

Welcome to the forums!

 

[television]

The only thing that I would do is to see if the timing chain is worn or stretched,and easy to do

 

[jibcl500]

IF you use mercedes filters and a good oil everything should be ok for another 150k good engine!!!


jib

 

[Pinchcliff]

Thank You

Thanks that's great to hear.

 

[television]

We used to have a few cars some years back where the chain or sprockets had worn

Just by taking off the top cover you can check it. the teeth on the cam wheel must not be sharp on top they should be flat.

Turn the engine round to get the timing marks up on the damper ring, then look at the timing marks on the camshaft, 2-3mm is the max that deviation.

And welcome from me

 

[Pinchcliff]

Thanks a lot

Thanks for all the reassuring advice, I'll have a look at the timing chain sprocket this weekend.
Jeff.

 

[meanie]

A few things spring to mind with these engines.
Most common is for the head gasket to leak around no.4 cylinder - check for signs of rust on the spark plug.
Valve guides wear causing smoke on start up & on the over run.
The 102 engine fitted to the 123 series was only fitted with a single rail chain, & this was a major weakness. Regular oil changes using good oil helps, as does removing & cleaning the tensioner every 24/30000 miles. With experience, we would look at the piston protrusion of the tensioner when the rocker box was off to assess the chain wear.
Always replace the chain, gears & tensioner as a job lot. If it needs doing, there was an oil spray nozzle available to retro fit to spray oil onto the distibutor drive gear. At the same time replace the oil pump gears as this was also a weak spot.
Check & adjust the tappets every 12000 miles, as the cams were a litlle tender too.
As others have said, this is pretty much a bombproof engine if looked after & the above points are kept on top of.