Engine much louder after service.

[Badshot1uk]

Hi all

My 1989 230te (145,000 ish) has just been serviced by a friends dad (mobil mech).He was pretty good value but Iv'e noticed that the car seems a lot more tappety. It was allways there from cold but normally after starting the oil presure goes up and it disappers. Not now, I was driving today for about 20 mins and it took at least 10-15 to quieten down! Maybee the oils thinner than I used to use (castrol gtx magnetec10/40). I dont want to ring the guy up and start giving him the 3rd degree! but any ideas anybody? It was never this noisey before!!

 

[Haig Tyler]

Hi there,

I had the same thing happen on my 91 230TE (then at 160K).  I'd just bought it, and thought I'd change the oil.   What had originally been a cyclic tappet noise (gradually getting louder then suddenly stopping every 20 seconds), become pretty much constant.  I'd used Magnatec.  

With nothing to loose I used engine flush, which seemed to quieten things down down for a while, but then it went back to being tappety.

I ended up getting a local independent to replace all 8 hydraulic adjusters (about £7 ea from a dealer).  Labour was only about £100, and the engine's now as quiet as new, and really smooth.

Hope this helps.

Haig

PS - I also have a 90 190E (120K) that's showing the same symptoms, but as I use it less, it'll have to wait!

 

[Badshot1uk]

Thanks for you help on this Haig but Im not sure if mine has Hydrolic tappets. If anybody out there knows can they let me know (feb1989230te).
If not what would be the best way to sort out this annoying problem.
Thanks for your time all.

 

[Haig Tyler]

I think that you'll find that all Mercs of that age have hydraulically-adjusted tappets, but it could also be the rocker arms.  I just know what fixed mine, and luckily it was just the adjusters.

There's plenty of messages on the forum relating to this which I'm sure you could find by searching for 'tappet'.

Haig

 

[Andy]

Hi

Your vehicle is fitted with hydraulic tappets. As the other forum members have said, the tappets are the problem. The rocker arms can give trouble as well. But start with the tappets. It is one of the few complaints that can go with time or get less.

Don't give the mechanic the third degree its not his fault!!! I wish some of my customers would understand.

On these engines even if the tappets weren't noisy before. They can start tappeting, then stop. Why they do it? Who know's.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com