Hello everyone:
I own a 1991 T124 300TE 24v that has developed recently a smoking habit. I first noticed this at traffic lights, then accelerating but not not all the time and only when the engine is fairly hot.
I did consider the valve stem seal or guides as prime suspects but upon casual engine bay inspection, I did notice a pool of oil standing a the rear of the exhaust manifold, by the the cylinder number 6. It seems large quantities of oil are blowing from the head exhaust port on cylinder number 6, escaping through the exhaust system and through the exhaust manifold gasket.
Facts are:
Engine with 137k miles.
Always serviced on time.
Pulls like the proverbial train, no loss of performance.
Oil consumption is keeping Castrol afloat
No coolant loss nor oil contamination.
No excessive blow by on the engine breather.
Spark plugs not oily, just quite sooty from town driving, had to adjust CO level, it was at 7.7%!
No smoke from cold , at all.
Smokes irregularly and only when quite hot.
Changed the oil from usual Magnatec 10-40 to GTX 20-50 to stem smoke until head is repaired.
I haven't done yet a compression test but will do it soon.
I seem to remember the head gaskets on these engines were a weak point and could justify somehow the oil leak at the rear, driver's side, is this true? What could be the cause?
Obviously I will take the car out of the road, in two weeks time, and rebuild the head but it would be nice to find an answer or explanation for this puzzling problem.
I would really appreciate any help with this strange problem, I would like to keep the old girl on the road, as she does a sterling job for me.
Many thanks!
I own a 1991 T124 300TE 24v that has developed recently a smoking habit. I first noticed this at traffic lights, then accelerating but not not all the time and only when the engine is fairly hot.
I did consider the valve stem seal or guides as prime suspects but upon casual engine bay inspection, I did notice a pool of oil standing a the rear of the exhaust manifold, by the the cylinder number 6. It seems large quantities of oil are blowing from the head exhaust port on cylinder number 6, escaping through the exhaust system and through the exhaust manifold gasket.
Facts are:
Engine with 137k miles.
Always serviced on time.
Pulls like the proverbial train, no loss of performance.
Oil consumption is keeping Castrol afloat
No coolant loss nor oil contamination.
No excessive blow by on the engine breather.
Spark plugs not oily, just quite sooty from town driving, had to adjust CO level, it was at 7.7%!
No smoke from cold , at all.
Smokes irregularly and only when quite hot.
Changed the oil from usual Magnatec 10-40 to GTX 20-50 to stem smoke until head is repaired.
I haven't done yet a compression test but will do it soon.
I seem to remember the head gaskets on these engines were a weak point and could justify somehow the oil leak at the rear, driver's side, is this true? What could be the cause?
Obviously I will take the car out of the road, in two weeks time, and rebuild the head but it would be nice to find an answer or explanation for this puzzling problem.
I would really appreciate any help with this strange problem, I would like to keep the old girl on the road, as she does a sterling job for me.
Many thanks!
