Top end tick on 1995 e320
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 52
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From: Durham, North Carolina
1995 e320 Wagon
Top end tick on 1995 e320
Hi all,
I have a 1995 e320 that has developed an irritating valve tick since I replaced the head gasket to fix the infamous leak (after about 190k, I am at 210k now, I finally could stand no more of the stinky smell and constant checking). My best guess is that some microscopic piece of gunk has stuffed up one of the hydraulic valve lifters and instead of pumping up it is just bouncing around in there embarrassing me when I am driving around a parking lot.
My question is if it is a reasonable plan of attack to add various cleaning stuff for the top end (ie SeaFoam) and if that doesn't do anything, which it has not for the last few days, then I open the valve cover and start examining lifters.
If it becomes obvious that a lifter needs to be replaced is that something that someone who somehow managed to replace a head gasket would be capable of doing?
Of course if anyone has any other suggestions on what this annoying ticking could be I am all ears on that.
Thanks very much,
Jim Lee
1995 e320 wagon
I have a 1995 e320 that has developed an irritating valve tick since I replaced the head gasket to fix the infamous leak (after about 190k, I am at 210k now, I finally could stand no more of the stinky smell and constant checking). My best guess is that some microscopic piece of gunk has stuffed up one of the hydraulic valve lifters and instead of pumping up it is just bouncing around in there embarrassing me when I am driving around a parking lot.
My question is if it is a reasonable plan of attack to add various cleaning stuff for the top end (ie SeaFoam) and if that doesn't do anything, which it has not for the last few days, then I open the valve cover and start examining lifters.
If it becomes obvious that a lifter needs to be replaced is that something that someone who somehow managed to replace a head gasket would be capable of doing?
Of course if anyone has any other suggestions on what this annoying ticking could be I am all ears on that.
Thanks very much,
Jim Lee
1995 e320 wagon
Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 201
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1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E
yeah if you can do a headgasket, lifters are no problem, just pop the cams out and pull them out with your fingers. Run a quart of ATF or something through right before your next oil change see what happens. Drive the hell out of it, get the oil pressure up.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Durham, North Carolina
1995 e320 Wagon
Pop the cams out?
Quicksilver,
I have got the valve cover off and am staring at the cams and lifters. I would rather not replace all lifters. Do I just remove the torx bolts that hold the cams down and remove the cams then press down on the lifters to see which one is bad? Or do I have to actually run the engine first to find out what lifter is not lifting?
Also, is there any diy doc about removing the cams on this engine?
Thanks very much,
Jim Lee
I have got the valve cover off and am staring at the cams and lifters. I would rather not replace all lifters. Do I just remove the torx bolts that hold the cams down and remove the cams then press down on the lifters to see which one is bad? Or do I have to actually run the engine first to find out what lifter is not lifting?
Also, is there any diy doc about removing the cams on this engine?
Thanks very much,
Jim Lee
Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E
Sorry, not on here too much. There are tons of docs on cam removal. I don't know how to just diagnose one lifter tho. You can look at the tops and replace the most smashed ones. Lifters are cheap tappets/buckets are expensive.
The lifters aren't pumped up till the engine is running to build pressure so pressing on them won't do anything I don't think.
The lifters aren't pumped up till the engine is running to build pressure so pressing on them won't do anything I don't think.
