kennygss

I have a 97' E420 with 55K miles. It has developed a "click" in the valve train. Kind of like a stuck valve aor lifter. It has come and gone a couple of times. Any ideas? Thanks.

f4i 954

Possible the oil feed to one of your lifters fell out, comen on 119 engines.

kennygss

Thanks for that. If that is indeed the case, is it a job should tackle? Or is it best left to the pro's?

kennygss

Ok, the noise went away! Thats twice it's come and gone. Ideas?

corgiman

If the noise is a ticking that typically happens right after you start the car it's probably a lifter that has a leak and collapses while sitting. This is more pronounced when the car is hot or has been setting for a long time. If it ticks a few times and then goes away it's annoying but basically harmless. If it ticks constantly it needs attention.

kennygss

Actually, it will come while driving and at operating temp., then go away, maybe the next day.

jimmydagreek

Mine did the exact same thing and we have discussed this in another thread. It was the lifters that made the noise. It started off doing it every once in a while and then it became constant and a lot louder. My MB mechanic suggested switching to fully synthetic oil like Mobil 1 and adding an additive to clean the lifters that is sold by the MB dealer (you can also find these at Pep Boys). The ticking seemed to quiet for a while and then came back just the same. The final outcome was to replace the lifters. The MB dealer wanted over $3000 bucks for this job but thank God for my mechanic as he only charged me about $1500 bucks and replaced the timing chain and some other items in there in which I don't remember now and included warranty. The car (knock on wood) runs like brand new and better than before I bought it! I continue to use Mobil 1 fully syn. oil now and have not had anymore problems since. Good luck and hopefully you can cure your problem if it's minor with the syn. oil and lifter cleaning additive...

kennygss

Thanks for the input fellas! Im gonna try a "top-engine clean" oil additive, then switch from 20-50 Vslvoline to a Synthetic and see whats up then. Hope for the best I guess, but hey, if I need lifters, that would be an excellent time to replace the camshafts with something better and then I could...

jimmydagreek

If you need a good MB mechanic, let me know (depending where in So. Cal. you are)...Much luck...

Steve Clark

are you using 20W50 viscosity oil?.The higher viscosity may be contributing to your valve train noise.

kennygss

Steve, It was making the noise(intermittently) before the oil change. Tech recommended that Vis due to recent high weather temps.

mbtech208

A cap popped off one of the camshaft oiler tubes. Not an uncommon problem on the 119 series engine.

kennygss

OK, Is that "cap" repair an easy deal to repair?

kennygss

So, I went to 10W30 conventional oil, along with an oil treatment (risoline i think) drove the car a while, and noise is gone. We shall see.