Burning a lot of oil after drivers side oil tube replacement. Need help.

[jonie13]

Hello,

I replaced my oiler tubes on the drivers side yesterday on my 1995 E420 (using metal tubes that had been cleaned in an ultrasonic machine and got new OE O-rings). I followed the directions on the "how-to" and double checked my work. Everything seemed to go fine. I did the passenger side 2 weeks ago and so far no issues. This time I replaced all my breather hoses in the process (the old ones were brittle and broke off when removing them from the valve cover). I also replaced the plastic chain guide when doing the tubes.

This morning, when I started the car up and drove it around, it was obvious that it was burning a lot of oil. I checked and there was no leaking from the valve covers...and I'm very confident that I put everything back together properly. It seems as if some trace oil is coming off the exhaust tips, so I'm fairly certain it's internal.

I have yet to crack the valve cover back open as I had to go to work this morning. However, I'd love to have your help if you have any ideas about what could be causing this.

After thinking about it, I'm wondering if a small chunk of petrified hose could have fallen into the metal ports for the breather tube (possibly blocking the flow of whatever goes through there). They cracked when removing them. I'm also wondering if maybe one of the oiler tubes was somehow blocked up, I didn't check them for blockage because of the way they'd been cleaned...but it's a possibility since I didn't check them each before install.

One last thing, I spilled some gas when reinstalling the gas line. Valve cover was on at this point, so I don't think it could have gotten in. I cleaned up what I could, but I let the car sit overnight before starting it because I was concerned about the gas being all over the engine.

Anyhow, any sagely advice would help...I plan on getting after it when I get home from work.

 

[Glen]

Did you check the oil level? Are you sure the engine is actually consuming oil?
I really don't see how changing the oil tubes could possibly have any effect on oil consumption.

 

[jonie13]

Thanks, I'll check the oil level when I get home. I have not looked in a few weeks. I'm not 100% sure that it's burning oil...but I do know that I'm kicking out a massive amount of blue smoke since making the change. When I pulled into traffic this morning, it was so thick that I could not see the car behind me. The exhaust tips were wet when I got back home (about 3 miles later), but I did not test them to see if it was actually oil. It was still smoking very heavily when I got home (seemed to be increasing). Something has definitely changed as the car ran completely fine before. Could be that something else coincidentally went out or got disturbed when I did the work.

Also, there were some nice broken pieces of valve cover in my valve train. Looks like the last guy broke about a 2mm x 1mm piece of the valve cover off on the last install and used gasket sealant to try to patch it up. I found the piece of metal (2 of them actually) lodged under a plastic oiler tube. It seems that I got all the metal out as I matched it up with piece that had broken off...but there is a slight possibility that there was a very small piece of metal left in there. God I hope not.

 

[Stevester 500E]

I don't see how changing the oiler tubes could have any effect either.
On the topic, is there a certain way to install the oilers? They are not perfectly symmetrical, one side is shaped different from the other.

Did you check the oil level? Are you sure the engine is actually consuming oil?
I really don't see how changing the oil tubes could possibly have any effect on oil consumption.

 

[whipplem104]

You have got to be pulling oil in through the crankcase ventilation. Pull the hose off and see if it is full of oil. If you replaced the upper chain guide there is a seal on it that does not come with it that you may have forgot. Check the bottom of the intake as well and see how oily it is. It will naturally have oil in it but it should not be a puddle. If you had a problem with one of the oil tubes for the camshafts it would be ticking or knocking really bad.

 

[TerryA]

Jonie,

I had a similar problem on another older Mercedes I owned a long time ago (not my 500e). In my case the blue smoke was caused by a vacume line check valve to the brake booster. If I remember I had installed it backwards and it allowed brake fluid to be sucked into the engine. It smoked really bad.

You changed a lot of hoses and have possibly got something backwards. I don't know if this is even possible on the M119 engine but you should review your hose installation.

 

[jonie13]

Thanks Whipplem104 and Terry. I think you're both on to something. I have been checking everything out since coming home from work and just can't get to the bottom of this. I've gone on a few rides and blue smoke is just spewing out of the exhaust when I accelerate. I also thought I felt a few bobbles where I started to lose power...wonder if my plugs are fouling up due to all the oil.

I triple checked all the breather hoses and the vacuum line to the break booster and they all seem fine and are hooked up correctly. I did not remove any check valves, so nothing to get reversed there. None of the breather hoses seem clogged and there is not anymore than just a trace amount of oil in them. Seems normal. There also doesn't appear to be anything blocking the metal ports that the hoses plug into either. I believe I have it all hooked up correctly, but attached a few photos just in case. Also, I did remember to swap over that rubber part from the old chain guide.

In my poking around, I opened the oil cap on the other valve cover (passenger side) and noticed that there was smoke coming out of the valve area here. not sure if that is normal or not, but it doesn't seem like this should be happening. One thing that I was concerned about 2 weeks ago (when doing the passenger side oiler tubes), was an issue I had when trying to replace the oil separator and breather tube (pictured). I had the hardest time getting it to seat in the hole...and after heating it and lubing it, I thought I got it to fit...but I'm not 100% that I did. Do you think that this could be creating the problem if it somehow got loose?

Anyhow, I'm going to call it a night. I might try to open up both valve covers tomorrow to see what I can see. Not too excited about the idea of that though! Thanks again for all the help.

 

[whipplem104]

You really should not drive it like this by the way. It will destroy the catalytic converter in short order with that much oil going through it. Just remove the valve covers and take a look. Something has to be not on right.
The only other thing it really could be would be the transmission modulator. The white vacuum hose will have clear indication of red fluid in it. So check that before you take anything apart. I have seen bad modulators smoke like crazy.

 

[TerryA]

Jonie,

Your car won't go to hell overnight. You have a minor mistake that appears to be major in appearance only.

I think you definitely have something reversed or installed incorrectly.

I think Dave, Klink or somebody would have a hose diagram that you can check out.

I will guarantee that you have not ruined your engine. It's a minor mistake.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gsxr]

The smoke out the tailpipe is bad, and you are correct there should NOT be any smoke at all coming out the oil fill cap.

I don't have any ideas as to what may be causing this, except something awry with the PCV breather system. I wouldn't drive the car too much until you fix it, burning oil could damage the catalysts...

 

[jonie13]

Ok...I opened up both valve covers tonight and everything looks fine there as suspected. That was a lot of work, and i had to reuse the copper washers which I can always swap out later, but at least I ruled out any issues there. I also took apart the entire breather hose assembly to check it for any blockages, etc... No problem there. I reviewed the diagram for how the hoses should be assembled, and it's dead on. I inspected the vacuum line (that black one that goes from the breather tubes and runs under the manifold, and it seems fine. Ran the car, tons of blue smoke still. Checked all hoses after running the car and no oil or anything like that. Checked every other vacuum line I could see and they all seem dry.

My only guess now is that I may have damaged that check valve on the other side of the firewall that is located on the black tube leaving the break booster. Terry, you mentioned that getting this backwards created an issue, but i wonder if a failure (due to me twisting the line to get it out of the way when removing the valve cover) could cause an issue as well. I think my next step will be to replace that and see what happens. If that does not solve the issue, I may just have to take it in somewhere.

One other thing I noticed (and I'm not sure if this is related) but in the last 1 or 2 days before this whole thing happened, I've had a few instances of my transmission not shifting into drive when the car is cold. On these occasions, I had to shift the car back into neutral and then bring it back to drive...then it engaged. Could this be a symptom of a bad transmission modulator...and could that be causing the smoke?

Sorry to have so many questions...and thanks for all the consideration.

Jon

 

[TerryA]

Whipplem mentioned the trans modulator. It's worth checking. The rough shifting could be a clue to a failure in the modulator that would allow trans fluid to pass thru the modulator. That white smoke says to me that you are definitely sucking up a fluid somewhere and it is being fed right into the intake system. If you don't find it soon take it someplace. The CATs cost to much to let this go on very long.

Good luck

 

[nocfn]

should be able to remove the line in 4.2 seconds off the modulator and see if it has fluid in it. Or for that matter, trans level should be down noticeably.

 

[jonie13]

Well, I thought I'd post an update. The car has been at the shop for 1.5 weeks now and the tech has not been able to find the issue. He's checked the trans vacuum modulator, all hoses and has opened up both valve covers and has found nothing. He seems like a competent mech. and comes highly regarded (used to work at Mercedes, has 5 starts on yelp and over 40 reviews, etc... etc...) Anyhow, I'm starting to get worried. I hope he can track down the issue soon. Will report back when the problem is solved.

Thanks again for all the help. :?

 

[jonie13]

So, $600 and 3 weeks later, the problem has been resolved! It turns out that the valve cover breather line and baffle were damaged. I must have done this when cleaning it. Once the tech replaced it with a 'new" used valve cover, the problem went away! Thanks again for all the help. I hope this info helps someone sidestep this issue in the future.

 

[jonie13]

Well, I spoke too soon. After 20-30 trouble free miles (3 days) with 0 smoke, the car started smoking like crazy again today on the freeway. I limped back to the shop that did the valve cover replacement. Seems strange that there would be no trace of smoke and then this. I'll post back when I know more. Ughhh.

 

[Klink]

We may have said this before, but make absolutely certain that your engine oil is not overfilled. It can't be even a half a millimeter above the maximum (max) mark. The marks on the dipstick are only valid at full operating OIL temperature, that is to say after about a 10 mile drive. Check it after the engine has been turned off for five minutes or so with the vehicle sitting on level ground. Do not simply withdraw the dipstick and inspect it. Instead, withdraw it, wipe it clean, reinsert it, leave it in place for several seconds, then withdraw again and read the level. Any excess oil can be sucked out of the dipstick tube with an appropriate device. Note that the difference between the minimum and maximum marks is about 2 liters.

See attached PDF with more details.

 

[whipplem104]

It must be filling up a baffle and takes some time. Which valve cover did he replace. Right or left. I just noticed you were in Kirkland. I have a shop in Bellevue if you need any help. Call Mercedes Centrum. But hope you get it resolved since you already payed.

 

[jonie13]

Well, got the car out of the shop about a month ago and it's been running trouble free so far. I was told that they had to "modify the vacuum system", but I'm not exactly sure what that entails and did' task a whole lot of questions. I was just glad to have it back! only thing I notice now is that the car will occasionally (very seldomly) struggle to accelerate under partial throttle. If I floor it, it goes away. This has happened maybe 2x in the last month. I'm thinking that the spark plugs may need to be swapped out or cleaned. Anyhow, wanted to report back after a few hundred miles.

 

[Joe500]

Hey, did you end up solving your smoke and hesitation issues? I have very similar problems.

 

[jonie13]

Yes...I didn’t solve the smoke issue myself, but the mechanic I took it to (well respected Indy) was able to solve the issue after having the car for a few months. I never quite understood what he fixed. He was quite stumped and finally told me that he “Modified” the vaccumm system”. I was happy to have the car back and didn’t ask questions! Sadly the car was totaled a few months later.

The hesitation issues ended up being a coil pack.

How did your smoke issues start? Did you change anything? Also, what color is the smoke?

 

[nocfn]

Was it the oil separation device on the PS?