new head or new engine - experienced advice sought, please ?
This is my first post on the forum but have been following it for quite a while. Thanks to all for advice and entertainment!
My story now goes like this - 1987 280 GEL, great condition throughout except...the engine. Loads of oil smoke on start up, sitting in traffic, running downhill, clears up when driven normally. Oil consumption correspondingly massive. Two heavily oiled plugs. Little bit of mayo on rad cap. No overheating, slight hesitation on full bore traffic pull-outs and inconsistent stuttering above 4k revs. Power generally OK the rest of the time and 80mph no trouble on mway.
At first I thought "It's a Merc straight six so those valve stem seals are predictably at the end of their lives so I'll do that soon" but I didn't get around to it. Then it all got a bit too smoky and the rad cap mayo appeared so I thought "OK, time for a new/recon head and gasket, so I'd better get around to checking the compression". So I did and two cylinders are hugely low when tested. What puzzles me is that they are so low I'm really surprised the engine runs as well as it does power and smoothness wise most of the time and starts so easily.
So the area I am asking for seasoned knowledge is whether anyone reckons or can give clues whether this is a replacement/recon engine job or whether it's just the head...?!?
Your views gratefully received...
I would go for a used engine from a W123 or W126 saloon.... much more power, same torque and same or even lower fuel consumption if you drive wisely...
Hi you could get by with a head gasket but you won't know until you open it up.these engines are lying around breakers yards for as little GBP 200..I have two ...one on the floor and one in the G' if you have the talent to pull yours apart okay but to pay somebody with experience (not many about) of that engine your pockets would need to be deep.....
I would get a competent garage to do a cylinder leakage test after the valve clearences have been adjusted, preferably on a cold engine. Should the compression improove dramatically then it is o.k. to go ahead and renew the head gasket and service the valves, seats and renew oil seals.
I personnaly would choose a reconditioned engine or second hand one, one that you have witnessed runing or a reputable second hand parts dealer. Or, you have just taken on a development project. How about a personal favourateof mine, a Porsche 928 engine in your G-Wagen, it was on the books by M/benz in its early years.
An enchange engine could or should cost in the region of about £1100 to £1300.
Regards,
Hi Please read your PM (private mail)
Be wary of "exchange engines" as most have had nothing done to them. The warranty provided is usually limited to getting another replacement exchange engine with many conditions. If you want to be sure of the end result, you are better-off fixing your existing engine. Many parts are not expensive as people think and it's not a very complicated engine to re-assemble by today's standards. At least diagnose properly what's wrong and then decide. If you're looking at keeping the vehicle for the long-term, it's a good investment to repair, rather than fitting some other unknown engine, which may be in the same situation shortly after.
Take a look at these people:
http://www.creweengines.co.uk/
No affiliation, but they quoted a good price for rebuilding an acquaintance's G300D engine, which was cheaper than a replacement engine he'd been offered.
Take a look at these people:
http://www.creweengines.co.uk/
No affiliation, but they quoted a good price for rebuilding an acquaintance's G300D engine, which was cheaper than a replacement engine he'd been offered.
And for whatever it's worth, they show a G on their website....
Crewe engines are arguably the best specialist in MB engine reconditioning in the UK.
They used to be the UK reps for STT Turbos too.
Highly recommendable.
But I must insist... the hi-comp M110 engine would look as original as the lo-comp version in your G's engine bay and it will be so much better to drive with virtually the same fuel consumption...
Crewe engines are arguably the best specialist in MB engine reconditioning in the UK.
Although that is probably true, my experience with them must have been the exception to the rule, a whole catalogue of errors on their part which meant that the engine had to go back THREE times. Still isn't 100 % now but I have given up on them.
The above is just MY experience,
regards
Richard
You guys are great! Once again, many thanks to all.
I'm going to bury my head under the bonnet tonight to do more investigating of the present engine. The good news is that even my wife agrees our G has to stay because we love her so much.
Richard.
Quote:Crewe engines are arguably the best specialist in MB engine reconditioning in the UK.
Although that is probably true, my experience with them must have been the exception to the rule, a whole catalogue of errors on their part which meant that the engine had to go back THREE times. Still isn't 100 % now but I have given up on them.
The above is just MY experience,
regards
Richard
Your not the only one, I have heard many a horror story
I once had a crew 'rebuilt' engine - all they do is fix what was wrong . They do not rebuild the whole engine - they just do what's needed to make it run again (got that from someone who worked there). What you get is an engine that was probably not well treated in the first place and could well fail again soon. At least if you rebuild your engine you will know what you've got or replace the engine with one that is running well.
I once had a crew 'rebuilt' engine - all they do is fix what was wrong . They do not rebuild the whole engine - they just do what's needed to make it run again (got that from someone who worked there). What you get is an engine that was probably not well treated in the first place and could well fail again soon. At least if you rebuild your engine you will know what you've got or replace the engine with one that is running well.
Oh great............... :(
Glad that I have a 'spare' engine on standby! :lol:
Well that will teach me to tempt fate!
The G shuddered to a halt yesterday, diesel peeing out of one of the 'rebuilt' injectors and a failing liftpump. (connected?)
Still it managed 200 miles this time between breakdowns :?
Then to top it all off the seatbase sheared off, although that 'might' be weight related, it had a flat tyre and the battery died a sudden and unexpected death.
Things are not well in G-land!
And my spare is a silly size!
Well that will teach me to tempt fate!
The G shuddered to a halt yesterday, diesel peeing out of one of the 'rebuilt' injectors and a failing liftpump. (connected?)
Still it managed 200 miles this time between breakdowns :?
Then to top it all off the seatbase sheared off, although that 'might' be weight related, it had a flat tyre and the battery died a sudden and unexpected death.
Things are not well in G-land!
And my spare is a silly size!
Sounds like a bad day :(
Make sure that the deisel is from the injector and not just from the return pipe - atleast that would be an easy fix.
Re seat base - well I'm surprised you can afford food with all you spend on that machine :wink:
God luck with it all
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Dear All -
Many thanks for your thoughts. I love Pistonhead's view on the 928 V8 and if I was 10 years older I might go down that line. Trouble is, 3 small children plus own business means "development projects" will have to wait for another decade plus this much-loved G (children's favourite car) is actually a working machine so I can't take if off the road for too long.
The W123/6 idea seems a good one, altho I'd like to keep the G original. At the moment, she is rust-free and totally "as on day one". Does an '80's six just drop in with a"nuts & bolts" job or are there predictable hassle areas? If I wanted a G standard decompressed m110, dare I ask for suggestions on where to source a replacement engine?
With thanks to all...