Well, I'm getting ready to do my first ever valve lash adjustment. Too dark now to do the acutal job, but the taking apart end is now done, with the engine turned to (almost) TDC. I did some fiddling around with the feeler guage. I cannot even get a .006 feeler between the cam and the rocker arm on the exhaust, which is supposed to be .030!! I'm now wondering if the tapping wasn't slight valve and piston conflict? Hopefully, I'm just being paraniod. I'm gonna get up and get the adjustment done tomorrow. Keeping my fingers crossed........................

Most engines I've worked on have at least 1/8" clearance when the valves are closed to the top of the piston at TDC. Even if your valves was tight I doubt they could hit the piston unless your timing chain was off several teeth or streched beyond reality!

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87 300SDL (115,000mi. 7/1/2008)
03 Jetta Wagon TDI (62,000mi. 7/1/2008)
75 240D(sold, sad to sell it, needed the garage for the SDL!)

Smokey

When one is tight, almost a certainty that another is loose.... the tapping noise is from the loose one.

Exhaust valves tend to go tight on the diesel from valve wear. Make sure the clearance doesn't change if you rotate the valve -- if it does, the seats and valve seat surface are worn unevenly and you need a valve job (and new rotocaps).

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Thanx Psfred. All valves were bad tight. I was doing some stethoscope type listening to the injectors earlier before work. #4 you can hear a distinct and notably louder "pop" sound when the tapping and loping starts. The noise goes away and all sounds normal when it is behaving correctly. I just priced new injectors from Fastlane. I was considering rebuilding them, but will replace 'em if they fail the breaking pressure test when I pull them to test. $46.21 a piece is better than I can get 'em rebuilt for locally.

Diesel Power,


Are you at the right place? If you can only fit a 0.006 feeler gauge, I would question if you don't still have the rocker arm on the camshaft ramp. The MB rockers are off to one side. The cam should be straight up or even toward your right(driverside). I always point them at the oilrail. Never had any problems.

I'm amazed if it is truely 0.006 on an exhaust and runs well hot. All adjustments need to be done cold-prefereably 60-70 F.



Michael

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Michael McGuire
83 300d
01 vw A4 TDI
66 Chevy Corsa
68 GMC V6 w/oD
86 300E

As far as I could tell, the valves were literally never touched on this car. Since this was my first time at this project, I studied the book and instructions closely and still kept the book handy during the job. All were checked between the cam and rocker arm as specified, with the lobes aimed at the sky. I will be going back in to check them again as soon as I have the proper wrenches to insure that they remained at spec. ALL of the valves had ZERO clearance when I started I was unable to fit a .006 feeler under any of the valves. I was surprised at the amount of adjustment they required, as they were all under some tension riding on the "closed" side of the camshaft.

you should pick up a little power if the valve were not completely closing.

how do you like your Cummins TD, I've heard they're a real work horse.
I think I'd consider the Cummins TD 6 over the Navistar TD 8.
It would be a tough choice.

I absolutely LOVE my Cummins. The Navistar engine cannot hold a candle to one. The Cummins is designed much like our beloved MB diesels - meant to be rebuilt repeatedly and last (almost) forever. The Navistar T444E engine is like the late (and not missed ) Caterpillar 3208 diesel - disposable. Even Navistar markets that engine as entry level and to be used only for the lightest duties specifiable in thier trucks, mainly school bus duty.