burnt head gasket

[elode]

Hello everyone, after multiple repairs on my 280 sl which I am completely taking over, injectors, water pump and the entire water circuit. Full ignition. Compression test no problem. Full engine check, no engine noise, everything is fine. It works perfectly but the car has been smoking white for quite some time when starting up but also when running at high speed before all this work. I noticed after 15 km since this work that I have a white liquid forming above the rocker cover. And yes I'm thinking of a head gasket. To avoid polluting all the changed hoses including the new water radiator, I am thinking of doing the cylinder head gasket. So I'm looking for a tutorial or a link including the necessary materials to avoid doing anything stupid. I can't find anything. This is not my first cylinder head disassembly to make the gasket but never on this engine. The distribution chain seems to have been changed in 2004 and the cylinder head was rectified and the guides changed. Is it necessary to change it again as a preventative measure? Thank you all for your help.

[Cees Klumper]

I assume you have checked in the tech manual for guidance. I agree it sounds like the head gasket, although make sure to thoroughly inspect the head itself when you have it off for cracks, corrosion etc. Maybe have it tested at a machine shop to be 100% sure.  There are relatively cheap testers available to check for combustion gasses in the coolant as a double check. I suggest also getting a Haynes manual, that will have step by step instructions for removing and re-installing the head. Best of luck!

[elode]

Thank you for your answer. In fact I have the Mercedes workshop documentation and the Haynes documentation (I'm not good in English).
For the distribution chain? it's weird 1 head gasket 20 years later with 1500km traveled since then. She drives a little but regularly

[elode]

good technique. I purchased a co2 kit to test the coolant. Well, my test tells me that I don't have a cylinder head gasket to do!!!!
So I think that if it smokes white especially when starting it is humidity in the exhaust and that the mayonnaise seems to be just that too. (I'm in France and the humidity is high, especially at the moment). We're going to drive a bit and check the rocker arm adjustment. For the kit we keep our fingers crossed that it is reliable. I did it 3 times and did the test by blowing into the tube.a big thank you because I almost dismantled everything probably for nothing.

[Pawel66]

Is your car an automatic? If so, white smoke from exhaust can also be caused by fractured diaphragm in automatic gearbox. I have not done the diaphragm replacement myself (I am not a mechanic, just do simpler jobs myself), but I am reading here on Forum it is not particularly difficult or expensive job.

[rwmastel]

Pawel,

Please elaborate on where this diaphragm is and what it does.  I do recall that there are old posts on the topic of white smoke from transmission fluid, but have not searched them yet.

[Pawel66]

I am sure you will find better quotes, but quickly:

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=33304.msg251989#msg251989

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=995.msg4803#msg4803

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=602.msg2606#msg2606

Point is that modulator pressure is regulated by vacuum from intake manifold through a diaphragm. If this diaphragm (piece of rubber) is ruptured, engine sucks ATF from transmission and burns it - producing white smoke. Remedy is to replace diaphragm (A 112-270-00-79).

The job to replace it may be tougher than I thought:

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=13766.msg93662#msg93662

[stickandrudderman]

Replacing that diaphragm is not straight forward. However, if it has indeed failed you will get a LOT of white smoke from the exhaust.