I had an exhuast leak. I think it caused a valve to go bad. How much an I looking at to fix this? Should I have the heads re-worked or just fix the bad valve? I'm tired of fixing problems but know that comes with the territory of having a fast car.

 

Exhaust leak, valve damaged, what is the connection?
Tearing the engine down for a ticking noise is looking for trouble where none probably exists. Bad valve seating can be found with a pressure test on the cylinders. How bad is the tick, mine ticks a little when cold, lifters probably.

 

It was a 1.5" crack in my header and that could cause an over heating condition in the valve.

It ticks loudly and sounds bad.

 

Buy aftermarket warranty, wait until it becomes active, pay $100 deductible?

 

I only have 26,021 miles on the car.

 

I've had header leaks before and it never caused a problem with the valves. I can't imagine how the exhaust manifold cracked. If it was excessive heat I think a bad leaky valve caused the manifold to crack and not the other way around. But I'm no expert. Do a compression test and leak down test before anything else. I would do everything possible to not take the motor apart.

Les

 

They were custom headers.

 

Hey Scott - Are you going to make it to the Texas Mile in October?

I'm planning to enter when I return from travel next month - it would be great to see you again. (and all other XF owners willing to take on the mile.....)

 

I have made everyone and will make this one as well. Get your hotel early or try the Holiday Inn next the the Best Western. I still think I will run the same speeds but it's about the people as well as the speed. Hopefully the car is ok.

 

I'm about to pull the valve covers and take a look around, my warranty was up in may..dang it.

 

Sorry to revive this thread but did you ever figure anything out? I have been wondering for a while why mine ticks... Its not brutal and you can only notice it if your listening for it outside the car. One guy the other day said I have a leaky valve. Im going to run a compression check when I can but I stumbled across this and wanted to know if anything ever came from it.

 

I have that same sound. Have it for the whole time I own the car (4+ years). It's probably the injectors. Either way, it doesn't affect the car and it goes away when it warms up.

 

Mercedes is notorious for having very loud lifters...it is normal operations as far as I understand it.

 

scott no longer has the car
i do.
the car moved all the way to the next zip code from him to me
the tapping problem was piston -wrist pin clearance w scored cylinder walls
solved by a short block and rebuild of heads
this is per the work order from the chrysler dealer in houston
who supposedly rented a guy from mercedes to do the actual engine work
a page and half of parts w 19 qts of oil tells me the truth may be something else
puking over tightened intake gaskets, misalinged boots on the y pipe and bad seal job on the valve covers tells me the guy probably wasnt a merc mech
however the tapping isnt present so cest le guerre
happy gnu ear