Don M., I question whether this method will work in a diesel: "To check your valve guides and/or seals find a very long hill and drive/coast down under compression, creating a large vacuum draw, at the bottom of the hill apply fuel watch your rear view mirror and if you get a noticeable puff of blue smoke it is seals/guide issue."
Is this procedure recommended for gas engines or specifically for diesel? Someone correct me if I'm wrong - does the mechanical fuel injection pump on an OM 617 motor stop all delivery of fuel when 'compression braking'? If it doesn't, and some fuel is still being burned, then I expect that the oil leaking through bad valve stem seals would also be burned and there would be no puff of oil smoke when throttle is applied. Very respectfully, /s/ LCDR Meade M. Dillon, USNR Digest Lurker since 2001 '85 300TD 322k miles (Euro 5spd) '96 Infiniti I30 149k miles (wife's 5spd) '73 Balboa 20 'Sanctification' Charleston SC
