1983 380 SEL engine problems.

[Geeko]

I've got a friend with an imported 1983 380 SEL that's having some problems. It sat for quite a while undriven, and now the engine seems like it's "grumpier" then normal. I'll give you the rundown from what he says... hopefully someone can help me diagnose what's going on with this engine (or if it's a "normal" M-B thing)

Originally Posted by Dude who owns the car

It's a 1983 380 SEL 4-door sedan...
And what I remember the mechanic saying is basically that the engine was just full of gunk from sitting around so long, and he basically just had to run stuff through it until the gunk got worn away... I'm less sure about what the stuff was, but I seem to recall something about doing an oil change, trying to start the car for a bit, then changing the oil again -- several times.
I hadn't driven it for quite awhile and it was (naturally) difficult to start. When I did get it started, after maybe 30-45 seconds of intermittent cranking, it blew out black smoke.
And then the smoke subsided, but if I pushed the pedal down it would go black again.
And then finally the blackest smoke I could get out of it started to become grey, and then eventually it went back to "normal".
"Normal" is almost-invisible emissions when cold, and faint white-grey smoke when warm.
("Normal" being since we got it.)
(his wife) said it was billowing huge clouds of white smoke this morning, but what I saw was mostly fog and only a little actual smoke.

It sounds to me like it's just burning built-up gunk out from the cylinder walls and inside the engine in general. The "white smoke" has me worried- it sounded like it was burning radiator fluid possibly. He says the radiator fluid didn't look discolored, but he hasn't checked the levels lately.

Any ideas? Most of the cars I deal with have either 4 cylinders and an "H" stamped on them, or 8 cylinders and "Ford" stamped on them

[mercedes420]

Go to any Auto Zone or Napa and buy a bottle of engine flush.. Pour it in, let the car run for like 5 to 10 minutes, no more than that.. Drain the oil immediately, and of course take off the oil filter.. Then fill with new oil, and put on a new oil filter.. Run the car for an hour, flush out the oil and change the filter.. Fill with new oil and put on a new oil filter.. You won't have a problem any more.. For the white smoke, have a pro check it out in person, or just flush the radiator and put in new coolant and see if it goes away..