I'd take off the oil cap, crank it over and make sure the cam's turning.

 

Thanks for the help. Here's where I am. One of the cylinders has very weak compression. Head gasket, it would seem, is a goner.

Here's my question: do I have to change the head gasket on that side only (seems there's a valve cover on one side, another on the other where compression was fine in those 4 cylinders)? Or do I have to change the head gasket on both sides? OR... am I a moron and there's only one HUGE head gasket?

I'm a-OK with doing the work. It looks, from what I'm seeing, pretty simple. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Does anyone have any kind of tech info or diagrams I might need? Or should I shoot the car and push it off the pier?

thanks again, all.

 

Did you perform a dry AND a wet compression test ?

Please post the readings on all of the cyclinders and that should help.

Also FYI, this is not a trival task by any means. I'm showing a "shop time" for the right bank at around 17.1 Hours and 17.8 Hours for the left bank.

Now, this is the time it will take a shop with an experienced tech, all the "right" tools, and a Car Lift, so...... if you're still keen to tackle the job, I have no problem in posting the instructions for you. But just to let you know there's several places for error along the way, which can cause you to have to start all over.

First off you'll need a "GOOD" set of tools. If you don't, you'll have to buy them as you go.

Hey and if you're starting out and have nothing to lose by doing it, then that's cool to. We've all been there at some stage.

The only thing is, I wouldn't recommend "learning" this type of job on a Benz as the parts can get "REAL" Expensive "REAL" quick.

Hope this helps

 

And BTW, it is only one gasket per side.

It's just that there's alot of things you must take off before you even get to the head gasklet.