2009 W212 OM642 oil leak after oil & filter change

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Sicario

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Mar 16, 2020
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228
Location
Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Car
W212 2009 E350 Avantguarde
Hi all, can i have some advice please?

3 week ago i took my motor to formula one autocentre for an oil & filter change, the mechanic said that the bottom plate/pan on the sump was moist but not dripping oil, he mentioned that he nipped up the bolts by about 1/4 turn each. A week later my car is pissing oil out, they used fully synthetic 0W30 low saps oil.

Since then ive had my sump bottom pan re sealed but still leaking oil, ( i assume not from the sump) ive just ordered the PCV valve and the 2 rubber rings for the breather pipe and the turbo inlet which ill fit myself, BUT

I really think that its my oil cooler thats leaking, i just cant seem to find where its actually leaking from and neither Formula One or the indy garage that did the re-seal could see where it was coming from.

Why would my lovely smooth v6 OM642 leak oil after an oil/filter change?

And does anyone on here know of anyone or a reasonably priced indy in south yorkshire that could replace the oil cooler seals (that have done this before).??

Many thanks in advance
 
Maybe the pan has been distorted by over tightening the bolts and now will not seal.
 
Could well be the oil cooler seals , which is from below the oil cooler in the middle of the engines V , not visible easily , but runs down the back of the engine .
yes you definitely need an MB specialist (they will all have done it before ) .
I hope the monkeys that have nipped up the sump bolts haven’t caused more unnecessary problems .
Im sure someone will recommend a specialist soon
 
The drain hole for the valley is adjacent to the starter motor. The leak will appear to be worse on the left side of the engine at that back corner (left as viewed from the driver’s seat) if it is coming from the oil cooler seals. Sometimes a decent wash down with some brake cleaner and then running the engine helps to focus on the source
 
And does anyone on here know of anyone or a reasonably priced indy in south yorkshire that could replace the oil cooler seals (that have done this before).??
There’s Mercedes specialist Star commercials up at Moorends and German Car Specialist at Kirk Sandall.
 
I called Star Commercials, they quoted me £1800 to replace the oil cooler seals :eek:
That’s is WAY to high buddy , in the region of £1000 is what I’ve heard . 8 hours work apparently .
I bet MB would charge less than that !
 
On the strong side I'd have said. I usually charge around £1100-£1200 depending on how much cleaning up is required and whether some of the exhaust bolts are seized, but that includes a brand new oil cooler too. They are often corroded on the bottom face, and in light of having to do the job twice it's a no-brainer to just fit a new one and have done with it.
 
Many moons ago i used to work on my skyline RB25DET motor, much simpler than the OM642 but is nuts n bolts just the same, seriously considering doing it myself.

Just to use this as an example, i used to recondition starter motors and alternators, to use one example i remember replacing a starter motor on a Rover 827 Auto, it was a nightmare, had to be done blind from underneath and with an extra pair of hands up top in the engine bay, the first time took me 3 hours, the 2nd time was an hour, eventually got it down to 30 mins.

Is it really an 8 hour job? £150 in parts??
 
Many moons ago i used to work on my skyline RB25DET motor, much simpler than the OM642 but is nuts n bolts just the same, seriously considering doing it myself.

Just to use this as an example, i used to recondition starter motors and alternators, to use one example i remember replacing a starter motor on a Rover 827 Auto, it was a nightmare, had to be done blind from underneath and with an extra pair of hands up top in the engine bay, the first time took me 3 hours, the 2nd time was an hour, eventually got it down to 30 mins.

Is it really an 8 hour job? £150 in parts??
Plenty on the YouTube buddy ,search om642 oil cooler seals
 
Many moons ago i used to work on my skyline RB25DET motor, much simpler than the OM642 but is nuts n bolts just the same, seriously considering doing it myself.

Just to use this as an example, i used to recondition starter motors and alternators, to use one example i remember replacing a starter motor on a Rover 827 Auto, it was a nightmare, had to be done blind from underneath and with an extra pair of hands up top in the engine bay, the first time took me 3 hours, the 2nd time was an hour, eventually got it down to 30 mins.

Is it really an 8 hour job? £150 in parts??
If that is what is quoted for the job then that is what is charged. Do people charge less when they are good at their job.
 
An interesting aside, the three copper coated bolts each side that secure the exhaust manifolds to the turbo Y piece are single use items. All the ones I have encountered that have sheared off on attempted removal have, I strongly suspect, been reused before. If anyone is removing these bolts for swirl flap or turbo replacement, please use new ones when rebuilding. It'll save my swear box becoming too heavy to lift ;)
 
If you are planning on getting the oil cooler seals / oil cooler done, I'd probably also replace the swirl flap motor and possibly have the turbo reconditioned at the same time. The swirl flap motor also sits in the V and is prone to failure, and whilst the turbo is also out maybe have it reconditioned.....that's if you are planing to hang on to the car.
 

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