Damage After Service to This…

[xrm88]

Hi guys,

Got our W212 serviced the other week and today noticed a pool of oil on the driveway so naturally I investigated and found damage to the part (unsure of what it is) to the right of the oil filter and to the silver part just above that. It seems the person at the service centre has tried to unscrew the oil filter housing and taken a chunk out of the plastic and dented the silver part!
I will be taking it back ASAP although I imagine they’ll come back with “prove it was us” but my questions are: what is the damaged plastic container full of oil and how much am I looking at to replace it, if I have to?

Many thanks!

 

[Petrol Pete]

Looks like some Ape handed buffoon has slipped trying to undo the oil filter cap and put a hole in your power steering expansion tank. ! I cant see how else that hole could have appeared.

Good news is that the part is not expensive (it's a service item with an inbuilt filter for the PS fluid) . The bad news is that they have to be convinced to take responsibility.

To be honest any decent garage would own up , fix it and offer sincere apologies. OR apologise for not spotting the massive hole when carrying out the service , mmm

Let us know how it goes.

PS the oil filter cap is pretty mashed up too , wrong tool ben used too many time is my guess. Replace it .

 

[xrm88]

Looks like some Ape handed buffoon has slipped trying to undo the oil filter cap and put a hole in your power steering expansion tank. ! I cant see how else that hole could have appeared.

Good news is that the part is not expensive (it's a service item with an inbuilt filter for the PS fluid) . The bad news is that they have to be convinced to take responsibility.

To be honest any decent garage would own up , fix it and offer sincere apologies. OR apologise for not spotting the massive hole when carrying out the service , mmm

Let us know how it goes.

PS the oil filter cap is pretty mashed up too , wrong tool ben used too many time is my guess. Replace it .

Cheers Pete!
So should that PS expansion tank have oil in it??

 

[Petrol Pete]

Cheers Pete!
So should that PS expansion tank have oil in it??

Open the cap and there is a dipstick moulded into it with hot and cold level markings, use it to check level. There is just over a litre of PS fluid (depending on car) in the entire system , best not let it get too low. I don't think there is any pressure in the tank it is for expansion and filtration on the return side of the system.

 

[xrm88]

Open the cap and there is a dipstick moulded into it with hot and cold level markings, use it to check level. There is just over a litre of PS fluid (depending on car) in the entire system , best not let it get too low. I don't think there is any pressure in the tank it is for expansion and filtration on the return side of the system.

Sorry yes there is a small dipstick but should it be oil or PS fluid inside?

 

[Petrol Pete]

Sorry yes there is a small dipstick but should it be oil or PS fluid inside?

PS fluid , it is 'oil' of sorts , but has a much lower viscosity than engine oil . It would not surprise me if the fluid in there is a brown colour and may even smell a little burnt as it is often overlooked during service work.

There are (as i recall) two different fluids available from MB and mixing them up is something you do not want to do. One Green (for my 2006 car) and the other I believe is red.

One should never use fluids based on colour alone and many on here use CHF 11 . But be very sure to get the right stuff for your car. Whatever is in there must (at least) be making contact with the dipstick when the cap is inserted enough to show you a reading.

 

[xrm88]

PS fluid , it is 'oil' of sorts , but has a much lower viscosity than engine oil . It would not surprise me if the fluid in there is a brown colour and may even smell a little burnt as it is often overlooked during service work.

There are (as i recall) two different fluids available from MB and mixing them up is something you do not want to do. One Green (for my 2006 car) and the other I believe is red.

One should never use fluids based on colour alone and many on here use CHF 11 . But be very sure to get the right stuff for your car. Whatever is in there must (at least) be making contact with the dipstick when the cap is inserted enough to show you a reading.

The fluid on the end of the dipstick seems like old oil to me? I can see it’s leaked down the side of the expansion tank and further down into the engine. Seems like a lot on the underside of tray though and on driveway for such a small tank

 

[Petrol Pete]

The fluid on the end of the dipstick seems like old oil to me? I can see it’s leaked down the side of the expansion tank and further down into the engine. Seems like a lot on the underside of tray though and on driveway for such a small tank

Double check in your owners manual that I am not steering you (see what I did there) in the wrong direction and have identified the tank incorrectly. But it does look like it was somehow damaged during the oil filter change.

 

[W1ghty]

Hi guys,

Got our W212 serviced the other week and today noticed a pool of oil on the driveway so naturally I investigated and found damage to the part (unsure of what it is) to the right of the oil filter and to the silver part just above that. It seems the person at the service centre has tried to unscrew the oil filter housing and taken a chunk out of the plastic and dented the silver part!
I will be taking it back ASAP although I imagine they’ll come back with “prove it was us” but my questions are: what is the damaged plastic container full of oil and how much am I looking at to replace it, if I have to?

Many thanks!

If the garage is going to say it wasn’t them that caused the damage . There is no way they wouldn’t have noticed it and suggested they repair it .

 

[markjay]

The power steering fluid is essentially hydraulic fluid, same as the ATF used for automatic transmissions. That been said, there are different variants of hydraulic fluids, and so it may not be the exact same one as the ATF (it was on my Vauxhall, BTW), and you'll need to ensure that the correct one is used. Also, no harm in replacing it every few years - it's an easy job, remove old fluid, pour in new fluid, start engine, move the steering wheel lock-to-lock a few times, re-check level and top up if needed, check for leaks, and you're good to go.

 

[xrm88]

This has come at an awful time. I have work Tuesday and Wednesday then have a 4hr journey on Thursday and same Friday. Do you think the car will make it?

 

[markjay]

This has come at an awful time. I have work Tuesday and Wednesday then have a 4hr journey on Thursday and same Friday. Do you think the car will make it?

That depends how much hydraulic fluid it's losing.... and if you have fresh fluid to top it up.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Was it a main dealer who serviced it? If so then get it recovered back to them using Mercedes breakdown assistance.

 

[xrm88]

No it’s was one of those “in and out” centres

 

[Smiley]

Looking at the damage to the oil filter cap it looks like someone has used a chain wrench around it and that has slipped into the PS reservoir housing. You will get away this time relatively lightly; the idiot who did this could have done something much more catastrophic - if I were you I would take it as lesson learned. I am guessing it was a Kwik Fit type operation that you went to. By all means take it back to show them the damage that they have 100% definitely caused. But I would also explain to them that this sort of butchery (and not admitting to it) means that you do not consider that they have the right level of skill and you will be taking it elsewhere for repair and sending them the bill - I would not even ask them if they will pay - just tell them and pursue them if they don't pay.
Find yourself a decent MB independent for your servicing - you will probably pay a bit more but you will avoid this sort of problem. Get the independent to fix this mess and ask them to email you a report of how the damage occurred to help with your claim. Btw if this is the sort of f*** up that they are capable of I would have less than zero confidence that they have even used the correct spec of engine oil - have they told you or does the receipt just say oil change?
You should be OK to drive the car but keep an eye on the PS reservoir and if you can clean up the area around it and put some strong tape over it that would help. Go to your nearest main dealer and get a litre of the correct fluid; the last thing you need now is the wrong spec of fluid in there.

 

[Smiley]

BTW check that the PS fluid is not dripping onto the V belt or that might start slipping if you are doing a few miles.

 

[xrm88]

Thanks for your replies guys. Really appreciate it.
I’ll ring them first thing and report back

 

[geoffus]

How long have you had the car ?
Was it dealer serviced before or was it serviced by the previous owner ?
It suprises me any garage would not have a £5 filter tool.

 

[xrm88]

How long have you had the car ?
Was it dealer serviced before or was it serviced by the previous owner ?
It suprises me any garage would not have a £5 filter tool.

Had the car 4 years now! Been serviced my MB before we bought it then just used indy garages since. Mrs used this in and out centre as she got a free MOT included

 

[Smart320]

Beware , nothing is free in this life