Mercedes CL600 bi turbo 2003 w215 smoke form exhaust

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rfarooq

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Hi I have a Mercedes CL600 5.5 Bi-Turbo 2003 W215 with a M275 engine. When I rev the car while on stand still there is smoke from the exhaust. Today I had a look to see if I could find the fault. On the passenger side I found oil in the pipe which comes from the oil separator to the air filter box, I also found oil in the air filter box. Oil was also in metal pip which connects to the air filter box at the bottom and oil was as present in the intercooler and the y shaped pipe which connects the 2 intercoolers. There was no sign of oil on the drives side. I will attach some pictures. I was informed that it may be a turbo seal but I am hoping its not. Does anyone know what could be causing the smoke could it be the oil going into the turbo system or something else and are there any good Mercedes V12 mechanics who may be able to find and fix the fault.
 

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Where abouts are you based? If around London / Surrey can point you in the direction of some good merc specialists; plenty of them are sponsors on the forum :)
 
Hi and thanks for your reply. I live in Peterborough (Cambridgeshire). I have spoken to some mechanic local but they don't seem to know much about V12 and I am getting different answers. Some say its the steam seals, some says its value seals while others says it turbo or the crank shafts ventilation valve or oil separation valve. I did also see smoke from the exhaust when I drive on the motorway and take my foot off the gas pedal as I approach a junction. I don't mind travelling as long as I can get the car fixed.
 
View the videos before these 2 to see how he acquired the car from another youtuber who explains why it was a mechanical write off because of the smoke from the exhaust and the oil leaks.

Welcome to the forum. I should have said that on my first post. Sorry.
 
Please watch Legitstreetcars content before taking your car to any mechanic.
Thanks for the videos I did not know the whole engine has to be removed for such a small part. So for me worse case could be the turbo seals needed replacing or the steam or and piston seals. I am really hoping it's not those. Will it be a good plan to replace the oil separation valve and the crank case ventilation then give all the oil pipes a good clean and see if it makes on difference.
 
The oil in the intake pipes on the passenger (left) side is normal. The PCV routes the crankcase vapours into this side so having a little bit of oil residue here is normal.

Smoke out the back obviously is not. Could be the turbo seals starting to go. What mileage are you at?


The amount of wet oil you have in that left intake makes me think it is possibly your PCV valve and the centrifugal oil separator that need changing. It could be pushing excessive oil back through the intake.
 
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The oil in the intake pipes on the passenger (left) side is normal. The PCV routes the crankcase vapours into this side so having a little bit of oil residue here is normal.

Smoke out the back obviously is not. Could be the turbo seals starting to go. What mileage are you at?


The amount of wet oil you have in that left intake makes me think it is possibly your PCV valve and the centrifugal oil separator that need changing. It could be pushing excessive oil back through the intake.
Hi and thanks for your advice. The car has done 106k.
 
I am going to get the PCV valve and the centrifugal oil separator replaced and hopefully the smoke problem will go away and I will be able to enjoy the car this summer
 
Try c&v Mercedes specialists, they aren’t too far from Peterborough and highly recommended
 
Hi and thanks for your advice. The car has done 106k.
106k sounds far too soon for turbo seals to go. Have you remapped at all?

My car is on 122k miles and I have zero smoke under any circumstance.

I would get the PCV valve and the separator replaced first and see if that helps. Probably should also compression check each cylinder and see what comes from that. I would be very surprised if the turbos are already spent..
 
No I have not had it remapped but I had a body kit put on it and the rear exhaust boxes removed to fit new twin pipes
 

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