thecolonel
Active Member
Interesting one
Just been talking with an insurance claims adjuster going through a few points and we spoke about Mercs. The subject of new MLs came up as since August 2013 he has personally signed off 6 cars (post 2012 – V6TDi) models due to engine hydraulicing . In 4 out of the 6, he stated that the engine damage occurred in heavy rain, on motorways where water had been sucked through the intake, into the filter before nobbling the cylinders/engine beyond repair. The other 2 where as a result of flooding of late where the wading depth was poorly judged and water again was sucked into the engine - so nothing amiss.
For the four hydraulicing engines, a combination of large turbos operating high boost and very poorly designed air intakes behind the top of the grills I’m told meant that surface water, spray and following other vehicles caused the engines to suck in excessive water. MB UK have failed to make representation and deny they have a liability. One off maybe, but 4 with one assessor makes you think.
I am not so interested into what happened, more the fact it has happened and just during ‘normal’ British driving conditions where the driver would have a diminished responsibility as the rest is circumstantial and poor design (i.e. driving at 50-70MPH on a motorway, in the rain with heavy spray)
Interesting as it sounds like the majority of these cases could have been prevented by maybe the use of a downward facing air intake, which may inhibit ram air effect but would stop high pressure water being dumped into the inlet etc.
Any owners of current model MLs had this issue by chance? I think there is a case of poor build design that MB need to address if has affected enough people.
Just been talking with an insurance claims adjuster going through a few points and we spoke about Mercs. The subject of new MLs came up as since August 2013 he has personally signed off 6 cars (post 2012 – V6TDi) models due to engine hydraulicing . In 4 out of the 6, he stated that the engine damage occurred in heavy rain, on motorways where water had been sucked through the intake, into the filter before nobbling the cylinders/engine beyond repair. The other 2 where as a result of flooding of late where the wading depth was poorly judged and water again was sucked into the engine - so nothing amiss.
For the four hydraulicing engines, a combination of large turbos operating high boost and very poorly designed air intakes behind the top of the grills I’m told meant that surface water, spray and following other vehicles caused the engines to suck in excessive water. MB UK have failed to make representation and deny they have a liability. One off maybe, but 4 with one assessor makes you think.
I am not so interested into what happened, more the fact it has happened and just during ‘normal’ British driving conditions where the driver would have a diminished responsibility as the rest is circumstantial and poor design (i.e. driving at 50-70MPH on a motorway, in the rain with heavy spray)
Interesting as it sounds like the majority of these cases could have been prevented by maybe the use of a downward facing air intake, which may inhibit ram air effect but would stop high pressure water being dumped into the inlet etc.
Any owners of current model MLs had this issue by chance? I think there is a case of poor build design that MB need to address if has affected enough people.