Smoking c63

[MACC]

Hi All,

Just joined the forum and unfortunately starting with questions!

I have a 2012 C63 with 41K and full service history. I've had it about 4 months and has been absolutely faultless. We decided to take a trip to Nurburgring last weekend. Drove there perfectly at 80-85mph. After viewing for a bit we built up the courage to go on, (First visit) everything was great until around 3/4 of the way round when it started billowing smoke out the back, at the same time the oil temp was at 129C which is the highest I've seen it. Initially thought the worst, backed off whilst trying to decide what to do. The oil temp came down to around 117C and the smoke had passed as we completed the lap. No warning lights, no loss of power.
Came home sunday, after a good check over, absolutely fine and run straight up to the speed limiter on the Autobahn.

So, my question is does the gearbox breather exit over/near the exhausts? was this just the gearbox breathing with maybe too much oil? Gearbox oil was changed at 31K.

Sorry for having a story as my first post!
Thanks for any replies in advance. Mark.

 

[merc85]

read of this issue a few times on here tbh

 

[DuncS3]

yep, do a search as someone talked about experiencing it on a track day - very similar.

Saying that, I have a 2013 507 and i have never had over heating issues and even on a track day at Bedford I didn't hit 129 degrees so I don't know how you could hit that on the Nurburgring (especially if it was your first time so assuming off the pace a little) - so maybe another issue or the BS bonnet/facelift really does sort the cooling issue.

 

[MrPoseidon]

There is a pressure relief valve of sorts on the gearbox that allows oils to escape if the pressure, due to high temperatures , and it drips on the exhaust which in turn burns it off.

There was a chap on here not too long ago with the same problem and MB main dealer did t find anything wrong .

 

[MACC]

yep, do a search as someone talked about experiencing it on a track day - very similar.

Saying that, I have a 2013 507 and i have never had over heating issues and even on a track day at Bedford I didn't hit 129 degrees so I don't know how you could hit that on the Nurburgring (especially if it was your first time so assuming off the pace a little) - so maybe another issue or the BS bonnet/facelift really does sort the cooling issue.

Thanks for the reply. I was definitely more than a little off the pace. I'm wondering if this was possible part of the issue, braking too hard for the corners then trying to make up the speed again out of the exit without a decent stretch to allow the airflow to cool sufficiently? Although I don't think the engine oil temp as shown was the issue, I think it was the gearbox 'breathing'.

 

[BenzedUP]

129c bloody hell!!!

Bet that engine is f*****

 

[MACC]

There is a pressure relief valve of sorts on the gearbox that allows oils to escape if the pressure, due to high temperatures , and it drips on the exhaust which in turn burns it off.

There was a chap on here not too long ago with the same problem and MB main dealer did t find anything wrong .

Thanks for the reply. After the initial 'heart in mouth' moment I thought this might be the case. Any idea if it's in relation to oil level or similar, or any means of preventing it?

 

[MACC]

129c bloody hell!!!

Bet that engine is f*****

No damage done, done 500 miles home on sunday and it was 103-109 all the way. From what I have read since it will go into limp mode before any damage is done and the temperature was not excessive.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

129c bloody hell!!!

Bet that engine is f*****

You certainly know how put a mans mind at rest.

Yikes!

Ant

 

[DuncS3]

Where you in manual mode?

 

[MACC]

Where you in manual mode?

No, just sport.

 

[MrPoseidon]

Thanks for the reply. After the initial 'heart in mouth' moment I thought this might be the case. Any idea if it's in relation to oil level or similar, or any means of preventing it?

I think the only way to prevent it is to fit a gearbox oil cooler.I have a system on my Skyline that cools the diff and gearbox . It come on when they reach a certain temperature and auxiliary pumps are activated to pump the oil trough .
Not cheap but mine were factory fitted .

Only really worth looking into if you are seriously going
To track it on a regular basis .

I often wondered why the oil temperatures are so high in the AMG ....I rarely see above 95 deg C on the Skyline on a track . I have seen 115 deg C on the road with the AMG ...Maybe it can do with a larger cooler ?

 

[keejoonc]

I often wondered why the oil temperatures are so high in the AMG ....I rarely see above 95 deg C on the Skyline on a track . I have seen 115 deg C on the road with the AMG ...Maybe it can do with a larger cooler ?

I think my car gets to around 109 degrees on any extended drives (+30 minutes).

 

[MrPoseidon]

Oil temperatures .

I think my car gets to around 109 degrees on any extended drives (+30 minutes).

Thanks for that info keejoonc. My temps were driving briskly in the heat of the summer .Poodling around now I see similar temps to you .

 

[DuncS3]

Manual mode increases temps in my experience, just because you tend to be in lower gear/higher revs in manual (well I do anyway) - hence my question.

 

[MACC]

Thanks for all the replies.

It ran the 400 miles there at 102-109C and 500 miles return the next day, with around 40 miles of autobahn, with a max temperature of 110C so there is definitely no fault, just an oddity at Nurburgring. I'm not looking to track the car any more than a possible trip back there next year so not worth any additional oil coolers etc, but maybe a change in driving technique!