Seems to be a difficult question for the OP, it's been asked several times without reply.
Whats the deal with parts purchased and causing malfunction of car?
- Thread starter conor1n
- Start date
OP
OP
conor1n
Active Member
Sorry Niall.
It is the one thing I don't have a record of. I usually take a picture of everything... I do remember it being some unknown brand though. It is mental that my gut feeling was that I shouldn't fit it... when I asked a mechanic friend he said it was fine so that seemed to give me some confidence. Always go with gut!
I agree it is very likely to be human error on the fitment part but I am confident I fitted it properly, and would accept it if the filter hadn't come apart in the housing. Because that is unexplainable to me really, other than poor quality.
I was actually in the engine bay the same day it happened and as I was changing pads.. there was no slow leak or anything like that. There are currently no panels fitted underneath and I never ever noticed a leak.
My working theory is that the filter came apart inside the housing.. fell downwards and thus no longer reducing some of the pressure. When the filter fell away the pressure in the housing increased and the o ring was the weak link which blew out, which is nobodys fault. It is not designed for the pressure.
I often drive the car up to high RPM as I do a bunch of small journeys and like to keep it worked (when heated up obviously) -- so if the o ring was misfitted it would have manifested itself way before 1k miles.
P.S. I can't find any design theory documents etc on how the oil filter housing/filter works and it's effects on pressure.
It is the one thing I don't have a record of. I usually take a picture of everything... I do remember it being some unknown brand though. It is mental that my gut feeling was that I shouldn't fit it... when I asked a mechanic friend he said it was fine so that seemed to give me some confidence. Always go with gut!
I agree it is very likely to be human error on the fitment part but I am confident I fitted it properly, and would accept it if the filter hadn't come apart in the housing. Because that is unexplainable to me really, other than poor quality.
I was actually in the engine bay the same day it happened and as I was changing pads.. there was no slow leak or anything like that. There are currently no panels fitted underneath and I never ever noticed a leak.
My working theory is that the filter came apart inside the housing.. fell downwards and thus no longer reducing some of the pressure. When the filter fell away the pressure in the housing increased and the o ring was the weak link which blew out, which is nobodys fault. It is not designed for the pressure.
I often drive the car up to high RPM as I do a bunch of small journeys and like to keep it worked (when heated up obviously) -- so if the o ring was misfitted it would have manifested itself way before 1k miles.
P.S. I can't find any design theory documents etc on how the oil filter housing/filter works and it's effects on pressure.
The moral of the story is to not necessarily use a genuine MB filter but without fail use an OEM or other known high quality brand that you can remember the name of if things go wrong. The DIY oil changers amongst us would then have learnt what brand of filter not to use.
OP
OP
conor1n
Active Member
Did you replace all of the o rings on the long plastic part that pushes into the housing . This is a generic picture but I think there are 3 smaller rings on my M113 along with the large one for the cap
View attachment 113501 BTW if you had pinched the O ring during the oil change you would not have gone 1000 miles before it leaked , more like 1 mile.....ask me how I know
Hey Pete,
Yes, I replaced all those bits on it. Removed them all, cleaned down filter housing with brake cleaner before lubing up the rings and adding.
I agree on a pinched ring not lasting 1k miles, which is why I am inclined to blame the filter.
Martin 1
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That's a miserable thing to happen, just because a part is new doesn't mean it's any good ! Same thing happened on a Pug 205, a failed screw thread in the filter left oil every where, spark plugs that don't work, dead bulbs etc etc. Not a hope in hell of getting any help, though I'd give them a buzz and see what they say. Back to OE I guess. Good luck.
Martyn_n
Active Member
I am sorry but I would say that it was 100% user error when fitted. You can see that the o-ring is visible not just where it has bulged but also for a much further distance. The o-ring would not be at all visible if it was correctly screwed down as the plastic filter "lid" fits flush with the alloy housing; it looks as though the ring was clamped between the top rim of the alloy housing and the underside of the lid. I guess this clamping force held up for 1k miles but eventually let go. As for the felt coming loose, I would suggest that this is because the filter was not clamped in place properly and therefore oil was bypassing the filter element and lifted the felt off.
Petrol Pete
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
I did an oil change with ProLine oil filter. It came with 5 O-rings. The 5th O-ring was just little larger than the middle O-ring. after putting in 4 known O-rings, I looked and looked carefully at the filter assembly, there's one logical place for the 5th but I dared not put it. The box says they comply with the requirements specified by the vehicle and engine manufacturers.
I'm now very confused, wondering if MB changed the specs.
From another forum
Not your car , but I remember this being discussed in the past. When I did mine last I remember the new filter had a line printed on it and it was a MUST that the line was aligned and the filter 'clicked' into the cap holder. ......it was also the time I pinched the o ring due to bad light and being in a hurry
.
Mine was not as bad as yours as it leaked almost immediately and the belt slipped and was a quick clean up and craic on.
I'm now very confused, wondering if MB changed the specs.
Attachments
oil1.jpg
48.9 KBViews: 374
From another forum
Not your car , but I remember this being discussed in the past. When I did mine last I remember the new filter had a line printed on it and it was a MUST that the line was aligned and the filter 'clicked' into the cap holder. ......it was also the time I pinched the o ring due to bad light and being in a hurry
.Mine was not as bad as yours as it leaked almost immediately and the belt slipped and was a quick clean up and craic on.
My oil filter (OM605) comes with an extra O ring because it's the same filter an OM606 uses, except the 606 uses 1 more O ring on the bayonet. I guess it's cheaper to give away a few thousand unnecessary O rings than manage 2 different lines of products.
OP
OP
conor1n
Active Member
Beat me to it. Often times the filter covers multiple models.
Petrol Pete
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
Yes, and it causes considerable head scratching to a DIY mechanic who is unfamiliar with the practice . Hours of endless fun 
m80
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Unlucky, put it behind you as a lesson learnt.
Tray under the car,
white spirit in a spray container or brush on.
Wipe off where accessible.
Any excess will evaporate as the engine warms.
Tray under the car,
white spirit in a spray container or brush on.
Wipe off where accessible.
Any excess will evaporate as the engine warms.
colinallcars
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Or burst into flames! Unlikely I know but he’s had enough trauma - use Gunk.
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This is a very good image of where an o ring is supposed to go in an oil filter cap and when its tightened down to the plastic lip the o ring is not visible, albeit its not a mercedes 1 but they are all the same Redirect Notice have to post a link as the screenshot file is too large apparently
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I don't think you'll ever get a definitive answer whether it was the part or the fitting. I don't doubt your skills, but since your work wasn't crossed-checked by someone else (which would have been standard practice in aviation for example), you can never be 100% certain in spite of your clear recollection.
To put your mind at ease, you could take the part to the shop and explain what happened, the seller might tell you if others had issues as well (assuming he is an honest chap).
To put your mind at ease, you could take the part to the shop and explain what happened, the seller might tell you if others had issues as well (assuming he is an honest chap).
andyR43
Active Member
Agreed.
OP
OP
conor1n
Active Member
Yes lads...
I take 100% ownership of this now. I inspected the filter housing and oring with a couple of guys this evening and concluded that I had put the oring right up to the shoulder of the filter housing, past the groove. This was further examined when I opened the MB OEM filter this evening and it had a diagram.
Lesson learned, well and truely and also what could have been an expensive lesson.
I am going to check my SL soon. Probably get a new filter and add the oring in the correct place too.
By the way, the filter was AGM and it's still pants that it fell apart in the housing.. It was basically not filtering the oil.
I take 100% ownership of this now. I inspected the filter housing and oring with a couple of guys this evening and concluded that I had put the oring right up to the shoulder of the filter housing, past the groove. This was further examined when I opened the MB OEM filter this evening and it had a diagram.
Lesson learned, well and truely and also what could have been an expensive lesson.
I am going to check my SL soon. Probably get a new filter and add the oring in the correct place too.
By the way, the filter was AGM and it's still pants that it fell apart in the housing.. It was basically not filtering the oil.
It certainly looks like fitter error. I've done it myself and I'm a qualified mechanic! We're all human. As for the filter falling apart and dropping down causing the seal to be blown out I'm afraid it wouldn't do that. There was a tech in my work(mercedes commercial dealer) who carried out a service and didn't fit the filter due to chatting or whatever and the following service when I carried it out there were no leaks from it and the customer had covered a fair few thousand miles.
Tuercas viejas
MB Enthusiast
Reading this thread today at work with interest, AND "ring ring" the same issue with a 2017 Sprinter OM642 engine seized . Lecky company screwed up their DIY oil change ! Uh Ho!
Engine lost all its oil out of the filter housing when the O ring let go.
Why did it let go?
As in ,most cases we see it was placed under the housing lip not in the groove provided, OR it simply dry rolled out because O ring wasn't to spec as it was snugged down to 25Nm.
Dealer wants $25,000 for a new engine swap, I/We can do it using the same ex MB supplied spec drop in engine for $15,700 plus labor & sundry parts for a grand total of $18,750.
So an email quotation was sent to rattle the owner's evening!!
Quite a wallet shocker , and reminds us all to be careful with the silly stuff like this and always use a genuine filter.
Tuercas viejas
.
Engine lost all its oil out of the filter housing when the O ring let go.
Why did it let go?
As in ,most cases we see it was placed under the housing lip not in the groove provided, OR it simply dry rolled out because O ring wasn't to spec as it was snugged down to 25Nm.
Dealer wants $25,000 for a new engine swap, I/We can do it using the same ex MB supplied spec drop in engine for $15,700 plus labor & sundry parts for a grand total of $18,750.
So an email quotation was sent to rattle the owner's evening!!
Quite a wallet shocker , and reminds us all to be careful with the silly stuff like this and always use a genuine filter.
Tuercas viejas
.
ray_hennig
MB Enthusiast
I cannot see why people buy oil filters other than those supplied by MB. From MB, mine cost around 10€ each. The oil costs about 30€ for 7 litres of oil from MB. And my local guy does it for me for 30€.
So, if I could halve the price of the filter, I might reduce the overall cost by 7%. That's 7%. With the risk of using an oil filter of sub-standard quality. Why do it?
I can certainly understand installing an aftermarket cat for 300€ against 2500€ for MB. But that's unlike to wreck your engine. But a dodgy oil filter might wreck your engine and then you'd regret saving that 7%
Just my 2c worth.
RayH
So, if I could halve the price of the filter, I might reduce the overall cost by 7%. That's 7%. With the risk of using an oil filter of sub-standard quality. Why do it?
I can certainly understand installing an aftermarket cat for 300€ against 2500€ for MB. But that's unlike to wreck your engine. But a dodgy oil filter might wreck your engine and then you'd regret saving that 7%
Just my 2c worth.
RayH
