DIY: Remove and replace valve cover gaskets and spark plugs
#51
Member
Great post up!
I did mine today after i found oil on my spark plugs.
Unfortunately, when i opened it up the engine looked sooo bad (picture attached). Any suggestions how i should clean it?
I was hoping i can scrap most of it off and put the cover back on and let it run for a month then open it again to get the scrap the rest out.
I did mine today after i found oil on my spark plugs.
Unfortunately, when i opened it up the engine looked sooo bad (picture attached). Any suggestions how i should clean it?
I was hoping i can scrap most of it off and put the cover back on and let it run for a month then open it again to get the scrap the rest out.
wow... just.. wow.
#52
MBworld Guru
The last one was last month. Its like that because up until last year I knew nothing about cars and didnt know how often i needed to change the oil, sad i know, but since then i've been changing it every 6months. 12 months along there was some sludge where you pour the oil in and new oil would go down every slowly. With regular oil change it got better.
Removing all the parts isnt something you can do yourself or do i have to get the mechanic to do? if so, i can see how they're going to me heaps for it...
#53
It doesn't get too cold here in Australia, if anything its pretty hot. Yep that's the oil I've been using. I think the sludge is from me neglecting it for awhile. I put it all back today after i scraped the sludge out and its running good now. I'm gonna run it for a month and open it again to see if need to scrap more sludge out but i think it might run even better if take them apart to soak them.
#55
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Louisville, Ky
Posts: 95
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1999 CLK 320
Great post up!
I did mine today after i found oil on my spark plugs.
Unfortunately, when i opened it up the engine looked sooo bad (picture attached). Any suggestions how i should clean it?
I was hoping i can scrap most of it off and put the cover back on and let it run for a month then open it again to get the scrap the rest out.
I did mine today after i found oil on my spark plugs.
Unfortunately, when i opened it up the engine looked sooo bad (picture attached). Any suggestions how i should clean it?
I was hoping i can scrap most of it off and put the cover back on and let it run for a month then open it again to get the scrap the rest out.
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tich65a (03-26-2017)
#56
Senior Member
WOW! That's a lot of sludge. Just short of an engine teardown you are doing the right thing by doing many short interval oil changes using Mobil 0-40 and nothing else as you are slowly flushing that garbage out. be sure to change your oil filter as well each time because you don’t want to clog that up. There is another way that you clean it up by using a product called Auto RX ( http://www.auto-rx.com/ ) It is not a solvent but it uses the same stuff your oil uses to carry away the dirt. I use on my 99 320 but only as a matiness procedure which means I only use a small amount in each oil change. A lot of people will say don't use anything at all as that is what is stated in the manual. I tend to agree with this normally but I ran across this product reading Bob is the oil Guy's web site ( http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/ ) and I personally know two people who have used it whit good results. I'm in no way indorsing this product or garneting the results I’m putting this out here for another option for you to try. Hope it helps
#59
Senior Member
#60
Senior Member
Never use non synthetic! these engines are built with far to close of tolerances to use anything but synthetic, quality synthetic.
As far as the spark plug wires. A lot of people change the wires at the same time as the plugs @ about 100k miles. I changed the plugs @95k miles and still using the same wires. My engine bay is immaculate so I figure they are OK for a while longer. No loss in performance, based off my Torque app :-)
As far as the spark plug wires. A lot of people change the wires at the same time as the plugs @ about 100k miles. I changed the plugs @95k miles and still using the same wires. My engine bay is immaculate so I figure they are OK for a while longer. No loss in performance, based off my Torque app :-)
#61
I asked my MB service adviser about these spark plug wires.
He replied that there is no schedule maintenance for these wires, they are replaced only when necessary. He added that MB spark plug wires are of good quality. Also, they are not exposed to the elements since they are housed below the engine cover.
When I went to the online parts store, I saw many spark plug wires for my car made by Denso, Standard, Bosch, etc. Who is the OE manufacturer?
He replied that there is no schedule maintenance for these wires, they are replaced only when necessary. He added that MB spark plug wires are of good quality. Also, they are not exposed to the elements since they are housed below the engine cover.
When I went to the online parts store, I saw many spark plug wires for my car made by Denso, Standard, Bosch, etc. Who is the OE manufacturer?
#62
Senior Member
I asked my MB service adviser about these spark plug wires.
He replied that there is no schedule maintenance for these wires, they are replaced only when necessary. He added that MB spark plug wires are of good quality. Also, they are not exposed to the elements since they are housed below the engine cover.
When I went to the online parts store, I saw many spark plug wires for my car made by Denso, Standard, Bosch, etc. Who is the OE manufacturer?
He replied that there is no schedule maintenance for these wires, they are replaced only when necessary. He added that MB spark plug wires are of good quality. Also, they are not exposed to the elements since they are housed below the engine cover.
When I went to the online parts store, I saw many spark plug wires for my car made by Denso, Standard, Bosch, etc. Who is the OE manufacturer?
#63
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Austin, TX USA
Posts: 18
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04 E320
Great post up!
I did mine today after i found oil on my spark plugs.
Unfortunately, when i opened it up the engine looked sooo bad (picture attached). Any suggestions how i should clean it?
I was hoping i can scrap most of it off and put the cover back on and let it run for a month then open it again to get the scrap the rest out.
I did mine today after i found oil on my spark plugs.
Unfortunately, when i opened it up the engine looked sooo bad (picture attached). Any suggestions how i should clean it?
I was hoping i can scrap most of it off and put the cover back on and let it run for a month then open it again to get the scrap the rest out.
Holy crap.... were you not getting an error for the ERG tube being clogged too? And were there any check engine error messages of any kind. I can't believe there's that much crap inside the engine... what a stinking mess.
Give us an update if you haven't driven it off a cliff and into the ocean... or parked it in a bad part of town with the keys in it....LOL
#64
I plan on doing mine this weekend. This is a great post! I have a 2005 C240 but it is the same engine and these directions are perfect. I am so glad I found this forum.
I can't tell from the post but... should I use something to flush the old oil out or not?
I can't tell from the post but... should I use something to flush the old oil out or not?
#66
MBworld Guru
Yes, you can replace the valve cover gaskets without removing the spark plugs. However, you will need to remove the coil packs as they are attached to the valve covers. Since the maintenance schedule calls for a plug change around 100K miles, and the valve covers usually end up leaking about the same time, most people end up doing it all in one job. Having the valve covers removed also gives you a little more visibility to the spark plugs for their removal.
#67
GREAT DIY SZMB
This is a SUPER guide. My 04 E320 wagon now has 195K miles and is way out of warrantee so I've started to work on it myself and the DYI's like this one is perfect for a guy like me.
Did the plugs, wires in 3 hours last night, did the oil change and air filters in 90 min this past week end.
Next are the valve cover gaskets and changing the transmission oil and filter.
Total parts costs so far: less than $600 labor saving: $1000's !!
Thanks for all you guys that post these DIY's
Did the plugs, wires in 3 hours last night, did the oil change and air filters in 90 min this past week end.
Next are the valve cover gaskets and changing the transmission oil and filter.
Total parts costs so far: less than $600 labor saving: $1000's !!
Thanks for all you guys that post these DIY's
#68
SPONSOR
FYI
More data on topic.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...eplacement.htm
whunter@pelicanparts.com
.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...eplacement.htm
whunter@pelicanparts.com
.
#69
thankyou
Thanks to this fantastic guide I am now totally free of oil leaks on the valve covers on my CLK 500
This really should be a sticky as it seems to be a common fault and so easy to do when following this guide
Thanks again
This really should be a sticky as it seems to be a common fault and so easy to do when following this guide
Thanks again
#70
Nice job! I've heard Mercedes doesn't recommend to use gasket sealant . Its only to replace the valve cover gasket without anything. Now , Im not sure what to do with mine. Do I need to use sealant or not?
#71
Senior Member
Don't use the sealant on the valve cover. I didn't on mine nor do any of our technicians at our shop. I don't know about your engine but mine only used sealant on the breather covers.
Good luck.
Good luck.
#72
Thanks. My car is the CLK500 coupe ,W209, engine M113. So, I don't need to use sealant?
#73
MBworld Guru
No, do not use any sealant on the valve cover gaskets. However, the breather cover that is on top of the valve cover does not have a pre-formed gasket - you use black RTV on it. And you should remove it to clean it out along with cleaning the valve covers and the vacuum hose ports.
#75
Senior Member