eewoz

I have a 2001 CLK55 AMG. The stem of the oil filter cap broke. It is clear that there is plastic that is gone. Where would the missing bits of plastic end up? Would then end up in the oil pan or in the engine?

eewoz

Attached is a picture of the damaged filter cap.

KJI3jflarryfe93

how did you break this?
it's hard plastic, did you over tigth something?

How often do you ride down the boulevard in Lackawana?

eewoz

I installed a new filter maybe 5,000 or 10,000 miles ago. At the time I did not have a way to measure the torque when tightening the cap. Today I noticed a small stream of oil coming out of the joint between the cap and the housing. I now have a way to measure the torque and noticed that it was a little loose. I torqued it to spec and the leak continued. I am wondering if I have some partially plugged oil channels.

I do not make it to Lackawana often. Especially in the past few days. They had a huge fire at one of the old steel plants. Route 5 was closed for several days and people had to be evacuated from their homes.

KJI3jflarryfe93

did you recently notice the broken plastic part when doing a new oil filter change?
did you drive with your car for long time?
did you hear any weird sound from your engine if the broken part fell down inside the engine?
might be bad for engine if broken part get stuck somewhere inside?

eewoz

I noticed the broken part when I took the cap off because it was leaking oil. I did not hear any weird noises that would make one think that there was a loose plastic part in the engine. I changed the filter last fall. i only drive the car in the summer so there was about 1/2 a year of driving since the last filter change. I too am curious as to where the bits of plastic would end up.

Khan 55

I believe that part goes down to the oil sump pan. I could be wrong and it could go into the front gear cover first. Best is to look at the diagrams under the parts listing on EIS for your vehicle and see from there. Hope you find it however I doubt a plastic part could cause a problem in the engine unless it clogs up a oil supply galley somewhere.

eewoz

Thank you, Khan. That is comforting. What is the EIS that you speak of. I could not find anything relevant on the web.

Khan 55

You welcome. I believe it is the system Mercedez use as a parts registry if memory serves me well. They will use your vin and the category for the part you require to obtain the correct part for you. As mentioned it will show where this part attaches to and more or less an indication of what was affected by it.

Khan 55

Found a site that indicates it more or less. It would seem as mentioned before the filter housing mounts to the timing case/cover which connects to lower sump adapter piece and then to the sump. I do believe that the pump is mounted below that or rather the timing cover protects it once bolted in place. Your best bet would be to remove the entire sump adapter with its sump off and have a look in there and around the pick up and other parts for that tiny broken plastic

eewoz

Thanks Khan. I ended up blowing compressed air in a direction opposite to oil flow through the oil cooler to see if anything came out. I also blew compressed air into the oil pressure test port which is on the timing case cover. I attached vacuum to the port at the very bottom of the oil filter housing and to a port that is one the side of the oil filter housing. None of these actions produced any pieces of plastic, which probably does not surprise you. I have decided to live on the edge and drive it as is. I may have been driving in that condition for quite a while because based on the way the part broke I am guessing that it was broken during installation the last time I changed the filter. It will be in winter storage soon so I will not know if my decision is good or bad for some time.