Just600

Hi - I've decided to save some money and change the Left Coil Bank as well as all the spark plugs myself. I've watched a few videos on the coil pack and feel pretty comfortable with that. The question I have is around the spark plugs. I have ordered the Bosch 9652 (Iridium Fine Wire) as replacements. Do I need to use dielectric grease? How tight do I fasten them? Anything else I should look out for? Also, does anyone have any videos or photos documenting this procedure?

I have removed the Air Filter and there seems to be oil stains underneath them. Is this something I should be concerned with? Also, it looks like there is a fuel line running over the Left Coil Bank. Assuming I can unscrew it just above the coil and remove the hose?

Here are close ups of the driver and passenger side heads and coil packs. The drivers side has a ton of oil on it. Assuming this is a bad gasket?

Thanks.

kraut56

Why do you want to change the coil pack and Plugs?

The oil may well be a disfunctioning crankcase ventilation system, that results in oil flooding the intake manifold.

on the front cover of the right cylinder bank is a black rubber hose that then runs along the right fuel rail to the aft throttle body.

This hose must be soft and squeezable; if it is hard the PCV system is blocked and has overheated.

There is a MB Star Bulletin P-B-01.20/13 that explains.

Just600

Thanks Kraut.

The CEL came on, so i took it to be diagnosed. I was told the left coil bank need to be replaced as well as the spark plugs. But it look like that just might be a result of the clogged PCV?

Is this the hose you are referring to? If so, it's as hard as a rock.

I am very new to all of this so I appreciate the help and patience.

I looked up the bulletin and found this:
SUBJECT: Models 215.378 and 220.178 with Engine M137
Engine Running Complaints In Conjunction With Blue Smoke and/or Hydrocarbon
Odors Smells During First Start Up
If you receive customer reports in the above model vehicles equipped with engine M137 of engine running
complaints / misfire in conjunction with blue smoke for several seconds during engine first start-up,
hydrocarbon odors during engine first start-up, and/or excessive amount of standing oil in the intake
manifold, please refer to the following cause and remedy.
Cause: PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) System intake assembly (front cover, right cylinder head) oil
condensation drain clogged with oil sludge. Refer to Figure 1 for part location.
Remedy: Remove and disassemble the front cover assembly of the right cylinder head. Refer to WIS
document no. AR01.30-P-5700L, up to and including step no. 14, for R&R of the front cover assembly of the
right cylinder head. Inspect oil condensation drain for clogging (Figure 2) and clean out the oil sludge
blocking the drain. Reassemble and reinstall the front cover assembly of the right cylinder head.

There was also a subscription site, Mitchell1. Anyone have experience with them?

kraut56

Do the Service bulletin immediately!
Without the proper flow through this portion of the PVC system, the forward portion of the oil/water heat exchanger, which is actually the air/oil separator, overheats and cooks the common preformed gasket.

Result: the cooler leaks oil (happened to mine). I scraped about a 1/4 ounce of solid carbon/coke out of the passage, although the rest of the engine was clean as a whistle.

Pulling the right front cover is not that that hard; you can probably get away with it without lifting the valve cover.

Just600

This is where the fun starts

I know that I can manage this task, I just need some direction/instruction.

I read the bulletin and your post, and have no idea where to start. I'm assuming no matter what I need to remove the silver box in the front - MAF(?) - and the Air Flow Sensor at the rear? And everything else?

Will I need to order parts or can i just clean them?

Thanks again for your time and help.

kraut56

Don't just start taking things apart; on this engine things can be very complex.

use the STAR Service DVD, which has all WIS instructions, for MY 2001 thru 2006 DVD part# P-2700-220/215-07; it's about $ 100. It also gives great explanations on how the systems work on these cars.

BTW: The DVD will not run on 64 bit Windows such as W7 Professional or W8.

Just600

Kraut - does the service bulletin really take 7-8 hrs?

kraut56

Probably - but if you are experienced you can probably pull the right front cover off without having to loosen the rocker cover.

Still, you have to take off the serpentine belt, but you can probaly leave the idler pulley on the front cover.

You may have to remove the suction fan assembly just to get enough work space, and install a wood plate to protect the radiator.

7 hours sounds about right.

Good luck!

PS: My engine is running just fine now.