SLUDGE!!! I think I need a hug...(pics)
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 113
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From: Oahu
'05 c230, '09 c300, '03 Durango
SLUDGE!!! I think I need a hug...(pics)
Well, I just bought my new,used 230 last month and before I bought it, I checked everthing out as best I could and everything seemed good. No dip-stick so I wasn't able to check the condition of the oil, but I open the oil filler cap and everything looked alright and since the car was clean and had 88k miles I figured all was good.
The first thing I did was an oil change/flush. I noticed the original oil I drained out was pretty dark so onto the flush then change and I did the same thing one week later just in case.
after the second oil flush on the second week, I changed the oil 1 more time just because I am **** like that and I wanted to see the condition the oil was in. All seemed great!
Now I'm at work and I figure since we had the v/c gasket in stock, I'd go ahead and buy it so I can pull the valve cover and look for signs of and sludge, kinda hoping for the best but still expecting the worst...
So here's what I saw...
NOT PRETTY!!!!
Now I've seen worse looking at pictures online, but I have NEVER had a car with sludge! So my obvious question to you guys is....Do you think it's real bad? Is my car running on borrowed time???
I'm wondering if you think that there is sludge like this in my oil pan asa I am worrried about my pick up getting clogged and I'm am worried about sludge getting stuck in the oil passages and stopping my poor engine from getting the precious lubrication it needs and deserves!!!
Here are some after pictures:
Any advise would be GREAT!
The first thing I did was an oil change/flush. I noticed the original oil I drained out was pretty dark so onto the flush then change and I did the same thing one week later just in case.
after the second oil flush on the second week, I changed the oil 1 more time just because I am **** like that and I wanted to see the condition the oil was in. All seemed great!
Now I'm at work and I figure since we had the v/c gasket in stock, I'd go ahead and buy it so I can pull the valve cover and look for signs of and sludge, kinda hoping for the best but still expecting the worst...
So here's what I saw...
NOT PRETTY!!!!
Now I've seen worse looking at pictures online, but I have NEVER had a car with sludge! So my obvious question to you guys is....Do you think it's real bad? Is my car running on borrowed time???
I'm wondering if you think that there is sludge like this in my oil pan asa I am worrried about my pick up getting clogged and I'm am worried about sludge getting stuck in the oil passages and stopping my poor engine from getting the precious lubrication it needs and deserves!!!
Here are some after pictures:
Any advise would be GREAT!
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
I have never had too much sludge so you will need some expert advice on cleaning it out .
Going on the absence of a white colour it does not seem to be caused by water so that is a relief.
If it is possible without too much trouble removing the sump pan & cleaning would be in my opinion, a good idea.
I would then receive expert advice from an oil chemist on what I could run in the engine to clean it internally without dislodging too much sludge too quickly & blocking your oil channels.
I would then change the oil & filter at half the recommended mileage for the next half a dozen changes.
How people can neglect an engine like this is a mystery to me. I hear of this approach to lease vehicles on this forum.
How did the service book look?
I hope that you can sort it out . Please let us know how you go.
Going on the absence of a white colour it does not seem to be caused by water so that is a relief.
If it is possible without too much trouble removing the sump pan & cleaning would be in my opinion, a good idea.
I would then receive expert advice from an oil chemist on what I could run in the engine to clean it internally without dislodging too much sludge too quickly & blocking your oil channels.
I would then change the oil & filter at half the recommended mileage for the next half a dozen changes.
How people can neglect an engine like this is a mystery to me. I hear of this approach to lease vehicles on this forum.
How did the service book look?
I hope that you can sort it out . Please let us know how you go.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Oahu
'05 c230, '09 c300, '03 Durango
I have never had too much sludge so you will need some expert advice on cleaning it out .
Going on the absence of a white colour it does not seem to be caused by water so that is a relief.
If it is possible without too much trouble removing the sump pan & cleaning would be in my opinion, a good idea.
I would then receive expert advice from an oil chemist on what I could run in the engine to clean it internally without dislodging too much sludge too quickly & blocking your oil channels.
I would then change the oil & filter at half the recommended mileage for the next half a dozen changes.
How people can neglect an engine like this is a mystery to me. I hear of this approach to lease vehicles on this forum.
How did the service book look?
I hope that you can sort it out . Please let us know how you go.
Going on the absence of a white colour it does not seem to be caused by water so that is a relief.
If it is possible without too much trouble removing the sump pan & cleaning would be in my opinion, a good idea.
I would then receive expert advice from an oil chemist on what I could run in the engine to clean it internally without dislodging too much sludge too quickly & blocking your oil channels.
I would then change the oil & filter at half the recommended mileage for the next half a dozen changes.
How people can neglect an engine like this is a mystery to me. I hear of this approach to lease vehicles on this forum.
How did the service book look?
I hope that you can sort it out . Please let us know how you go.
Thanks again for the input guys!!!
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,073
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From: North San diego
C320 2002
Thats what i was going to say. Its going to cost you a bit. I would recommend doing a full flush of the oil change. Drive the car around 500-1000 miles do another full flush. Check if there is any slug when doing the oil change. If there is i would recommend one more. I believe doing this would flush out all the old nasty crap.
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From: fort worth, tx
06 C230 SS 6spd
you can check when you do your oil change. Remove the oil pan and see if there's build up there and by removing your valve cover to see if there's sludge in it like the OP did.
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From: Toronto, Canada
2019 C300 Wagon; '75 Triumph TR6; previous: 2004 C230 6spd sold after 17 years of driving
Not knowing the history of the car since you only have had it a month, I am willing to bet the previous owner(s) used the wrong oil. Either due to : saving costs, a bonehead mechanic, or thinking that all synthetic oils are the same
I wonder if they used conventional oil or if they used synthetic that did not have the right MB 229.5 specification on the bottle.
Stick to the OEM specified Mobil 1 0W40 European Formula and I don't think that you will have a problem. Mercedes has not had any major problems with slugging, other company's such as Audi, VW, Toyota has had several issues
I wonder if they used conventional oil or if they used synthetic that did not have the right MB 229.5 specification on the bottle.
Stick to the OEM specified Mobil 1 0W40 European Formula and I don't think that you will have a problem. Mercedes has not had any major problems with slugging, other company's such as Audi, VW, Toyota has had several issues
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Camas, WA
2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
I would recommend running an Auto-RX treatment. I have personally seen it do wonders to sludged engines. Though, I have seen MUCH worse than your engine. Then run the appropriate oil and filter at recommended intervals, and you should be fine.
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2006 C350 Sport 6MT
John how did you do this process? Did you use regular oil? I was on their site and I saw this: The use of high-mileage or synthetic engine oils should be avoided during the Auto-Rx® application.
Thanks
Thanks
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
This is a result of wrong oil/neglect/or little old lady once a day one mile to the shops. Not nice. Fortunately you have removed most of the sludge because top of engine is where most of it occurs.
If you want to go belt & bracers you can pull the sump but probably not necessary.
I don't know the stuff John is suggesting but he will always provide wise advice. Whatever you use must be designed for the job & not loosen any remaining crap quicker than the oil can disperse it or you can clog an oil gallery or filter with dire consequences.
229.5 oils are highly detergent & a couple of 5000 mile oil & filter changes after running Johns stuff should ensure a spotless engine.
If you want to go belt & bracers you can pull the sump but probably not necessary.
I don't know the stuff John is suggesting but he will always provide wise advice. Whatever you use must be designed for the job & not loosen any remaining crap quicker than the oil can disperse it or you can clog an oil gallery or filter with dire consequences.
229.5 oils are highly detergent & a couple of 5000 mile oil & filter changes after running Johns stuff should ensure a spotless engine.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
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From: Camas, WA
2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
Their instructions have changed a little since I used it, but go here: http://www.auto-rx.com/sludgeappl.html
Your run the Auto-RX for 2500 miles (For sludge change filter at 1000-1500 miles), then run a rinse for 3000 miles, then repeat. This is the safest way to clean a sludged engine that I know of. Search on Bob is the oil guy forum, and see some amazing results from Auto-RX. It is essentially high grade esters in a carrier oil. With the low change intervals during the treatment, I don't see a problem running a conventional oil.
Your run the Auto-RX for 2500 miles (For sludge change filter at 1000-1500 miles), then run a rinse for 3000 miles, then repeat. This is the safest way to clean a sludged engine that I know of. Search on Bob is the oil guy forum, and see some amazing results from Auto-RX. It is essentially high grade esters in a carrier oil. With the low change intervals during the treatment, I don't see a problem running a conventional oil.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Northern CA
CLK55 AMG, SL55 AMG, C55 AMG
Auto-RX worked fantastic on my friends 2002 C-Class that had mega-high miles and almost the same sludge issue as yours when he bought it. Looked like someone had bathed the entire top end of the engine in black pancake syrup. It was almost as bad as your pix, but not quite as gooey.
He ran Auto-RX for a little over 3,000 miles with conventional oil, then switched back to Mobil 1 0-40 synthetic. He did his next oil/filter change at half-mileage to make sure there was no repeat issues as a safety precaution and everything was ok. He even sent a sample of oil to Blackstone for analysis to see if there were other issues, and it came back fine after utilizing the RX treatment.
He ran Auto-RX for a little over 3,000 miles with conventional oil, then switched back to Mobil 1 0-40 synthetic. He did his next oil/filter change at half-mileage to make sure there was no repeat issues as a safety precaution and everything was ok. He even sent a sample of oil to Blackstone for analysis to see if there were other issues, and it came back fine after utilizing the RX treatment.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Their instructions have changed a little since I used it, but go here: http://www.auto-rx.com/sludgeappl.html
Your run the Auto-RX for 2500 miles (For sludge change filter at 1000-1500 miles), then run a rinse for 3000 miles, then repeat. This is the safest way to clean a sludged engine that I know of. Search on Bob is the oil guy forum, and see some amazing results from Auto-RX. It is essentially high grade esters in a carrier oil. With the low change intervals during the treatment, I don't see a problem running a conventional oil.
Your run the Auto-RX for 2500 miles (For sludge change filter at 1000-1500 miles), then run a rinse for 3000 miles, then repeat. This is the safest way to clean a sludged engine that I know of. Search on Bob is the oil guy forum, and see some amazing results from Auto-RX. It is essentially high grade esters in a carrier oil. With the low change intervals during the treatment, I don't see a problem running a conventional oil.
Meant to mention that this situation is not helped by relatively poor US fuel.
You have got the most dangerous stuff out already - Now let's clean up the sump & lower engine including the oil pickup.
Once clean return to 229.5 Benz products & it will stay clean.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Mar 28, 2011 at 05:26 PM.
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From: Camas, WA
2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 192
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
