Hello - thank you for taking the time to read this and hopefully have some advice.

We have a 2005 Mercedes c320 4 matic with 49,800 miles. We have only driven the car a few times this winter and each time we have started it (past couple months) we smell oil, or burnt oil when we get in the car.

The oil reading in the car says it is normal and not yet time for an oil change.

When we looked in the car the other day - we could see some oil staining at the seal on the oil tank. Then there is 3 or 4 tubes at the top....the first few tubes were all dry and the last tube (which has plastic around it) looked wet/stained with oil.

We just had the car at the mercedes dealership for a radio problem - which resulted in a replaced amplifier and alot of expense and we hope this isnt something too big.

My husband who is not a car guy, said it may be a blown head gasket (hope not). If anyone has had to replace that - what sort of cost are we looking at.

Any other ideas of what this may be or why it is happening?

Thanks alot!

 

Can you get us a picture

 

My husband has clarified that the small amount of oil staining is located near the spark plugs on the head of the engine...around the gasket of the block. It's only a small amount and doesn't appear to be the full length of the gasket, only in a small area. The smell only occurs when car idles to warm up, it is not noticed at a stop light or anything.

Yes - thank you for your reply, tomorrow I will take a picture and post. Thanks!

 

also if possible take the air cleaner off because our engines tend to have a leak on the the breather covers. The air cleaner comes off really easy just remove the two tubes and the whole cover pops straight up and off.

 

+1

 

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

We have noticed an oil smell when the car is started and idles.

2005 c320 4 matic with only 49,800 miles.

This is what we see.....

Any ideas? If it looks like a head gasket - any idea of the costs to replace in New Hampshire? Has anyone ever had it done outside of a MB dealership?

Thanks for your help!

It wont let me upload the pics again. Please see my post yesterday -
'When car idles, smell oil - under hood see oil staining on tank, blwn head gasket??"

 

The first pic with the oil on the coil pack is likely the recirculating cover. If you or your husband can pop the air filter assembly off to confirm it as Trey mentioned above. It's a common problem. The other photos does make it look like the head gasket is leaking, but I would definitely pop the filter cover first.

EDIT: I phrased that wrong, I had head gasket in my head from your other thread. As Glyn pointed out below it is a valve cover gasket that is likely the problem.

 

See Trutaing's thread:

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...culating+cover

 

MB quoted me for 2200$ here in san antonio, texas

my gf dad fixed the head gasket on my BMW for free.

and he's currently fixing the head gasket on my c320 . he will hook i up, but expect to get charged a lot , he told me its pretty hard and everything is mercedes Benz specific.

 

Yeah could be either or both. need a picture with the air cleaner off.

 

u most likely have a valve cover gasket leaking. or the spark plug seals need replaced

if u had a blown head u'd be losing coolant....CHECK THE COOLANT

 

Stupid Sammy, your advice is full of ****. I detest you being here.

 

I think you need to marry this girl .

 

Ease up, SeaCoupe, free speech & all that .

A blown head gasket can present itself as a coolant leak internally or externally.

It would be a good idea to check the coolant level & oil quality when suspecting a head gasket leak.

 

There are no plug seals on a M112 engine. It's a SOHC engine - 3V/C.

This is not a blown head gasket from what is shown in the pics. It's a recirc cover leak or a cambox cover leak or both.

 

Tru created a thread called "resealing the recirculating cover" or something of that nature. It might be of big help if it is indeed the recirc cover leaking.

 

most definitively a keeper

 

It's posted above!

 

So it is..

 

Dude, you're the only guy I know who's in witness protection from the fake mafia on FB.
Chill my brutha.

 

Lol thanks guys!

 

Threads merged!