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you can usually get it online cheaper on the stealership website OR cross reference the OEM part number on eBay/Amazon.
My experience with the AAZ warehouse branded item wasn't 100% perfect. And that was while I was installing the new VC. I bought the AAZ oil filter housing. If I have to ever do that again I'm not going to cheap out, I'm going oem.
The aluminum valve cover - it's fckin cool as hell. BUT I had to add 2 washers to the front most bolts on both sides. The plastic PCV pipe and vacuum hose/screw was difficult to line up. The oil dip stick screw is different thread on the aluminum valve cover. The one I received is machine screw threads. So, if you plan to go with the aluminum be prepared for that. Other than that, it's identical and I love it. Definitely cool to do it on the 1st VC change. But, if I ever have to do the VC again I would probably just buy OEM
And I wouldn't suggest buying the AAZ. I'm skeptical.. it might work and you could be fine. But that's just me after my experience I had with the AAZ oil filter housing. The oil cap stem came with a filter attached and was LODGED in there. IThe filter stem separated from the filter cap. had to pull so damn hard to get the stem out. I ended up using the OEM oil filter cap (as I originally planned) but I had a heart attack WTF moment after buttoning up the oil filter housing.
Sorry for the long winded answer. Just want to be transparent and let you know what happened in my experience.
I love the aluminum valve cover but some slight modifications and finagling was needed. I don't believe it is required to fix the problem. I'm absolutely sure a new VC plastic or aluminum will fix the issue. It's all preference.
Great information. I'll probably tackle that job come spring.
The valve cover looks so simple. I'm trying to understand what could be plugged in that system. I'm wondering if a good cleaning (once removed) out of the breather connections in the valve cover (compressed air / suction) might be worth trying. Doesn't look like there's any moving parts in there.
It might be one of those things though that once you get it removed just replace it.
Great information. I'll probably tackle that job come spring.
The valve cover looks so simple. I'm trying to understand what could be plugged in that system. I'm wondering if a good cleaning (once removed) out of the breather connections in the valve cover (compressed air / suction) might be worth trying. Doesn't look like there's any moving parts in there.
It might be one of those things though that once you get it removed just replace it.
Richard
it definitely is simple system. If you look at it, there’s 2 pieces. The Mercedes factory one appears to be RTV’d or glued together. There must be baffles or flaps that get gummed up or worn out. And don’t function as they were brand new.i don’t believe you’ll be able to clean well enough with the size hole there is. (Reference my pic above of the new VC)
in any case, Mercedes should make this a maintenance item. It appears to affect ALOT of c250’s/M271evo’s if not all of them. I agree with you, if it’s off just replace it vs. going through all the trouble trying to clean it.
Even though it wasn’t that hard of a job, I would feel more comfortable with a new one. You do have to pull all the coils, wiring harness, AOS pipe and vacuum line. Plus new gaskets. If your spark plugs are due, it would be a good time to do those and coils. Since you’ll be right there. 🫡
Just change it and be done for another ~100k miles. My older buddy says “I’d rather do it right than over”
Im curious to see what it looks like in there. With the M272 engine the pcv on the passenger side clearly fails by the oil drip pan spinning in the cover and the parts wear down. But the oil separator cover on the drivers side has no moving parts and instead just baffle type things, that I just took apart and cleaned out. Im thinking maybe that hose deteriorates or gets clogged over time. And obviously the gaskets compress and deteriorate.
If theres no moving parts i dont see why it cant be flushed with some type of solvent cleaner.
I was wondering what everyone has the oil level at. With the M272 the manual says to fill it so its between the Min and Max markings. It also says it takes 2 quarts of oil to fill it from Min to the Max lines. So I'm wondering if someone fills it to the Max line does that mean its over filled by 1 quart? When I search for reasons why the cover leaks one of the reasons is the oil level is too high. I'm not meaning the oil level is way over filled, but more like over time its causing the issue.
Im curious to see what it looks like in there. With the M272 engine the pcv on the passenger side clearly fails by the oil drip pan spinning in the cover and the parts wear down. But the oil separator cover on the drivers side has no moving parts and instead just baffle type things, that I just took apart and cleaned out. Im thinking maybe that hose deteriorates or gets clogged over time. And obviously the gaskets compress and deteriorate.
If theres no moving parts i dont see why it cant be flushed with some type of solvent cleaner.
I was wondering what everyone has the oil level at. With the M272 the manual says to fill it so its between the Min and Max markings. It also says it takes 2 quarts of oil to fill it from Min to the Max lines. So I'm wondering if someone fills it to the Max line does that mean its over filled by 1 quart? When I search for reasons why the cover leaks one of the reasons is the oil level is too high. I'm not meaning the oil level is way over filled, but more like over time its causing the issue.
I will be cutting the old valve cover open this weekend to see what’s going on in there.
will upload pics of what I find for everyone to see.
see pics below of the valve cover. I was able to separate it and found that it is 3 separate pieces.
I use a chisel, hammer, and wiz wheel.
the top piece is a cover to the centrifuge and check valve.
the middle piece is an air chamber/passage way. It appeared to be sludged and gummed up. Definitely a failure point. It is causing the check valve to stick under low pressure/low rpm.
It definitely is not all sludge as I used a wiz wheel. But I took my finger and a small pic and was getting sludge and gunk out of the corner of the valve cover.
Great pics. Thanks. I'll definitely think about replacing my wife's valve cover in the spring. That's a fairly closed system. So not sure cleaning it out would be possible.
Great pics. Thanks. I'll definitely think about replacing my wife's valve cover in the spring. That's a fairly closed system. So not sure cleaning it out would be possible.
Richard
Happy to help! My buddy and I were looking at it yesterday and there is absolutely no way to clean all of the air and oil passage ways. Better off putting a new Valve cover on if you're going to tackle this job
Yes, that is exactly what I was experiencing before. The oil cap should not bobble or bounce. It should get sucked into the oil fill by the vacuum. Looks like you need a new valve cover as well!
01-15-2024, 05:39 PM
Engine bay upgrade- w204 c250
