Holy sludge!!!! And what a tick..... (Pics)
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 769
Likes: 4
From: Orlando FL
CLK55 AMG
Holy sludge!!!! And what a tick..... (Pics)
So this morning I started her up and heard an awful ticking coming from the passenger side valve cover. I turned the car off immediately and began diagnosing.
I couldn't quite put my finger on the sound of the Rick, more like a very very light rod knock.
It had me worried so I prepared for a day of wrenching.
My valve cover gaskets were shot and she was leaking like a faucet. I then picked up new gaskets and began tearing into her.
The first thing I noticed was MASSIVE AMOUNTS of sludge, and the rocker arm assembly was finger loose!
All that sludge made me want to further inspect. I began removing the supercharger and intercooler. The Y pipe and intake plenums were covered with sludge. As was all the intake runners.
Now here's were it gets interesting.
I found a small clip sitting on top of one of the intake valves!!
Rubber chunks were also all over the valves.
Long story short I removed the clip and inspected EVERYTHING.
It all checked out, was cleaned and is running million times better.
What a relief that was that I found that in time and nothing else seemed damaged.
Here's some pics. (iPhone uploaded, I don't have a computer :p)
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5396/1359960989360.jpg
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/825/1359961683481.jpg
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/9761/1359961819730.jpg
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/6180/1359961860419.jpg
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/9522/1359961901398.jpg
I couldn't quite put my finger on the sound of the Rick, more like a very very light rod knock.
It had me worried so I prepared for a day of wrenching.
My valve cover gaskets were shot and she was leaking like a faucet. I then picked up new gaskets and began tearing into her.
The first thing I noticed was MASSIVE AMOUNTS of sludge, and the rocker arm assembly was finger loose!
All that sludge made me want to further inspect. I began removing the supercharger and intercooler. The Y pipe and intake plenums were covered with sludge. As was all the intake runners.
Now here's were it gets interesting.
I found a small clip sitting on top of one of the intake valves!!
Rubber chunks were also all over the valves.
Long story short I removed the clip and inspected EVERYTHING.
It all checked out, was cleaned and is running million times better.
What a relief that was that I found that in time and nothing else seemed damaged.
Here's some pics. (iPhone uploaded, I don't have a computer :p)
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5396/1359960989360.jpg
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/825/1359961683481.jpg
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/9761/1359961819730.jpg
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/6180/1359961860419.jpg
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/9522/1359961901398.jpg
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: 301
2003 W211 E500
So this morning I started her up and heard an awful ticking coming from the passenger side valve cover. I turned the car off immediately and began diagnosing.
I couldn't quite put my finger on the sound of the Rick, more like a very very light rod knock.
It had me worried so I prepared for a day of wrenching.
My valve cover gaskets were shot and she was leaking like a faucet. I then picked up new gaskets and began tearing into her.
The first thing I noticed was MASSIVE AMOUNTS of sludge, and the rocker arm assembly was finger loose!
All that sludge made me want to further inspect. I began removing the supercharger and intercooler. The Y pipe and intake plenums were covered with sludge. As was all the intake runners.
Now here's were it gets interesting.
I found a small clip sitting on top of one of the intake valves!!
Rubber chunks were also all over the valves.
Long story short I removed the clip and inspected EVERYTHING.
It all checked out, was cleaned and is running million times better.
What a relief that was that I found that in time and nothing else seemed damaged.
Here's some pics. (iPhone uploaded, I don't have a computer :p)
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5...9960989360.jpg
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/8...9961683481.jpg
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/9...9961819730.jpg
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/6...9961860419.jpg
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/9...9961901398.jpg
I couldn't quite put my finger on the sound of the Rick, more like a very very light rod knock.
It had me worried so I prepared for a day of wrenching.
My valve cover gaskets were shot and she was leaking like a faucet. I then picked up new gaskets and began tearing into her.
The first thing I noticed was MASSIVE AMOUNTS of sludge, and the rocker arm assembly was finger loose!
All that sludge made me want to further inspect. I began removing the supercharger and intercooler. The Y pipe and intake plenums were covered with sludge. As was all the intake runners.
Now here's were it gets interesting.
I found a small clip sitting on top of one of the intake valves!!
Rubber chunks were also all over the valves.
Long story short I removed the clip and inspected EVERYTHING.
It all checked out, was cleaned and is running million times better.
What a relief that was that I found that in time and nothing else seemed damaged.
Here's some pics. (iPhone uploaded, I don't have a computer :p)
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5...9960989360.jpg
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/8...9961683481.jpg
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/9...9961819730.jpg
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/6...9961860419.jpg
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/9...9961901398.jpg
Fixed
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,516
Likes: 628
From: Charlotte NC area
2019 WS222 S450 4-Matic / 2007 W211 E350 4Matic (Sold) / 2008 X164 GL320 CDI
Did you find out what he clip was from.
It looks like it road through between a cam and lifter.
I would bet there is something well scored in there.
The scratches will continue to file against each other till the parts are "polished".
At which point any surface hardening will be gone and both pieces will be out of spec.
Clips like that are usually spring steel witch is very hard and unforgiving when squeezed under high pressure.
It looks like it road through between a cam and lifter.
I would bet there is something well scored in there.
The scratches will continue to file against each other till the parts are "polished".
At which point any surface hardening will be gone and both pieces will be out of spec.
Clips like that are usually spring steel witch is very hard and unforgiving when squeezed under high pressure.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 769
Likes: 4
From: Orlando FL
CLK55 AMG
I pulled pretty much everything off the motor (other than block) nothing seemed scored or damaged enough to cause future problems. I caught it really early.
I also miced the valve seat the clip was found on, it all checked out
I also miced the valve seat the clip was found on, it all checked out
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,829
Likes: 592
From: NY & FL
MB’s of all kinds.
BTW What engine oil do you use? How often do you change it and what are the miles on your C32?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 769
Likes: 4
From: Orlando FL
CLK55 AMG
I use 10w-30, the car has 162k. When I had my 02 C32 I changed it every 4-5k. I haven't had this one long enough yet, but it will be changed every 2-3k because if the condition I found the engine to be in
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,516
Likes: 628
From: Charlotte NC area
2019 WS222 S450 4-Matic / 2007 W211 E350 4Matic (Sold) / 2008 X164 GL320 CDI
Kleeman cam replacement?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 769
Likes: 4
From: Orlando FL
CLK55 AMG
well, today on my way to florida passing through georgia my car lost oil pressure and i spun multiple rod bearings. the sludge from the poor maintnence clogged my pick up screen and boom...... 
the car is being towed to fort myers where ill have a 2003 M112K engine waiting
ill post pics and updates later on.
the car is being towed to fort myers where ill have a 2003 M112K engine waiting
ill post pics and updates later on.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 769
Likes: 4
From: Orlando FL
CLK55 AMG
Well, last night I went down the shop that my car is at to do some further diagnosing and found a lot more issues than expected. Turned out that not only were the rod bearings done, cylinder 5 and 2 had bent rods as well. We also found out that the intake valve that I found a clip in had pretty much broken off its stem... What a mess. And the culprit was a sludge filled oil pick up tube. It lost oil pressure on the highway and I had no idea, being that my oil level sensor is broken. (It always reads 9 quarts)
Next step is to find an engine. The one that was waiting here had a cracked block somehow.
Next step is to find an engine. The one that was waiting here had a cracked block somehow.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 769
Likes: 4
From: Orlando FL
CLK55 AMG
After 2-3 hours of searching online, I have sourced one from an 03 C32. The yard is in NC and they state it has 45,354 miles. I've verified the vin and the car was pulled off the road at exactly that mileage. They're asking 3600$ shipped. Does that sound too good to be true??
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 769
Likes: 4
From: Orlando FL
CLK55 AMG
well yesterday i pulled the engine out. the whole process start to finish took about 12 hours. (had to wait for my engine hoist and jack stands to arrive) over all it wasnt too bad id say. i had a lot of trouble getting the engine to come off the tranny. other than that everything was surprisingly smooth. i did end up getting that engine i had posted for 3600. the engine is actually out of an slk32. they have had it for 4 years! ended up paying 2k shipped. it has 45,354 miles and the slk32 it came out of was totaled in a rear end wreck in april 2008.
now i do have a question. does the torque converter unbolt some how off of the fly wheel? ive never really seen an engine that the torque converter comes off with the engine.....
Pictures are coming, i just have to find a way to upload them.....
now i do have a question. does the torque converter unbolt some how off of the fly wheel? ive never really seen an engine that the torque converter comes off with the engine.....
Pictures are coming, i just have to find a way to upload them.....
