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The Full Story On Cam Adjusters And Lifters

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Old Sep 2, 2015 | 10:47 PM
  #1  
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The Full Story On Cam Adjusters And Lifters

I think we should do the best we can to clear this issue up.

I am a Benz tech and have done cams, lifters, and adjusters on the 6.2. I have seen the cam/lifter failure on engines that should be okay per their engine vin number, but they suffered the failure. When you're getting the constant valve train noise, remove the valve cover, and take a look. It is a pretty easy one to figure out.

Cam adjusters on the other hand have me wondering what is "normal" and what would be considered problematic. I know these cars when new did not make the chatter on start. This is for sure. I have done all four adjusters on an E63 with 100k on it, and I would get 20 degrees of crank rotation before the intake cams would move. New adjusters and the engine stayed in time. Also this engine would pass the adjuster test using an SDS before the adjusters were replaced.

Has anyone had catastrophic engine failure due to a cam adjuster on a 6.2? My car has 108k on it and will occasionally make adjuster noise on start. It will never do it for more then a second. It seems people are having adjusters replaced, and then a few thousand miles later are having noise again.

I have read the L.I. documents, but would like to get some feedback from MB techs or people who have first hand experience. On a side note, I'm also curious if the adjusters not fully advancing timing is the reason some 63s make much more or less power then an identically modified car.

Lets hear what you guys think.

Last edited by layzie12g; Oct 30, 2019 at 10:23 PM.
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Old Sep 2, 2015 | 11:21 PM
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Originally Posted by layzie12g
I think we should do the best we can to clear this issue up.

I am a Benz tech and have done cams, lifters, and adjusters on the 6.2. I have seen the cam/lifter failure on engines that should be okay per their engine vin number, but they are suffered the failure. When your getting the constant valve train noise, remove the valve cover, and take a look. It is a pretty easy one to figure out.

Cam adjusters on the other hand have me wondering what is "normal" and what would be considered problematic. I know these cars when new did not make the chatter on start. This is for sure. I have done all four adjusters on an E63 with 100k on it, and I would get 20 degrees of crank rotation before the intake cams would move. New adjusters and the engine stayed in time. Also this engine would pass the adjuster test using an SDS before the adjusters were replaced.

Has anyone had catastrophic engine failure due to a cam adjuster on a 6.2? My car has 108k on it and will occasionally make adjuster noise on start. It will never do it for more then a second. It seems people are having adjusters replaced, and then a few thousand miles later are having noise again.

I have read the L.I. documents, but would like to get some feedback from MB techs or people who have first hand experience. On a side note, I'm also curious if the adjusters not fully advancing timing is the reason some 63s make much more or less power then an identically modified car.

Lets hear what you guys think.
Mine are getting replaced as we speak. I will let you know if the sound comes back. If it does I don't know might just be the way it is. Wondering the same does the noise really matter as long as no damage will result. It's only in start up no other noises any other time and only for a second or 2.
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Old Oct 11, 2015 | 10:25 PM
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Although not all that technical, it's too technical for this forum.

The locking pin cleaning sounds interesting though. Wonder if it's affected by the amount of detergents in the oil used and or change interval?
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Old Oct 12, 2015 | 01:33 AM
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The adjusters aren't very complicated, oil pressure fills passages up to either retard or advance the cams. The noise, on start up, I assume would be the adjuster loosing oil from a worn seal causing the metal to clatter together till oil pressure builds.
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Old Oct 12, 2015 | 07:39 PM
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FF. W212 E63 M156 non-pano 18" P2 ParkT NightV (gone but will be missed).
I was hoping the M156 would be a reliable engine once the head bolts issue is taken care of. Unfortunately, it seems like there are plenty other issues. Maybe the only reliable ones are via M159?
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Old Oct 12, 2015 | 08:05 PM
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my car does make a strange chattering noise on startup sometimes. but most times it starts up normal. is this the same thing you're talking about? i'm out of warranty, is this something i should get fixed?
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Old Oct 12, 2015 | 08:27 PM
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look up the thread titled "this noise can't be normal"

dealer replaced my cam adjusters. whirring noise is gone. car has 25k on it
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Old Oct 12, 2015 | 10:26 PM
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Has anyone had a failure related to failed adjusters or just the noise?
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Old Oct 12, 2015 | 10:36 PM
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Originally Posted by solekeeper
look up the thread titled "this noise can't be normal"

dealer replaced my cam adjusters. whirring noise is gone. car has 25k on it
That noise is completely diff then what is being talked about. That noise very surprised was cam adjusters. I have heard similar odd noises like that come and go. I've had my cam adjusters replaced last month guess what both noises still heard. 3 m156 engines at the dealer had same inititial start rattle. These cars are just noisy is what I'm starting to think. I had my oil changed and supposedly had an incorrect size oil filter in place. after it was changed sounds decreased significantly but yes still there on warm oil starts after 40 or so minutes. But it is a lot better. The adjuster replacement had zero impact on improving noise.

Last edited by AMGonFire; Oct 12, 2015 at 10:41 PM.
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Old Oct 12, 2015 | 10:40 PM
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The Full Story On Cam Adjusters And Lifters-3de4218742b2315aa8d729168977edd8_zpsa8fc155d.jpg

The Full Story On Cam Adjusters And Lifters-7ae51040e95e8e74a4d22d3ac813d409_zpse0024082.jpg

The Full Story On Cam Adjusters And Lifters-0f626f09ce35c29324213c70f41cfce1_zps4c367507.jpg

This was my M156
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Old Oct 12, 2015 | 10:43 PM
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Originally Posted by snowmuch






This was my M156
That must be PFL with the soft cams and lifter issues correct?? What were your symptoms?? Constant ticking??
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Old Oct 12, 2015 | 10:51 PM
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Originally Posted by AMGonFire
That must be PFL with the soft cams and lifter issues correct?? What were your symptoms?? Constant ticking??
09 C63 No ticking noise.
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Old Oct 12, 2015 | 10:53 PM
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Amg
Originally Posted by solekeeper
look up the thread titled "this noise can't be normal"

dealer replaced my cam adjusters. whirring noise is gone. car has 25k on it
When is the whirring noise evident ? I have it to but only at idel but might be normal
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Old Oct 12, 2015 | 11:10 PM
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I have a ticking noise from the left bank after the car sits at the airport for 2 weeks. Noise is gone by the time I pull out of the parking deck.
When the car is driven every day or every other day, it never makes a sound
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Old Oct 13, 2015 | 07:45 AM
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Originally Posted by C63FACTORY
When is the whirring noise evident ? I have it to but only at idel but might be normal

only after i drive the car and then have it sit for 2-3 hours. makes that noise for about 20 seconds then goes away. as i said before, one dealer said it was normal, the other changed the CA's and i have not heard the noise since.
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Old Oct 13, 2015 | 09:36 AM
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Amg
Originally Posted by solekeeper
only after i drive the car and then have it sit for 2-3 hours. makes that noise for about 20 seconds then goes away. as i said before, one dealer said it was normal, the other changed the CA's and i have not heard the noise since.
The CAs?
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Old Oct 13, 2015 | 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by C63FACTORY
The CAs?
Cam Adjusters
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Old Oct 18, 2015 | 08:03 AM
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I'm another owner in Calgary and my 2009 with 92,000 km started getting noisier with the defective buckets about 20,000 km ago and is getting really annoying now. I will post my dealings with Mercedes re this issue.
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Old Oct 18, 2015 | 08:14 AM
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Oh, forgot to mention I just wrote in another post here I also have been dealing with the Adjustor/Actuator issue since last year. After a cold tough winter of short trips and not being able to use my garage (Severe service that will create sludge in the engine) I started to get the Adjuster rattle for a second or two on start up. (Cold and hot) The dealer told me I needed 4 adjusters and actuators for $5600.00 but I cleared most of it up with an engine flush. I only get maybe a half a second of rattle now once every 30 start ups.
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Old Oct 18, 2015 | 09:20 AM
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How did you do an engine flush? Sea foam or similar?
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Old Oct 18, 2015 | 01:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Multispeed
I'm another owner in Calgary and my 2009 with 92,000 km started getting noisier with the defective buckets about 20,000 km ago and is getting really annoying now. I will post my dealings with Mercedes re this issue.
This is unrelated to cam adjuster or the noise
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Old Oct 18, 2015 | 09:07 PM
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I have a 2013 and had the noise at start up both warm and cold. Dealer replaced a cam adjuster and the noise returned after a few weeks. I took the car back and was told its normal. Its hard to believe that could be normal. I am planning to go back in for oil service and will mention it again.
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Old Oct 18, 2015 | 09:21 PM
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it might be normal for them but it is not NORMAL for other engines.
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Old Oct 18, 2015 | 09:33 PM
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Having owned my car for a few years and having utilized the warranty/ELW to the maximum, I am realizing that this car is chock full of noises!
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Old Oct 18, 2015 | 09:50 PM
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Originally Posted by naptownmike
I have a 2013 and had the noise at start up both warm and cold. Dealer replaced a cam adjuster and the noise returned after a few weeks. I took the car back and was told its normal. Its hard to believe that could be normal. I am planning to go back in for oil service and will mention it again.
Good luck dealers truly have no idea what it is and this motor does make a lot of noises I think if no cel car pulls strong they say it's normal prob isn't but I deal with the occasional 1 second of noise
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