02 CLK 320 Major Sludge - White Smoke!!!
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2002 CLK 320 Cabriolet
02 CLK 320 Major Sludge - White Smoke!!!
Hello,
I have had a terrible experience with a car that purchased off a lot. To make a long story short, the dealership is no longer in business and I am stuck with a car that I discovered has major sludge issues. The car drove fine for the first couple of months with no issue. When I got the oil changed, the car began to shoot white smoke out of the exhaust.
I have taken the car to many mechanics (including two MB dealers) and they are all telling me that I either need to replace the engine or have it rebuilt. I went to some local guys and they took off one of the covers and showed me how thick the sludge is.
Is there anything that I can do to clean the sludge without replacing the engine? Does anyone have a "how to" on cleaning the engine?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!!!
I have had a terrible experience with a car that purchased off a lot. To make a long story short, the dealership is no longer in business and I am stuck with a car that I discovered has major sludge issues. The car drove fine for the first couple of months with no issue. When I got the oil changed, the car began to shoot white smoke out of the exhaust.
I have taken the car to many mechanics (including two MB dealers) and they are all telling me that I either need to replace the engine or have it rebuilt. I went to some local guys and they took off one of the covers and showed me how thick the sludge is.
Is there anything that I can do to clean the sludge without replacing the engine? Does anyone have a "how to" on cleaning the engine?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!!!
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,152
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From: Sydney, Australia
190D 2.5 (x2), 190E 2.6, W202 C240,W202 C43 (C55), W210 E55, W212 E250CDI
There are products which can loosen sludge but here's the problem.......when it comes loose it has a good chance of blocking oil galleries and you won't know it has happened until it's too late!
The damaging area for sludge is when it's behind the piston rings, that's the main cause of the smoke (blue usually). It's near impossible to clean once formed without engine disassembly.
Your best bet on a budget is to remove the rocker covers and sump and clean what you can reach as best you can. Do an oil and filter change every 2000-3000kms for the nest 10000kms with a oil flush additive added before the oil change and hope alot!
The damaging area for sludge is when it's behind the piston rings, that's the main cause of the smoke (blue usually). It's near impossible to clean once formed without engine disassembly.
Your best bet on a budget is to remove the rocker covers and sump and clean what you can reach as best you can. Do an oil and filter change every 2000-3000kms for the nest 10000kms with a oil flush additive added before the oil change and hope alot!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,486
Likes: 4
From: San Antonio, Tx
2000 CLK430
There are products which can loosen sludge but here's the problem.......when it comes loose it has a good chance of blocking oil galleries and you won't know it has happened until it's too late!
The damaging area for sludge is when it's behind the piston rings, that's the main cause of the smoke (blue usually). It's near impossible to clean once formed without engine disassembly.
Your best bet on a budget is to remove the rocker covers and sump and clean what you can reach as best you can. Do an oil and filter change every 2000-3000kms for the nest 10000kms with a oil flush additive added before the oil change and hope alot!
The damaging area for sludge is when it's behind the piston rings, that's the main cause of the smoke (blue usually). It's near impossible to clean once formed without engine disassembly.
Your best bet on a budget is to remove the rocker covers and sump and clean what you can reach as best you can. Do an oil and filter change every 2000-3000kms for the nest 10000kms with a oil flush additive added before the oil change and hope alot!
This is like THICK BARELY MOVING OIL, it will cause more damage than good but helped them move the car off the lot without smoke.
I would follow the advice posted above and hopefully the engine will be revived with time. If not then lets look at the bright side!! You can always do a 55 or 430 swap and get some REAL power under that bad boy!!! I have seen them for 4K with Tranny on Ebay and your local Indy can do the swap for you. The only issue will be the ECU but thats a whole other subject and we will hit it when we get there.
Hell I want to upgrade so maybe we can do some trade-up program where I sell you mine and I buy my 55 motor finally LOL!!
Greg
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: SCV SoCal
2002 CLK430
I was a wrench, and white smoke is definitely coolant. Burning oil will cause blue smoke. Black smoke is overly rich. Sludge doesn't cause smoke. It causes a spun bearing, which is followed by loud noises and an expensive rebuild.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 502
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From: Bay Area
02 clk 55, 13 GL 450
Pull the dipstick.. if it looks like your favorite starbucks latte then you are done. driving further WILL cause things to come apart and damage the block. Kiss that rebuild or core charge goodbye when that happens.
Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 80
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clk320
Use AutoRX
It works great! tons of people have success with it!
visit auto-rx.com to buy it and go to www.bobistheoilguy.com to read up more about it.
thank me later
visit auto-rx.com to buy it and go to www.bobistheoilguy.com to read up more about it.
thank me later
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Thread Starter
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2002 CLK 320 Cabriolet
Appreciate the posts
I appreciate the responses by everyone. I think I will try the auto rx as a last ditch effort before I replace the engine block. Has anyone else used it before?
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,258
Likes: 209
From: Boston North Shore
2001 CLK320 Cabrio
Early 208s had a major issue with sludge...because MB did not properly inform dealers (and state in owners manual) that the extended oil change 10K mile service required synthetic oil and the extended service filter cartridge. MB lost a class action suit and agreed to extend the warranty time and mileage on these early 208s (1998, 1999 and possibly 2000 models).
The sludge could be from using dino oil and not changing it frequently. If dino oil was used, it tends to expand and then coat / reseal the gaskets. Then upon switching to synthetic, the dino seals are cleaned and leaks result.
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2002 CLK 320 Cabriolet
FOLLOW UP WITH PHOTOS
All,
Just a follow up, I decided to take the engine apart and clean out the sludge myself. Here are some pics of what I found. If you have any ideas what could have caused this, please forward.
Thanks,
Fred
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/65/l_47df6886ae484b61a5ad39139490ce30.jpg
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/66/l_584957adc1764f76b80c79759746d926.jpg
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/23/l_e3da77ab9aa442ca8845dcd6a709bd65.jpg
Just a follow up, I decided to take the engine apart and clean out the sludge myself. Here are some pics of what I found. If you have any ideas what could have caused this, please forward.
Thanks,
Fred
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/65/l_47df6886ae484b61a5ad39139490ce30.jpg
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/66/l_584957adc1764f76b80c79759746d926.jpg
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/23/l_e3da77ab9aa442ca8845dcd6a709bd65.jpg
Last edited by robyweb; Oct 18, 2009 at 12:39 AM. Reason: Needed to change the photo links
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: North Carolina
98 Black C43 , 12’ ML 350 Blutec
Link to pictures doesn't work.It says your account is private.
All,
Just a follow up, I decided to take the engine apart and clean out the sludge myself. Here are some pics of what I found. If you have any ideas what could have caused this, please forward.
Thanks,
Fred
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...ageID=57287641
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...ageID=57287643
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...ageID=57287646
Just a follow up, I decided to take the engine apart and clean out the sludge myself. Here are some pics of what I found. If you have any ideas what could have caused this, please forward.
Thanks,
Fred
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...ageID=57287641
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...ageID=57287643
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...ageID=57287646
