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Ok, so I do not know much about cars and I do intent to take it in to a good mechanic but before I do, I figured I post here first
I was checking the fluid levels and somehow this did not come to my attention before but I noticed oily spots / head gasket leak? Its just a little moist and dirty, does not appear to be dripping. Maybe its not a big deal or maybe it is. Should I get it checked out / taken care off before it develops in to something larger?
05 CLK55 AMG (1 of 247) Cubanitsilber designo series
Looks to me like your oil breather covers are leaking (oil on the top of the valve cover in the last photo) as well as your valve covers are leaking. It also looks to me that your engine is a bit low in the engine bay indicating your motor mounts may need to be changed. All common issues with older Mercedes.
Looks to me like your oil breather covers are leaking (oil on the top of the valve cover in the last photo) as well as your valve covers are leaking. It also looks to me that your engine is a bit low in the engine bay indicating your motor mounts may need to be changed. All common issues with older Mercedes.
you have better eyes than me, if you can tell the engine is sitting low
Looks to me like your oil breather covers are leaking (oil on the top of the valve cover in the last photo) as well as your valve covers are leaking. It also looks to me that your engine is a bit low in the engine bay indicating your motor mounts may need to be changed. All common issues with older Mercedes.
I agree with what he said....
I'm guessing the engine low observation is derived from the relative position of the air intake tube and the coolant reservoir.
The oil fill cap can be installed 180 degrees from norm (insignia upside down); after cleaning around it you can tell if it is a source of some of the oil.
Oil on the opposite side of the engine would seem to support the valve cover gaskets leaking also.
I'm guessing the engine low observation is derived from the relative position of the air intake tube and the coolant reservoir.
The oil fill cap can be installed 180 degrees from norm (insignia upside down); after cleaning around it you can tell if it is a source of some of the oil.
Oil on the opposite side of the engine would seem to support the valve cover gaskets leaking also.
I agree now that he said it, just nothing i would have noticed looking for an oil leak in the picture. He is more observant then i am
How bad do you think it is given nothing found on garage floor? I guess taking care of all 3 would be better done sooner then later. I only use the car maybe 50 miles a week now that I'm out of work and would prefer to hold off with major expanse. Thats a second question, any idea what I should expect to spend for all 3 repairs?
05 CLK55 AMG (1 of 247) Cubanitsilber designo series
I'd be concerned with the oil breather system - the valve covers leaking a little is more cosmetic than anything else. However, the M112 and 113 engines both rely on the integrity of the breather hoses not leaking, and the small orifices that the left and right hose connect to at the breather boxes to be open and not clogged, and the internal drain holes unclogged to move crankcase gases back through the intake system, but separate oil from those gases. If the system is not working, you will be sucking oil into your intake system, you will be burning oil and fowling your plugs, and contributing to water vapor buildup and sludge. Leaking breather covers are indicative of these potential problems. I would address them.
Last edited by floridawriter; Mar 13, 2016 at 11:37 AM.
Hi, I just got this particular job done myself. It is not a hard thing to do yourself. It will take you half a day and about $10. I used Permatex Ultra Grey Gasket maker, after trying to purchase the OEM Loctite gasket maker from the dealer for $20. Parts salesman advised that the original Loctite package requires a special gun to apply the gasket maker, and if I didn't have it I'd be better off buying the Permatex as it is the same thing, he said.
Get some Permatex gasked cleaner spray as well. You don't have to remove the entire gasket cover in order to fix the breather's leaks. Just be careful with the old silicone particles while cleaning aorund the edges. After removing the little breather covers I stuffed all open wholes in the valve covers with papertowels to prevent any dirt going down the camshaft chambers while working.
05 CLK55 AMG (1 of 247) Cubanitsilber designo series
One suggestion: the breather covers and the valve covers are magnesium, an alloy much lighter than aluminum but much softer than aluminum and much more brittle and subject to corrosion much more than aluminum. I would use only plastic or wood gouges to clean out the gasket grooves in the covers.
05 CLK55 AMG (1 of 247) Cubanitsilber designo series
As the mounts start to collapse the engine sinks a little. That makes it more difficult to reach the spark plugs if you want to change them. At some point the engine sinks to a point that you have to raise the engine with a jack in order to have the room to reach and change the plugs. However, if you don't need to reach the plugs, the engine dropping a bit from the motor mounts isn't an issue until it starts to touch something in the engine compartment and transmitting vibration back to the passenger compartment. If it doesn't rattle or have an annoying vibration, you need not worry about changing the mounts.
Last edited by floridawriter; Mar 13, 2016 at 03:24 PM.
As the mounts start to collapse the engine sinks a little. That makes it more difficult to reach the spark plugs if you want to change them. At some point the engine sinks to a point that you have to raise the engine with a jack in order to have the room to reach and change the plugs. However, of you don't need to reach the plugs, the engine dropping a bit from the motor mounts isn't an issue until it starts to touch something in the engine compartment and transmitting vibration back to the passenger compartment. If it doesn't rattle or have an annoying vibration, you need not worry about changing the mounts.
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