2004 CLK55 Oil Change Nightmare
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Joined: Feb 2008
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1987 Porsche 928 S4, 2009 Mercedes E350, 2011 Mercedes GL450, 2003 Mercedes ML350
2004 CLK55 Oil Change Nightmare
I recently did oil on an in-law's CLK55 by draining out of the bottom using the rear drain plug. The sucker's pan threads shredded and broke when removing the drain plug bolt!
We managed to seal it up, but was given an oversize plug to tap the pan with. While this may be routine on other cars that have this issue, the pan material appears to be insufficient to accomodate the oversize plug. We used an anaerobic sealant that was oil resistant to stop the leak from the broken threads.
Now my question is, should I dare attempt to use the driver side front pan drain for the next change, or buy an oil extractor and go through the top? Never seen broken threads on an oil pan in my life, unless whoever did the oil before crossthreaded the plug!
We managed to seal it up, but was given an oversize plug to tap the pan with. While this may be routine on other cars that have this issue, the pan material appears to be insufficient to accomodate the oversize plug. We used an anaerobic sealant that was oil resistant to stop the leak from the broken threads.
Now my question is, should I dare attempt to use the driver side front pan drain for the next change, or buy an oil extractor and go through the top? Never seen broken threads on an oil pan in my life, unless whoever did the oil before crossthreaded the plug!
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 26
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From: Western Cape, South Africa
2005 ML 270 CDI, 2004 E270 CDI, 2006 CLK55 AMG
What I would advise you to do is buy a helicoil thread kit and insert a helicoil, these are very effective in repairing threads in aluminium and then you won't have a problem with future sump plug removals when doing oil servicing. If you go the route of sucking the oil out of the dipstick pipe, a large amount of oil will remain in either the front or rear part of the oil pan,(not sure which side the dip stick goes into) this is the reason for 2 drain plugs being fitted. Easier is not always better!
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Joined: Aug 2011
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From: New Zealand
I would buy a new pan and seal. I wouldn't be comfortable with any other fix in the thin metal around the drain hole unless you weld it closed. Then I would drain it from the top in future. You get 95% of the oil which ever way you want to do it. You are never going to get every atom out. From memory the pan drains sit above the bottom of the pan anyway so you won't get all of it. I read a MB tech saying you actually get more oil by extracting than draining, don't know how true that is.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 26
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From: Western Cape, South Africa
2005 ML 270 CDI, 2004 E270 CDI, 2006 CLK55 AMG
Looking at the photo of an oil pan you will notice the dipstick pipe is in fact at the rear of the engine in the larger compartment. The front compartment accommodates the oil pump, and probably holds a liter or so of oil. The drain plugs are both right at the bottom of the oil pan, and l am sure 99% of the old oil will be drained if both plugs are removed.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 391
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From: Orlando, FL
05 CLK55 AMG (1 of 247) Cubanitsilber designo series
I agree with mrwhattie. You need to drain from both the front and rear drain plugs. The front reservoir holds at least a quart of oil. Using a vacuum extractor will never pull all the old oil out of the M113 pan.
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 503
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From: South Africa
2004 CLK55 AMG W209
Like TW2 said. The pan isn't expensive. Rather buy another or like someone else mentioned fit in a helicoil. Did my oil service on tranny and sump and two bolts on me tranny sump were loose like you cant imagine. The threads were pulled sadly. Luckily me I got away with thin wall inserts on them. Hadta drill a lil deeper and fit them in with red seal Loctite. Was able to torque them up afterwards and now everything is happy.
If it was possible you should have drilled the threads out on the sump drain nut, tap in new threads with a slightly bigger sized plug. Sure you could have found something that works.
If it was possible you should have drilled the threads out on the sump drain nut, tap in new threads with a slightly bigger sized plug. Sure you could have found something that works.
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