mikapen

I'd certainly like to determine the cause(s) of this lubrication problem (if that's what it is).
I haven't seen oil that bad since they invented oil pumps and detergent motor oil! Before that, using putty knives to scrape out the sludge was a regular procedure.
Looks like a soot or coking problem.

I wonder if the electric Turbo oil pump, which continues to circulate oil after hot shut-down, is the culprit.

sammyk

Shoot.. been reading this great thread with great concerns. I am about to go get a used 2012 E350 BTC but instead I think I will look elsewhere. The car is being sold for 13K which I thought is a good deal with 96K miles. I think I am asking for trouble for getting this car. Issues could start soon much less a seized engine which I have heard about before (i saw someone on Craigslist selling a 2011 BTC e350 for 17K with seized engine couple of years ago)

I will steer away from Diesel engines period (not that gas engines are any better)

That said.. All cars have a problem or another. It is just that diesel engines add another WORRY angle

kajtek1

Yeah, get one of those DI gasers that need head job every 60k miles
I think this topic covers extreme situation, who is not investigated to the end.
What does not change the fact, that modern diesels are very sensitive instruments and letting mechanics to service them without supervising can lead to disaster.

sammyk

should I buy that 2012 E350 bluetec (sharp black on Black). Opinions are welcome

mikapen

sammyk, if you are worried now, you will probably always worry. Justified or not, I'd skip any diesel.
It's probably the wrong car for you, unless you get a CPO and sell it when the warranty expires.

Glyn M Ruck

I have a friend in Dallas with one of these from new. We are both petroleum industry people & have watched the oil from day one out of interest. It has been serviced to the the book by Park Place. No issues whatsoever. Not even a sign of oil thickening or dilution for that matter.

kajtek1

I am fascinated with 250 bluetec, even I've got hit hard with cost of sensors and DPF replacement. But I bought the car cheap with 180k miles, so that was the risk of few wear outs.
The 4-banger has easy aces to everything and I just swapped V6 engine. Took me 2 days on V6 to disconnect the maze of sensors that you can't even see. Check pricing for oil cooler replacement on V6.

Mikemd

To KRD2023

It is NOT Your Fault. Same happened to me....

I own a 2011 GL 350 Bluetec with 137K miles on it.
Engine seized and is Gone.
the Mercedes Bluetec Diesel engine is 100% a Lemon.

just wait till all the Sprinter Vans Start Locking up....
its a matter of time
i hope Mercedes Pays for their lies.

the Mercedes Bluetec Diesel engine is Horrible Design.
It Recirculates Exhaust gases into Engine oil causing Sludge and eventually Seizure.

NEVER buy a Mercedes Bluetec Diesel engine unless you want to lose your MONEY and Sanity.

i lost 19000 dollars on a well maintainee SUV.
mercedes Answer as can be seen is Blame the owners of their cars instead of the HORRIBLE engineers they have!!!

Micah / AF1 Rac

Glyn M Ruck

The whole problem is that these issues do not occur running on decent Euro 5 diesel that the engine was designed for.

Mikemd

Hi Glynn
It is not owners responsibility to be engineers for Mercedes.

who will Pay the 19,000 Dollars i lost???
i have 2 children and my wife in school.
I Hope to God that Mercedes is Sued and Ownersbluke me, KRD2023 and others who Lost money recover their Money.

All those Fedex Vans running Sprinter Bluetec will soon lock up....it DOES NOT MATTER interval of Oil change...No Engine can be this POORLY Designed.

ford, GM, etc all make diesels with their issues but unless it is deliberate, never heard of Engine Seized by Sludge even following their recommendations.

look up on Youtube "Mercedes Bluetec Sludged engine"
two rebuilders in Canada replace a seized up Bluetec engine. Again Same MODUS OPERANDI by Liers at Mercedes....you did not change oil often or even more OUTRAGEOUS wrong oil.....Look at Video in middle where they open the Engine....litreally the inside looks like someone got OIL TAR FROM THE SAND PITS AND IS CAKED LIKE CEMENT....LOOK AT IT....YOU WILL BE SCHOCKED AT INSIDE OF ENGINE....
owner SWEARS THEY CHANGED OIL REGULARY.

MERCEDES will one day be Sued for all this!!!.

NEVER BUY A MERCEDES BLUETEC ENGINE!!@

note the CDI ENGINE NEVER SEIZES With regular oil changes...but they stopped it in 2008 to comply with Emmision Regulations!!!

Glyn M Ruck

The engine was designed for Euro 5 fuels to meet emissions standards in Europe. There are a huge number of them that have done huge mileage. There is nothing wrong with the engineering. If the US does not jack up it's fuel standards companies like Benz will have to supply vehicles to the US as they do to some other countries with obsolete engines.

It is my belief that Benz USA needs to either shorten drain intervals or switch to the high ash 229.5 engine oil with it's hefty additive treat & accept that Cats & Regen units won't last quite as long.

mtrevelino

Not to change the subject too much, but here is an interesting article on motor oil just published this month. They say there is a difference in the U.S. oils and Europe oils, stating that the Europe oils are way better and their engines do not "sludge".
Mike T.

https://www.motor.com/magazine-summa...s-august-2018/

Glyn M Ruck

Fortunately Benz takes this issue out of the equation with 229,51/52 & 229.5 oils having to meet one global standard & be the same formulation approved globally & to be fungible & miscible.

dave2001auto

Glyn M Ruck

Intake systems deposits are entirely dependent on where the additised fuel can get & not get. Both Ford & Benz pulse the injectors when the intake valve is open to try and wash the valve tulip. VAG group have installed a LP injector in the inlet system to cure. For the sake of emissions some pdi engines might require intake system cleaning in their lifespan under sub optimal operation.

Mikemd

Hi Glynn

if that is case then Mercedes WILL BE SUED for DELIBERATELY Supplying the US with "Obslete " Engines...

no one is Forcing them to supply these Engines....They market and Sell them in US with ZERO WARNINGS that they are Obslete for US Fuels.

more Evidence of Mercedes Corruption.

never BUY Mercedes Bluetec Diesel engine Ever!!!

wait till Fedex and All Sprinter Vans and RVs etc....Lock up...Class Action Lawsuit ...God Willing!!

kajtek1

From what I know Bluetecs in Sprinters are still 2 million km engines.
Those threads here made me taking apart my OM642 engine after it suck some water and bend the rod. This is DPF equipped model, but no AddBlue
At 180,000 miles there was no smallest sign of sludge in it and beside intake & EGR buildups, I don't see why the engine should not make million miles. It was dealer-serviced for 160k miles and I serviced it for last 20 k miles using FSS recommendations.
But now I am extra careful with oils and buy Motul at autohouse.

Glyn M Ruck

Suggest you re~read my comment. You got it all wrong! BTW ~ I have sympathy with your situation but passing unfounded comments about Benz engineering achieves nothing. Fuels & sludging is a very complex regime. We have plenty of these engines in SA at over a million Km's. We also have crap diesel at coast & superb Sasol diesel from coal inland. The difference is our crap diesel is different to US crap diesel & US crap diesel is not uniform.

krd2023

Glyn,
All things considered, it's clear by now that MBUSA should have taken accountability for known sludging issues with the OM642 engine operating in U.S. markets.

Mikemd

Thanks to all.

however. The whole game of Mercedes seems obvious.....obfiscate, confuse, mixup,....etc..

result is same .....The Om642 is Cdi.engine and is one of best diesel engines internally and i Still own one and engine is clear of any sludge......in 2009 they switched to AdBlue and changed the engine somehow where it SLUDGES like no other engine does!!! Dodge, Ford, GM, cummins, etc....wirh regular oil changes do NOT sludge and lock up needing 20,000 replace cost on a 70,000 suv.

krd2023 did all his maintenance at MB dealer, and so is other poster, and so did the person in youtube video in Canada and so did I,.....A LEMON IS A LEMON.....Just because it may work for 80k or 130k and then with NO WARNING just Lockup....

mercedes will NEVER own up unless the Cry of Lawyers is loud and it wont be until Enough of these engines are driven in USA and lockup despite very good maintenance.

NEVER BUY MERCEDES BLUETEC DIESEL ENGINES

last good diesel engine made by MB in 2008 was the CDI diesel!!

i still own 2008 CDI and Gasoline S class....but trust in MB is gone!!

Mikemd

Hi All

here is the Youtube Video which you Will See what we mean by Sludge.

2010 GL 350 Bluetec with AdBlue emmisions.
Car had 50,000 Km or about 30k miles.....Almost Brand NEW.
Owner says he Did Oil Changes at MB dealer.
Even if not, this is OUTRAGEOUS from Mercedes Engineering.
Look at Video and I Want to see Who After seeing this would put their Hard earned Sweat money into this pile of Garbage Mercedes Bluetec engine.....Look at minut 3:14 and 3:46.
Watch and listen to Whole Video.....Even the Rebuilders are Schocked by what they saw

Watch "2010 Mercedes-Benz GL350 – Engine Replacement" on YouTube

https://youtu.be/R-h77NcOcNQ

Mikemd

Just copy the link below in Google and it will show the youtube video

https://youtu.be/R-h77NcOcNQ

Glyn M Ruck

It is not a epidemic. MBUSA can be a loose cannon & frequently don't listen to Stuttgart. What they should have done is be far more accommodating of the comparatively small number of owners with issues as long as proof of service to the book was provided.

BTW ~ I posted pictures of the sludge early on this forum.

Venting & performing on a forum achieves nothing even though Benz does monitor. Time & time again a quiet & dignified approach to MBUSA preferably with the dealer in support has achieved a satisfactory conclusion for all. e.g. the early M272/273 balance shaft sprocket issue.

smiledr996s