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So... had the b service done. A few days later noticed oil drippings on garage floor - took back to dealer thinking the drips were just residual or spilled oil from oil change - informed the timing cover was leaking - really! Car is a 2014 with less than 22k miles - and the leak wasn't noticed at the time of the b service? - I know s h i t happens, and the all the aero plastic underneath the car may have been blocking the leak from sight at time of the oil change - but nonetheless, the timing of said leak seems strange. Is this a common issue (timing cover leaking) on the w212? Also, informed that all MB engines are interference - can anyone confirm this and also if chain or belt? Thx.
Timing chain, nothing we have uses a belt. Yes the covers leak all the time. We re-seal them quite often. It seems to be the only place these newer engines leak.
We can't point it out during service most times, as warranty thinks we are scamming them to get more work. If I'm working on a car and I see a leak like this, I have to go get the service director to approve the additional line so I can fix the leak while the car is here, if it's not mentioned by the customer at the time of drop off. It also tends to leak down the front and onto the panels and be not very obvious. If there's noticeable dripping oil after your service, most likely the cover leak was small and the real issue was spilled oil during the service. The front cover reseal on the N/A 276 is very easy, there's almost nothing in the way to remove them.
Excellent information, thanks Joe. Follow up question per your post, you say you reseal them often - does that mean that the standard way this is addressed is to add some type of sealant to contain the leak - or is the leaking gasket removed and replace with new? Thanks for any insight.
There is no gasket, it's just sealant from factory. We remove the covers, clean and apply fresh sealant. From my observations, the material the covers are made out of never has sealant stuck to it, it's always on the cyl head side. Every other sealant seal, like the oil pan or valve covers, there is sealant residue on both sides when you remove them. I think it just doesn't adhere well to the front covers from factory. They look like they have a grey coating on them compared to all the other materials on the engine, it doesn't clean off though.
Hi Joe
I'm a kinda do it yourself guy. Is this repair something I might be able to do?
Thanks
Originally Posted by ItalianJoe1
Timing chain, nothing we have uses a belt. Yes the covers leak all the time. We re-seal them quite often. It seems to be the only place these newer engines leak.
We can't point it out during service most times, as warranty thinks we are scamming them to get more work. If I'm working on a car and I see a leak like this, I have to go get the service director to approve the additional line so I can fix the leak while the car is here, if it's not mentioned by the customer at the time of drop off. It also tends to leak down the front and onto the panels and be not very obvious. If there's noticeable dripping oil after your service, most likely the cover leak was small and the real issue was spilled oil during the service. The front cover reseal on the N/A 276 is very easy, there's almost nothing in the way to remove them.
I was just told my 2016 e400 has leaking front covers. (it was in for the steering bolt recall). Is silicone (RTV) enough of a sealant, or is there some aerospace goo that has to be applied in a vacuum? Anybody done this? DIY?
So... had the b service done. A few days later noticed oil drippings on garage floor - took back to dealer thinking the drips were just residual or spilled oil from oil change - informed the timing cover was leaking - really! Car is a 2014 with less than 22k miles - and the leak wasn't noticed at the time of the b service? - I know s h i t happens, and the all the aero plastic underneath the car may have been blocking the leak from sight at time of the oil change - but nonetheless, the timing of said leak seems strange. Is this a common issue (timing cover leaking) on the w212? Also, informed that all MB engines are interference - can anyone confirm this and also if chain or belt? Thx.
Think I have same problem but leak appears to be coming from the screws? Any advice?
The bolts are 1 time use because they are aluminum, but they don't seal anything, only hold the cover down. The 3 similar bolts that hold the actuators into the cover, without the blue head as they are steel, are 1 time use because they come with a thread sealant on them and need to be re-sealed when removed. On your pic I see oil all around the area, it's not coming from the bolt, but making it past the sealant in that area and spreading around.
Its not a bad job, could easily be DIY, and most of us at the dealership do it without removing many of the components you are told to remove, as it will come out if you are careful and if you have the larger oil filter housing, if you have a 278 with the added cooler and small filter, it's a real ***** to get the cover out and is often easier to follow the process and remove the stuff in the way. The right side cover comes right off, there's nothing in the way.
The bolts are 1 time use because they are aluminum, but they don't seal anything, only hold the cover down. The 3 similar bolts that hold the actuators into the cover, without the blue head as they are steel, are 1 time use because they come with a thread sealant on them and need to be re-sealed when removed. On your pic I see oil all around the area, it's not coming from the bolt, but making it past the sealant in that area and spreading around.
Thanks for that, so if my mechanic is resealing the front cover I presume i will have to replace all bolts for fixing the front cover as they are one time use?
I had a closer look and i can actually see the black sealant between the cover and the block and when i touched it, it started coming away in my hand 🙄 is there really no gasket for this? Seems like a gasket is needed.
You are supposed to replace them. You can re-use the aluminum bolts but they break very easily, so be gentle. The steel bolts are fine to clean and apply fresh sealant, but MB says new ones since they come with new sealant.
The ones I re-sealed never leaked, it's an issue from assembly. The sealant doesn't adhere to the cover side well from new. The surfaces are machined and super flat, the sealant done right works very well, that's all that seals your valve covers, oil pan, etc and they never leak on these engines.
You are supposed to replace them. You can re-use the aluminum bolts but they break very easily, so be gentle. The steel bolts are fine to clean and apply fresh sealant, but MB says new ones since they come with new sealant.
The ones I re-sealed never leaked, it's an issue from assembly. The sealant doesn't adhere to the cover side well from new. The surfaces are machined and super flat, the sealant done right works very well, that's all that seals your valve covers, oil pan, etc and they never leak on these engines.
I got exactly the same problem on a m276 twin turbo (2016 c450 amg)
Could you link part no for the aluminium bolt going on the front cover? Can you link part no for the stainless bolt with sealant for both cam magnet so should be x6?
I found the cover itself (mb specifies its a one time use cover part no 2760150201)
I found the cam magnet part no 2761560790
Do I need to perform any adjustment on the magnet or straight up replace them?
I got exactly the same problem on a m276 twin turbo (2016 c450 amg)
Could you link part no for the aluminium bolt going on the front cover? Can you link part no for the stainless bolt with sealant for both cam magnet so should be x6?
I found the cover itself (mb specifies its a one time use cover part no 2760150201)
I found the cam magnet part no 2761560790
Do I need to perform any adjustment on the magnet or straight up replace them?
There is no gasket, it's just sealant from factory. We remove the covers, clean and apply fresh sealant. From my observations, the material the covers are made out of never has sealant stuck to it, it's always on the cyl head side. Every other sealant seal, like the oil pan or valve covers, there is sealant residue on both sides when you remove them. I think it just doesn't adhere well to the front covers from factory. They look like they have a grey coating on them compared to all the other materials on the engine, it doesn't clean off though.
Thank you for the information sir !
New member to the platform (m278). Can you tell me which sealent did you use, or which is best holding up long-term ?
I have leaks near the timing covers that I will soon tackle, but I would like the best course of action regarding which sealant to use.
In addition, The leak can also be coming from the camshaft solenoids and I believe these are 2 gaskets on each bank (please correct if wrong)
Thank you for the information sir !
New member to the platform (m278). Can you tell me which sealent did you use, or which is best holding up long-term ?
I have leaks near the timing covers that I will soon tackle, but I would like the best course of action regarding which sealant to use.
In addition, The leak can also be coming from the camshaft solenoids and I believe these are 2 gaskets on each bank (please correct if wrong)
VVT Gears cover always leaks
VVT Solenoids can hardly leak.
Sealing that is busy work because the main job is replacing the chain tensioner.
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Dec 3, 2024 at 03:17 AM.
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