High pitched squeal from engine








Quick PCV test:
Open the oil fill cap to see if the whistling goes away or is affected by pressure changes.
Quick serpentine test:
remove serpentine belt
rotate accessories to find bad bearing(s)
Preventively replace: Tensioner + Idlers + Belt ($100)
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Nov 6, 2021 at 11:21 AM.




Quick PCV test:
Open the oil fill cap to see if the whistling goes away or is affected by pressure changes.
Quick serpentine test:
remove serpentine belt
rotate accessories to find bad bearing(s)
Preventively replace: Tensioner + Idlers + Belt ($100)
Please do not do that!! You'll have oil all over the engine bay and then some if you do it. I say this because in my E550 timing chain is right at the oil fill opening. If E350 engine is different then perhaps but I kind of remember my 2011 E350 had the chain at the opening too.
If you want to relieve crank case pressure take the dip stick out.





Does the frequency change with RPM's?
Last edited by pierrejoliat; Nov 6, 2021 at 01:48 PM.




Please do not do that!! You'll have oil all over the engine bay and then some if you do it. I say this because in my E550 timing chain is right at the oil fill opening. If E350 engine is different then perhaps but I kind of remember my 2011 E350 had the chain at the opening too.
If you want to relieve crank case pressure take the dip stick out.
- The dipstick conduit is under oil at the bottom and can hardly vent ANY crankcase air.
- Poping the oil cap for 2 seconds at idle is NOT going to spray any oil all around your engine bay! The nearly dry timing chain spins at less than 400Rpm. . . no big deal.
Furthermore we can readily incorporate Arrie's valuable inputs in these quick tests:
1- try dipstick pop...
2- try oil cap pop!
3- try serpentine accessories
Report findings about noise source. The only thing that maters is not to guess wrong. Even that would be okay as well... serpentine, tensioner, PCV,... are all maintenance items now or repair bill later.

Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Nov 6, 2021 at 08:31 PM.




- The dipstick conduit is under oil at the bottom and can hardly vent ANY crankcase air.
- Poping the oil cap for 2 seconds at idle is NOT going to spray any oil all around your engine bay! The nearly dry timing chain spins at less than 400Rpm. . . no big deal.
Furthermore we can readily incorporate Arrie's valuable inputs in these quick tests:
1- try dipstick pop...
2- try oil cap pop!
3- try serpentine accessories
Report findings about noise source. The only thing that maters is not to guess wrong. Even that would be okay as well... serpentine, tensioner, PCV,... are all maintenance items now or repair bill later.

But to the point, I don’t know how many people has checked for this but in my 2013 S550 with the twin turbo engine the dip stick is totally dry while the engine runs. I was very surprised to find this out and had to re-check it several times to believe it so if I want to relieve crank case pressure I just pull the dip stick out.
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. The noise does change with the RPM; when I rev the engine the noise increases in frequency and this persists for a while even if I let go on the throttle. I guess this makes it more likely to be a ball bearing issue? Thanks again!




. The noise does change with the RPM; when I rev the engine the noise increases in frequency and this persists for a while even if I let go on the throttle. I guess this makes it more likely to be a ball bearing issue? Thanks again!

