ASK - M276 3.5NA or 3.0 Turbo - Oil pump indicator channel , Ball
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 6,546
From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
ASK - M276 3.5NA or 3.0 Turbo - Oil pump indicator channel , Ball
Gents,
I am wondering if any of you know the function of this steel ball ?
I think it is steel, soon I will check with magnet.
Above is engine oil cooler location.
It is indicated as a part we can buy.
I am sure the installation of this ball would be from somewhere and not at the oil cooler oil path/gallery.
Maybe install the ball from here, below in green arrow ?
Such ball reminds me of flow meter using a ball as value marker.
Afterall this P/N description is : Oil pump indicator channel
Thanks
I am wondering if any of you know the function of this steel ball ?
I think it is steel, soon I will check with magnet.
Above is engine oil cooler location.
It is indicated as a part we can buy.
I am sure the installation of this ball would be from somewhere and not at the oil cooler oil path/gallery.
Maybe install the ball from here, below in green arrow ?
Such ball reminds me of flow meter using a ball as value marker.
Afterall this P/N description is : Oil pump indicator channel
Thanks
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,921
Likes: 6,773
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
FANCY GALLERY PLUG
In the old days it used to be cups. The round ball is always perfect lined up.
The diameter of the gallery matches with that of the soft-steel ball.
The ball is used as a fancy channel PLUG.
The diameter of the gallery matches with that of the soft-steel ball.
The ball is used as a fancy channel PLUG.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 6,546
From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
There is 2 more oil plug Cali....and uses o-ring 
. M276 has them, yours too.
.
.
I will replace these two when I tear down my engine. I never paid attention to EPC, I thought its those steel cap push fit type of plug.
Anything with o-ring, will be a disaster. I wonder why no thread at all. What if oil pressure push it out and we loose oil pressure ?
If at timing chain region, you will never know this plug leaking....because this is oil bath region. If the plug flew out and damage timing chain...How ????
If the rear azz plug leak of pops out, the bell housing will leak lots of oil and on may mistake crankshaft seal.
. M276 has them, yours too.
.
.
I will replace these two when I tear down my engine. I never paid attention to EPC, I thought its those steel cap push fit type of plug.
Anything with o-ring, will be a disaster. I wonder why no thread at all. What if oil pressure push it out and we loose oil pressure ?
If at timing chain region, you will never know this plug leaking....because this is oil bath region. If the plug flew out and damage timing chain...How ????
If the rear azz plug leak of pops out, the bell housing will leak lots of oil and on may mistake crankshaft seal.
Last edited by S-Prihadi; Jul 9, 2025 at 11:07 AM.
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,296
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From: Baltimore County, MD
'13 s212 63 p30. '06 LX470
Gents,
I am wondering if any of you know the function of this steel ball ?
I think it is steel, soon I will check with magnet.
Above is engine oil cooler location.
It is indicated as a part we can buy.
I am sure the installation of this ball would be from somewhere and not at the oil cooler oil path/gallery.
Maybe install the ball from here, below in green arrow ?
Such ball reminds me of flow meter using a ball as value marker.
Afterall this P/N description is : Oil pump indicator channel
Thanks
I am wondering if any of you know the function of this steel ball ?
I think it is steel, soon I will check with magnet.
Above is engine oil cooler location.
It is indicated as a part we can buy.
I am sure the installation of this ball would be from somewhere and not at the oil cooler oil path/gallery.
Maybe install the ball from here, below in green arrow ?
Such ball reminds me of flow meter using a ball as value marker.
Afterall this P/N description is : Oil pump indicator channel
Thanks
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 6,546
From: Jakarta-Indonesia
2014 - W212.065 - E400 ( M276.820, 3 liter Turbo) RWD not Hybrid
I will test soon. Now oil cooler is still there blocking access, as engine mount is back re-installed, so that I can work on top of my engine without the engine support bar.
I was cleaning my intake valves and I was thread chasing my spark plug threads witha DIY chaser
.
I was cleaning my intake valves and I was thread chasing my spark plug threads witha DIY chaser
.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14,666
Likes: 4,567
From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
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From: New Orleans Area
2015 E400 Sedan
Could be a check valve - fluid into ball and not out.
OR a machined gallery hole plug - but these tend to be done any more as they make cylindrical plugs for these
or it would be a SLEEVED ball plug that is a cup like sleeve from thin metal with a ball inside so when pressed in the ball holds the plug in via friction.
Push in Ball plug
McMaster-Carr
Pull thru plugs
McMaster-Carr
article from my hydraulic world:
Permanently sealing hydraulic fluid passages - Fluid Power World
OR a machined gallery hole plug - but these tend to be done any more as they make cylindrical plugs for these
or it would be a SLEEVED ball plug that is a cup like sleeve from thin metal with a ball inside so when pressed in the ball holds the plug in via friction.
Push in Ball plug
McMaster-Carr
Pull thru plugs
McMaster-Carr
article from my hydraulic world:
Permanently sealing hydraulic fluid passages - Fluid Power World
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