2009 ML320 smoke from driver side engine
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Washington, DC
2011 C300 4matic, 2009 ML320
2009 ML320 smoke from driver side engine
Hello,
I haven't had a chance to get in and get a very good look yet, but I have some light smoke coming up from the drivers side of my engine, somewhere below the level of the air filter. Enough so that you can smell it in the vehicle when stopped, and on some occasions you can see some smoke come up from the edge of the hood on the drivers side. I don't have any oil leaks on to the ground, and dont see anything from the top side with a quick visual inspection. The smell starts up almost immediately after starting, so I'm thinking maybe an exhaust leak?
Any ideas would be appreciated!
I haven't had a chance to get in and get a very good look yet, but I have some light smoke coming up from the drivers side of my engine, somewhere below the level of the air filter. Enough so that you can smell it in the vehicle when stopped, and on some occasions you can see some smoke come up from the edge of the hood on the drivers side. I don't have any oil leaks on to the ground, and dont see anything from the top side with a quick visual inspection. The smell starts up almost immediately after starting, so I'm thinking maybe an exhaust leak?
Any ideas would be appreciated!
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Epsom Downs, England
ML 320 W164
If it smells immediately, (assuming it's an oil smell) the leak would have to come from somewhere above the exihaust manifolds and drip/run down onto them.
So....it should be reasonably visible...
So....it should be reasonably visible...
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 724
Likes: 31
Car free at the moment
Edit. Never mind, I read 1999 ML320. I don't know of any common issues with the om642 diesel that cause your symptoms, even though I own the same basic engine in an e-class sedan. I did have an exhaust leak at the flex pipe off the back of the turbo at one point. But the smell under the hood was diesel, quite distinct from hot oil. If it starts immediately after starting the engine, it would not be oil on the manifolds - it takes some time for the engine to heat up enough that any spilled oil would begin smoking.
Last edited by Shadow5501; Jan 11, 2016 at 10:24 AM.
