S-Class (W220) 1999-2006: S 320 CDI, S 320, S430, S 500, S 600

Noisy lifters? Ticking/Clicking Noise... Under the Hood

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Old Apr 24, 2015 | 10:52 PM
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Noisy lifters? Ticking/Clicking Noise... Under the Hood

Hello everyone! My 2003 s430 with the M113 engine has been ticking and click for a while. It happened after my last engine oil change. Before the oil change the noise wasn't too noticeable. I have about 3000 miles on my new oil and it is 0w-40 Mobil 1 as requested from the user's manual. Could that be the lifters? It only makes the sound when the engine is at 400 rpm-600 rpm. Anything after that, you can't hear it. I've tried a bottle of gumout but it did absolutely nothing. The autozone guy was trying to sell me something I guess. Car has 122k miles with most are highway. Roadtrip/Daily car. Held 85 mph down the highway for most of its life.
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Old Apr 25, 2015 | 12:54 AM
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I don't think it is the oil you're using because I have been using 0W-40 in 3 different S class cars. Have you taken the engine covers off while the car is running and see if you can isolate the area where it is coming from?
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Old Apr 25, 2015 | 02:25 AM
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I have taken the engine covers off and pulled the belt off. All the pullies feel fine and spin freely, but how serious is the issue? Can it just be left as is and let it go as an annoying sound? I'll get a video tomorrow. My friend who has a e500 with the same M113 E50 engine said after he put Mobil 1 5w-30 High Mileage in it. The noise disappeared. He has 135k miles.
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Old Apr 27, 2015 | 02:27 AM
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WOW...As told by my e500 friend. I got 3 bottles of 12oz Techron Injector Cleaner and filled up with Chevron gas. Did a couple italian tune ups and the sound is gone. What the? I have no idea what I did, but the sound is gone... Can someone please explain?
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Old Apr 27, 2015 | 03:15 AM
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Carbon build up causing sticky lifters and you unstuck them with the techron and Italian tuneup . Change your oil now , as that carbon may be floating freely and you don't want it to gum up something else
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Old Apr 27, 2015 | 09:56 AM
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I use the techron injector cleaner about every 4th fill up. Stuff works. The best way is to pour it in before you fill up so that it mixes well with the gas.
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Old Apr 27, 2015 | 06:51 PM
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Techron is actually the only cleaner approved by Mercedes. Drove the car today and the noise is still gone. I still don't understand why the ?lifters? noise is gone after using injector cleaner. Was it because of my driving style with the Italian Tune Up?
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Old Apr 27, 2015 | 11:06 PM
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Must have corrected something. I would just keep adding it every 4 0r so fill ups. I use the one in the Black container 20 oz. currently on sale at Advance Auto for $8.50.
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Old Apr 27, 2015 | 11:45 PM
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Put some Seafoam brand cleaner in your oil filler, follow the instructions. Put some in your gas tank too after you have replaced your fuel filter. If you really want to make more improvements poor some slowly in the air intake. Plenty of vids on YouTube.
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Old May 30, 2015 | 07:02 PM
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Originally Posted by cybertronicify
WOW...As told by my e500 friend. I got 3 bottles of 12oz Techron Injector Cleaner and filled up with Chevron gas. Did a couple italian tune ups and the sound is gone. What the? I have no idea what I did, but the sound is gone... Can someone please explain?
Jason,
Did you put all three bottles in one full tank?? Or did you do one bottle at the time??
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Old May 30, 2015 | 11:49 PM
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Three bottles all in one tank. I mean, if you take it to the shop, they will bypass the fuel tank and make the engine run on straight fuel cleaner. Techron is the only Mercedes approved fuel cleaner.

Oh and just an update, noise is still gone.

Oh BTW, i just remembered. I put 3 16 oz bottles. Not 3 12 oz bottles.

Last edited by cybertronicify; May 30, 2015 at 11:51 PM.
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Old May 31, 2015 | 08:24 AM
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Originally Posted by cybertronicify
Three bottles all in one tank. I mean, if you take it to the shop, they will bypass the fuel tank and make the engine run on straight fuel cleaner. Techron is the only Mercedes approved fuel cleaner.

Oh and just an update, noise is still gone.

Oh BTW, i just remembered. I put 3 16 oz bottles. Not 3 12 oz bottles.
Thanks bud. Have a little ticking noise myself and already tried BG but still there. Will give techron a shot.
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Old Sep 20, 2015 | 03:03 AM
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The noise is back

Came back after another oil change at 7000 miles. Same 0w-40 Mobil 1. With Bosch filter. I'm using Shell fuel now, since it's cheaper, maybe the M113 doesn't like the additives in the Shell.

Anymore remedies? It sounds quite loud.
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Old Sep 20, 2015 | 02:42 PM
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just understand that MB officially does not recommend Mobil I W 0-40 anymore, only Mobil I W 5-40.

Factory owned dealership here advised me.

Car runs fine on Mobil I W 5-40
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Old Sep 20, 2015 | 03:26 PM
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0w-40 and 5w-40 should be the same once heated up to the normal operating temperature. Next oil change ill give 5w-40 a try. Thanks
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Old Sep 20, 2015 | 03:41 PM
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Originally Posted by cybertronicify
0w-40 and 5w-40 should be the same once heated up to the normal operating temperature. Next oil change ill give 5w-40 a try. Thanks
Agree, also GM sells a product for noisy lifters called EOS. which you add to the oil, works like magic!
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Old Sep 20, 2015 | 07:36 PM
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Originally Posted by kraut56
Agree, also GM sells a product for noisy lifters called EOS. which you add to the oil, works like magic!
Hmm never heard of that, a quick search shows it works. But I couldn't find any info on if I can use it long term. Like 7000 miles. I would like to try the EOS in my oil but I don't want to change my oil again right after I just did. Do you have any experience with that?
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Old Sep 21, 2015 | 02:05 PM
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EOS may quiet your lifters a little, but the Phosphorus in EOS is bad for the catalytic converter and emission sensors. Personally, I would not use it, but that is JMHO.

If you choose to go ahead and use this product, 8oz. is just about right per oil fill. More is not better...
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Old Sep 22, 2015 | 11:24 AM
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Check your serpentine belt and in particular the power steering pulley. It can sometimes make the same noise as the lifters.
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Old Sep 24, 2015 | 01:02 AM
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For the EOS, I read that it shouldn't be used as an additive. Maybe I should just leave it alone. It has been making the sound for a long time.

As for my belt. I took it off and started the car. Gave me a Battery Charge Visit Workshop malfunction. But the noise is still there.
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Old Feb 13, 2017 | 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by cybertronicify
For the EOS, I read that it shouldn't be used as an additive. Maybe I should just leave it alone. It has been making the sound for a long time.

As for my belt. I took it off and started the car. Gave me a Battery Charge Visit Workshop malfunction. But the noise is still there.
Did you solved this issue? I have a CLS500 2006, and was making the same noise but i did an italian tune up + seafoam via vaccum hose and and the noise disapear too but i dont want it back
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Old Mar 6, 2017 | 10:44 AM
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What in the world is an "Italian Tune Up"
Cas
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Old Mar 7, 2017 | 09:45 AM
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Originally Posted by caschaban
What in the world is an "Italian Tune Up"
Cas
Being Italian I guessed it was flogging the you know what out of the car.. maybe had to do with our tempers?
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Old Mar 7, 2017 | 10:22 AM
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I taught a novice auto tune-up course for years, and one of the suggestions for every class was to do full-throttle acceleration down an entrance ramp once a week.
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Old Mar 9, 2017 | 12:24 AM
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Wally I'm in good shape then because I do a full throttle almost every time I hit the entrance rap on the interstate. LOL
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