06FATBOY

Cheers,
Newbe here, Just bought an 08, 350clk with 91k. Had it shipped from Fla. and woke up this morning to find about a 3" diameter oil puddle on the floor.
I haven't even put 10 miles on the car. Took it to my regular mechanic and he put it up on the lift and said looks like that the oil is coming from the back of the camshafts. He said there looks to be a plug on one side and a sensor on the other side, and it is leaking from both sides and oil is dripping on the exhaust. Just made a call to another mechanic and he said it is a common problem, said something about oil separator, cam plugs, crankcase vent valve? He seemed to think that it should only take 1-2 hours to replace the "camplugs" and be good to go? Not a big deal?
I'm really worried..............please help with any suggestions.
Thanks for you help in advance.
Cheers

labguy

Yes. This is a common issue. My CLK350 with 92K had similar problem. The plugs are cheap - $20-30 for the set. Replacing them was easy - 15 mins. No special tools, but you could lose a little oil when changing them out.

No need to worry!

06FATBOY

Thanks labguy, I feel a little better now. I won't be able to take it over to my MB mechanic till next week. Do you think it will be ok to drive 40 miles with the leak? The oil is dripping on the exhaust and you can smell it. I don't think that I can replace them myself.

06FATBOY

Thanks labguy, My mechanic here doesn't want to tackle the leaks. I have a MB mechanic about 40 miles away that is really good. I don't think that I can change them myself. Do you think it would be ok to drive the car 40 miles with oil leaking on the exhaust? Good to hear the plugs are only $20-30. You say 15 min. to switch out????
That seems really quick. Any other opinions??????? I hope that I haven't gotten myself into a money pit.
thanks in advance

labguy

I drove mine for weeks before I was able to diagnose and repair. 40 miles should be ok!

Yidney

They are very easy to do. About as hard a screwing the cap on a jug of milk. On the passenger side you may have a leaky oil centrifuge cover. It just a rubber O ring that gets old, but you have to buy the new cover. That is held in by three bolts. So you do need tools for that. But still easy.

Rudeney

Here's what you are working with, the cam plugs ( two yellow circles on the left) and the oil centrifuge (yellow circle on the far right). Note that the right side small cam plug rarely leaks. This is not my photo - I ripped off from another thread:



Yidney is right - if you can screw off the cap a jug of milk, you can replace the cam plugs. The most difficult part is that they are hard to see so you may have to work a bit by feel. They are just plastic caps that snap in place. Use a flat head screwdriver to remove the old ones. No worries bout gouging them as they are to be discarded (just don't scratch the head too badly, but it's just not that hard to do this). Here's what they look like from above (again, not my photo - ripped off from another post):



The oil centrifuge cover on the right side head is a bit more difficult as it will require tools to replace. It has three Torx head bolts, and there's not much room so you have to use a lo-profile socket. That may not be a tool you have, so unless you want to invest in it, you may be better off paying a mechanic for this one. My advice - get the genuine part. I put an aftermarket on my SL a few months back and it's already leaking again.

06FATBOY

Thanks Rodney, Your pics give me a lot better understanding of what needs to be done.

Rutland75

Rodeney,
On the first picture what is the item in the centre of the vee? It appears to be held on by four bolts and has a rubber pipe attached also what is the part adjacent to it at the 01:00 o'clock position?

Rudeney

These?