OM642 - Help - Tapping noise

[phobos]

hello to everyone, long time lurker I would like to ask opinion on the noise that my new-to-me 2010 E350 CDI started to make

https://wetransfer.com/downloads/7a...f6931ceef11498712968c03420190603204707/418178




Apart from this the idle is stable, there are no judder, pulls like a train and there is no smoke
Having researched online, it seem that it could be bottom end bearings....

I have changed the oil and all filters with brand news Castrol Edge that meets the 229.51 standard and made no difference whatsoever..
The car is with 151K and it has a full MB and independent service history...

So question:

a) is it bearings or does it look like it?
b) if so, I assume that I should just stop the car?
c) to get it repaired I am looking at a ball figure in the region of..

Many thanks to everyone in advance

 

[matthew k]

My car is fitted with the same engine, I'm on 147,000, this doesn't sound good!
TBH I'm starting to get the impression it's not Mercedes's best effort. What with oil leaks from poorly designed seals to issues with the timing chain and actuators?

Anyway, I wouldn't run it like this, it will rapidly get worse and could start of effect oil pressure maybe and or trash the crankshaft if that's not already damaged. I wonder if it can all be done from underneath, negating the need to remove the engine? I imagine you'd have to remove the gearbox amongst other things.

Others may have a better idea, you really need a firm diagnosis, but definitely avoid using it until you know what the issue is, or can confirm the worse case. Presuming the crankshaft is salvageable and there's no other issues I could imagine this being resolved for <2.5K, but others have much more knowledge than myself. I would say any decent engine specialist could sort this, best have a firm diagnosis to work on.

I've just listened to the video, you've definitely ruled out all ancillary components, AC compressor etc, could it be the timing chain? I thought bottom end bearings would produce more of a deep clanking, could be completely wrong, so excuse me if that's nonsense.

 

[phobos]

Hi Matthew, many thanks for your response. I have not taken the V belt out yet as this OM642 as opposed to my other ones has a lot of covers on the front.

Also, I have never taken the V belt before.. so I will read into it.. Also how long can I run it without the v belt?

Best Regards,

 

[LostKiwi]

Not watched the video (I have an issue with sites that don't let me reject cookies etc) so will advise accordingly.

Big end bearings tend to knock not tap. Think knuckles knocking on a table.
Tapping can be a failing hydraulic lifter. Use a screwdriver pressed against the ear and moved around to identify where noise comes from.
The belt can be left off for a couple of minutes on a cold engine. Ancillaries off the held tend to rumble or whine rather than tap.

 

[phobos]

HI LostWiki, Many tanks for your input. I have uploaded the video to Youtube,

Link below:

Thanks everyone!

 

[ajlsl600]

this is how i approach such issues
get the belt off and see if noise goes ,then if not belt back on and.

get a manual press gauge and establish cold and warm pressures, this tells you 1. its ok or not.2 if its greatly reduced warm that the hotter thinner oil is getting past the bearings,and or in this case hydraulic tappets
then i change the oil filter,maybe you already have, then i cut open the oil filter,(for me after every oil change ) and inspect the folds in the filter for any debris
when i know the answers to the above i make a decision on what to do next . if all above good i might invest in a set ,where applicable , of hydraulic tappets you do have 150k miles ,right .. and go from there . but i would not,myself be just buggering on without carrying out the above. but thats just me, and to date i never had to walk anywhere unless i set out intending to do so ..

 

[phobos]

Hi ajlsl600,

Many thanks for your advice.
Any reconmendation on a manual pressure gauge to get?
Yes the noise is reduced hen the engine is over 85C .

Oil and filter have been replaced, but I ill get another filter and cut it just to be sure.

Oil used as this https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-60457-...5w-40-fst-fully-synthetic-car-engine-oil.aspx and filter was the correpondent fuel filter made by MANN

When I did the oil change, I got out 8L of oil in a very fluid way
Is there a better oil to use?

Many thanks

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

MB had a problem with early production of the OM642 with big end bearing issues (knocking) and it was very audible from the the front wheelarch so it’s interesting that you captured the sound from that very position which leads me to think that’s what the problem is, MB accepted that there was a problem at the time and repaired under warranty. I know someone who had the problem in a new ML and traded it for a BMW X5 he couldn’t accept that in this day and age a car engine needed needed major mechanical work at less than a year old

 

[ajlsl600]

Hi ajlsl600,

Many thanks for your advice.
Any reconmendation on a manual pressure gauge to get?
Yes the noise is reduced hen the engine is over 85C .

Oil and filter have been replaced, but I ill get another filter and cut it just to be sure.

Oil used as this https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-60457-...5w-40-fst-fully-synthetic-car-engine-oil.aspx and filter was the correpondent fuel filter made by MANN

When I did the oil change, I got out 8L of oil in a very fluid way
Is there a better oil to use?

Many thanks

to be fair for occasional use i would get oil pressure test kit from from machine mart .nothin wrong with mann filters

 

[ajlsl600]

i would be surprised if the bearings were going,or shot and no evidence in the filter when you cut it open ,go round top then bottom cut down the middle of the fold and slowly tear it open .look carefully in the bottom of the folds . however i suggest you look in the old one first. you will need to find the oil press switch or a plug in the oil gallery to get access for yr tester fitting. not sure i would be moving around in that motor till i had some answers myself . oil press light goes out,right ? oil press light is nearly the most useless bit of kit on a modern car ,when it comes on you want yr engine supplier on speed dial unless it turns out a faulty switch. yr car ,good luck. a good dollop of which we need with modern cars or a fat wallet.

 

[phobos]

Thanks everyone for the input

@malcolm210 - yes I was aware of the big bearing issues on the early OM642 ( like W203 / W211 ) but I never say reports of this on 212s...
Also this S212 is now 9 years old with 150K.. which I am sure that if tha tis the fault MB will wash their hands out of it..

Unfortunately the old oil filter is gone, but I will cut open the one that I put a few days ago ( a filter is cheap..)

Next step is most likely removing the V belt and see if the noise is still there

 

[Rotorhead500]

Quick question - does the tapping noise increase intensity/frequency as you rev it gently, then disappear as the revs run down?

 

[LostKiwi]

Also does it get worse under load?

 

[matthew k]

 

[matthew k]

That sounds similar to yours IMO, they recon it's normal?

 

[Rotorhead500]

If the tapping increases as you rev, disappears on overrun, then resumes again at idle or rising revs, I suggest checking injector seals.

My CLS made a very similar noise at idle, behaved as I described above, but when I pointed it out (3 times) to the MB dealer selling the car... I was told, 3 times, it was normal.

Couple of weeks later, had a window regulator replaced under warranty by local dealer... surprise, surprise... leaky No.3 injector!

 

[phobos]

Hi everyone, thank you soo much for all advice.

Th tapping does increase as I rev and resumes on idle. Injector seals seems plausible as well, so I might replace them all as they are quite cheap.

In case iti s the hydraulic tappets, it is worth performing a engine flush with something like Liqui Molly?

Many thanks

 

[phobos]

and i am trying to get a oil pressure gauge, anyone has any recommendations.

Finally, I booked an appointment an indy on Sat

 

[Rotorhead500]

Pop the engine cover off - you'll see any early (or developed) signs of black death fairly clearly.

 

[mercmancdi]

Pop the engine cover off - you'll see any early (or developed) signs of black death fairly clearly.

Would be useful if someone put photo of this Black Death so people can see what they are looking for ,