ml 270 cdi oil leak from inlet manifold w163

Colin_P

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what symptoms did you have that required its replacement?

The engine management light came on, and the dashboard told me to go to the workshop. As I was only a couple of kilometres from the workshop, and leaving on a 1600km round trip the next day, I took it in. The stepper motor was blowing a fuse, and they replaced it. To give credit where it's due, they sourced the part and fitted it the same day, with no notice or warning, and the service manager gave me his car to use for the day.


why do you believe it was not faulty?

The next day, 400km from home, the starter motor stopped working. It too was blowing fuses, and as the two are near each other physically, but not functionally, I suspect that the problem was more likely to have been a wiring issue than both motors failling within 24 hours of each other.

The agents wanted to replace the starter motor too, but I refused to pay for it. Eventually they offered to have it overhaulled (at a price that you can replace it for) and again I refused. I eventually got the service manager to agree that they would not charge me for the overhaul if it didn't fix the problem. They never reported back, but I was only charged for labour for removal and refitting of the starter motor, so it's a safe bet that it still blew fuses after being overhaulled.
 
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thebeard

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As far as I know and have been told by mercedes tech.
There are only two ways that oil can get into the inlet manifold in large enough quantities to cause the stepper motor to fail and cause blown fuse.

1. Turbo failure ie oil passing through and ending up in the inlet manifold.

2. Oil Separator failure.

Having replaced the oil separator and stepper motor so far all looking good they have asked me to go back in a month so they can check to see if there are any signs of oil leaking around the inlet manifold, which would indicate a problem with the turbo. but they seemed convinced the problem I had was the oil separator as they've had a fair number needing replacing.

Stepper motor about £100 oil separator also around £100 .
 
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tony jr

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As far as I know and have been told by mercedes tech.
There are only two ways that oil can get into the inlet manifold in large enough quantities to cause the stepper motor to fail and cause blown fuse.

1. Turbo failure ie oil passing through and ending up in the inlet manifold.

2. Oil Separator failure.

Having replaced the oil separator and stepper motor so far all looking good they have asked me to go back in a month so they can check to see if there are any signs of oil leaking around the inlet manifold, which would indicate a problem with the turbo. but they seemed convinced the problem I had was the oil separator as they've had a fair number needing replacing.

Stepper motor about £100 oil separator also around £100 .


Do you have the part numbers for the stepper motor and oil separator?
 

Alex Crow

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.........There are only two ways that oil can get into the inlet manifold in large enough quantities to cause the stepper motor to fail and cause blown fuse....

the problem is not that oil is getting into the manifold (they all have plenty of oil going through them), the problem is oil getting out of the manifold!! it is not supposed to leak at all.
 
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thebeard

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the problem is not that oil is getting into the manifold (they all have plenty of oil going through them), the problem is oil getting out of the manifold!! it is not supposed to leak at all.


Ok I understand what you are saying, the seals etc should contain all the oil within the manifold.
If that is the case then I expect when I go back they will find oil leaking again and then the manifold will need replacing. at a cost of 4 hrs labour and £700+vat


Just to update the prices oil separator MA6110160334 112658/Separator £21.40+vat
Stepper Motor MA6111500694 servomotor £126+vat.
 
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thebeard

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Final Solution

Ok Guys
That didn't work and as someone else said it wouldn’t…
So I’m getting the inlet manifold replaced.

Conclusion if the manifold is leaking oil…
Get a new inlet manifold.

Should have had that done that in the first place.

Thanks Alexander
 

oigle

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Ok Guys
That didn't work and as someone else said it wouldn’t…
So I’m getting the inlet manifold replaced.

Conclusion if the manifold is leaking oil…
Get a new inlet manifold.

Should have had that done that in the first place.

Thanks Alexander

Now consider the egr shunt to stop it happening all over again....
 
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thebeard

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Now consider the egr shunt to stop it happening all over again....

oigle

I'm about to get the manifold replaced.
Just wondered would doing the egr shunt stop the oil entering the inlet manifold.

So doing the shunt I could just leave the manifold as it is ie leaking as the egr shunt would stop oil entering?

So save the £800 for the replacement of the manifold.

I had a read through the forum but it's not v clear to me.

Thanks.
 

kebo57

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oigle

So doing the shunt I could just leave the manifold as it is ie leaking as the egr shunt would stop oil entering?
Thanks.
Hi the way I see it is shunt will stop exhaust gases entering the inlet manifold
as there wouldn't be any oil in the exhaust gas then it wouldn't stop oil entering the inlet manifold.

Kev
 

oigle

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oigle

I'm about to get the manifold replaced.
Just wondered would doing the egr shunt stop the oil entering the inlet manifold.

So doing the shunt I could just leave the manifold as it is ie leaking as the egr shunt would stop oil entering?

So save the £800 for the replacement of the manifold.

I had a read through the forum but it's not v clear to me.

Thanks.

Sorry mate - the oil will still get into the manifold after the shunt is put in place. It is part of the PCV system.
Good thing is that the seals on the new manifold will last indefinitely without that horrible EGR junk going through there. The oil is a good lubricant for them without all the carbon etc mixed with it.
 

peppatoo

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W163 Mercedes ML270CDi C class CLK inlet manifold oil leak

I just had the symptoms described here in my ML270cdi at 58k miles. First evidence was oil under the vehicle when it had been standing. There was oil on the cross member, nearside and down the block. I assumed it was the inlet manifold and contacted Alex Crow an independent in Stowmarket (a fair way away from me). He had posted previously on this problem I was impressed with his knowledge of the problem so booked it in .I guessed an inlet manifold would not be on the MB shelf so left it with him for a week.In the event the part had to come from Milton Keynes (the national parts store)

I have done most things on cars in my life, but was deterred by the amount of dismantling needed to change the manifold. Alex was very professional and with all the enthusiasm of a true professional. I was impressed with his modern (small) garage unit, well equipped and well placed for the station if you are travelling a way.


Picked it up today and saw the old manifold. The butterfly valve spindles are plastic, as is the manifold, so no surprise that the seals on all the butterfly valves leak at some time. Alex told me it affects the C class and the CLK too. I had got Alex to do some other small jobs too. By chance I had opened the sunroof on my journey to Suffolk and a bit flew off and hit me on the head. Alex fixed that too. Alex also recommends MBS in Southampton and quite by chance he was visiting Alex when I dropped the car off. Their combined knowledge of Mercedes was obvious and I am pleased to heartily endorse both independents who offer great expertise and a very real saving on main dealer prices.

I have had an uneventful (long) journey home , so I am very pleased
 
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panason1c

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I got mine from the MB dealer for £270 plus vat, (inc trade discount) the job takes a good 6 hours in total and its just not worth risking a non-genuine manifold for the relatively small difference in price.

On hindsight though, i would have removed the flaps from the manifold and refitted it, after reading posts from those that have done this without any problems.
 

rjevon

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I have a Manifold which I am removing the Swirl Flaps and sealing up the holes with 12MM bolts etc.

Did this to a second hand one I purchased to save time when removing and r-fitting.

So if you were interested in this spare one, let me know.
 

S.Speed

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Older Citroen Now :-(
I have a Manifold which I am removing the Swirl Flaps and sealing up the holes with 12MM bolts etc.

Did this to a second hand one I purchased to save time when removing and r-fitting.

So if you were interested in this spare one, let me know.

rjevon..
How did you program the swirl flaps out?
Did you use the resisor trick similar to the EGR Shunt?
 

rjevon

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No need to program out the swirl flaps..

Just remove them and leave the motor intact and connected up.
 

phil7733

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Hi,
I have have sealed up the holes with 14MM bolts.
The ML is running fined since.
volets.jpg
 

Cosworth

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I got mine from the MB dealer for £270 plus vat, (inc trade discount) the job takes a good 6 hours in total and its just not worth risking a non-genuine manifold for the relatively small difference in price.

On hindsight though, i would have removed the flaps from the manifold and refitted it, after reading posts from those that have done this without any problems.

But what if you have a oil leak as well, would that be the seals on the manifold.
 

rjevon

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The oil leak is usually from worn swirl flap spindles, so removing them and replacing the holes with 12/14mm bolts sorts the leak out.
 


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