Oil leak at glowplug -a puddle on the valve cover!

[Johnny G Pipe]

Good evening freinds. (OK, its actually 10 past 11 in the morning, but got the day off work to look at my glow plugs and some other stuff! Hooray!)

On removing the plastic covers, there is engine oil around the 3rd plug - has obviously squirted out, and is sitting in a pool on the rocker cover around the plug.

EDIT, EDIT - Just realised that this is not the glow plug!! OK, so I'm new to diesels ...the oil leak is around the fuel injection bit at the top, as it goes into the head..going to take a pic, see reply below.

I have a glowplug light which stays on for a minute or so, which is why I am doing em (as well as choking taxi smoke at start up) - but also the car seems to be killing MAFs - sluggish until I change the MAF, fine for a few miles and then back to not kicking down etc. This is all probably separate issues (oil contamination?) but am interested in any thoughts before I go in there.

Dont like the look of it, I have to say.

Heated seat has recently failed (base and back) as well as folding mirrors. The (not so) old girls going to pot!

 

[jibcl500]

Johnny

Do you call yourself G-pipe because you have the G pipe mod on your Carrera4?


jib

 

[Johnny G Pipe]

Johnny

Do you call yourself G-pipe because you have the G pipe mod on your Carrera4?


jib

Indeed! Its less weight and more growl/howl for 90 quid and ten minutes work. Best mod I ever did..!

Just been out to the merc and realised I have been looking at wrong bit - main post edited. I have now found the glowplugs tucked down the side. The oil leak is at the top where the fuel lines attach to the head. Shame I cant edit title of the thread..

Here it is..nasty..

Going to check the torque on that stud holding it in..

 

[jibcl500]

Becareful with the bolts as they can snap!!!! 7nm is all they need, the washer on the injector I would guess is the problem., bolt and clamp need to be removed and everything cleaned, new bolt and clamp required also.
jib

I had the G pipe on my carrera2 nice sound..

 

[Johnny G Pipe]

Thanks! Does the whole assembly come out if I lossen that torx bolt and the fuel line? When you say clamp, thats the bit bolted down by the torx bolt?

 

[jibcl500]

Pull the spring clip out at the top and the fuel line come off the top of the injector. The clamp is the part the torx bolt goes through to hole the injector in place.
Go easy on the bolt as they snap real easy and then they need to be drilled out, the bolt is about 3 inches long!!, make sure the injector hole is really clean before putting it all back together. The injector can be stuck in the hole so be aware that it may not come out easily, my guess it will.

jib

 

[Johnny G Pipe]

Grand! Have diagnosed 2 gloplugs as dead - nothing at all on the meter, about 1.5-2.5 ohms in the others, so will order new bolt and clamp and seal and a set of plugs, and leave the penetrating oil to work its magic for a few days..

Thanks again!

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Hi Johnny G,
I would seriously consider replacing the complete set of glowplugs. I replaced one at 59K and have found that another has gone at 64K, therefore have just done the other 5. So unless you like replacing them individually with all the prep required I'd do the lot. I honestly thought I'd get more miles out of the others but only 5K.

Regards Malcolm

 

[G-a-r-y]

How easy is it to check the glow plugs, does the light (on dash) come on if one single plug is down?
Where are they in relation to the picture above?

 

[BlackC55]

The seat of the injector will need to be re-cut. If you dont it WILL leak again. Get it re-cut by a diesel specialist or someone with the tool (like me)

Just fitting a new washer is no good. I have replaced hundreds of these and you MUST re-cut it.

BTW the sludge is solidified combustion gas and not oil.

 

[Cole@MBS]

Becareful with the bolts as they can snap!!!! 7nm is all they need, the washer on the injector I would guess is the problem., bolt and clamp need to be removed and everything cleaned, new bolt and clamp required also.
jib

I had the G pipe on my carrera2 nice sound..

Sorry Jib, yes 7nm but then a 90 degree and another 90, otherwise it will be to loose and leak again!

 

[jibcl500]

Sam

Yes I was going to edit that and mention the 90 and 90,

jib

I can make "mis tuna" out of your name!

 

[Cole@MBS]

Sam

Yes I was going to edit that and mention the 90 and 90,

jib

I can make "mis tuna" out of your name!

Been called everything else Jib

 

[Johnny G Pipe]

How easy is it to check the glow plugs, does the light (on dash) come on if one single plug is down?
Where are they in relation to the picture above?

There's a how-to in the DIY section, for a 220CDI, here
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=29074
talks about checking the relay, and then just using a voltmeter across the tip of the plug and ground to do a basic check.

The plugs are down the right hand side of the head, as in the pic below. They are under some gubbins, I had to remove the fuel line on cylinder 1 to get to its plug properly..dont know if thats what others do, but I just got frustrated.

Malcolm, yep will replace all 6. Already ordered em. My local factors has NGK ones at £9 each..bargain! They only had two in though, presumably in case anyone needs help on their diesel twin..

Black C55, thanks. Combustion products? - yeuw, diesels are nasty creatures, arent they..?
I suspect that would affect power from that cylinder, shurely?

 

[pault8084]

Yeah i'd agree with that.Recently helicoiled mine and has started to blow by again.Bit lost now,might chemical metal the injectors in,fed up with the smell of diesel