oIL SMELL IN 02 Mercedes E240 Avantgarde

[Pat Gallagher]

Hi can anyone help me. When car is warmed up , I get this obnoxious oil type smell, seems to be coming in around centre console. Merc Dealership cant find cause. New Cat recently fitted. No obvious leaks anywhere. Anyone any answers. Seems to be worse on long journeys.
Any help appreciated.
many thanks

 

[brandwooddixon]

The smell is perhaps coming from through the lower vents in the footwell. Try manually setting the air vents to say the windscreen to see if the source of the smell changes.

Secondly how many miles have you done since having a cat replaced? It is quite possible that the pipe has been contaminated with grease/oil residue and has yet to burn off. It may also have been coated with a protective grease paint (certainly my new discs were) which hasn't been properly cleaned off. Lastly it is quite common for a bit of grease to be used to seal/aid fitting of exhaust pipes instead of exhaust sealant paste, especially near cats.

 

[Pat Gallagher]

Many thanks.
Cat has only recently been replaced, however, 'smell' has been in car for quite some time previous. Mileage is 43k. Will try changing air vent settings to see if there is any difference. Appreciated.
Anyone else any views please.
Pat

 

[brandwooddixon]

Oh, if the smell was about for sometime before could you have an oil leak on the engine? It doesn't need to be major. A simple check, other than using a torch to pry around if you have an engine bay cover fitted underneath the engine then is to remove it (4 hex headed screws 8mm I think) and look at that. If you have any leaked oil then it will show.

Be careful not to confuse oil spilt whilst filling the engine with a leak. I know that I rarely manage to top mine up without spliiing some down the side of the engine.

 

[Pat Gallagher]

Oh, if the smell was about for sometime before could you have an oil leak on the engine? It doesn't need to be major. A simple check, other than using a torch to pry around if you have an engine bay cover fitted underneath the engine then is to remove it (4 hex headed screws 8mm I think) and look at that. If you have any leaked oil then it will show.

Be careful not to confuse oil spilt whilst filling the engine with a leak. I know that I rarely manage to top mine up without spliiing some down the side of the engine.

Many Thanks brandwooddixon.Have had a good look , but no obvious signs...have not looked underneath engine, but will do so.
Regards.
pat

 

[MIW615]

I would also check the steering shaft grommet that seals the columm from the engine, if this become dislodged / broken you will get fumes entering the car :wink:

 

[Pat Gallagher]

I would also check the steering shaft grommet that seals the columm from the engine, if this become dislodged / broken you will get fumes entering the car :wink:

thanks MW...Will have this checked.
Regards.

 

[mjtray]

This could possibly be one of the common problems on this range of engines...to check, take the plastic engine cover off...it just clips on. When the cover is off, have you got lots of oil in and around the oil filler cap. If you have it tends to drip down onto the manifold and then burns off, the smell then enters the cabin through the air vents.

The problem is caused by a slight crack in the oil filler neck and is a common problem on these engines. Very easy to change and they cost about £10. Have had this problem on 2 cars with a 320 and a 240 engine. Clean off all of the dripping oil and you should be back to normal.