New to forum. A friend has a 1999 ML320 with a leaky oil pan gasket. I've done this on other cars, but is there anything different about replaceing gasket on this car? Any tips or potential problems with this model?
Thanks in advance,
Jim

 

sure there is no gasket you need black silicone i preferr mb black silicone are you doing the main pan or oil subpan ???? also when you do the pan replace oil level sensor since you are in there they go all the time. now best way to do this is unbolt the 2 16mm nuts under the motor mounts rt/lt with a pole jack place between bell housing of trans and block must use a small peice of wood so you dont brake the bell housing or your done!!! undo the 2 nuts at the transsupport lift the engine and trans all the way into the trans tunnel as far as it goes. drain the oil remove the oil subpan a bunch of e10 torx's take the front sway bar down only if doing main pan (unbolt sway bar fron the rt/lt anchor brackets near frame rails then the sway bar swings down ) unbolt main pan there is also bolts it the front section inside where the sub pan was then with a RUBBER MALLET TAP ON MAIN PAN **DONT BREAK** and use a long thick pry bar to break silicone seal lower /remove pan . now important SPRAY ENTIRE ENGINE
RODS /BOTTOM PISTONS AND ESPECIALLY BLOCK WALLS WITH WD40 ALLOW TO SIT 15 MIN THEN WITH 2 CANS OF BRAKE CLEAN SPRAY CLEAN **YOU DONT WANT ANY OIL RUNNING WHEN YOU PUT BACK TOGETHER OR ITLL LEAK FAST
clean old silicone with razor blade DONT NICK THE PAN !!! wd40 and spray clean back together
LASTLY : APPLY SILICONE 2-3MM BEAD ON SEALING SURFACE AND GO AROUND BOLT HOLES THEN USE 2 PEOPLE!!!!!!** TO PLACE THE PAN INTO POSITION AND SECURE WITH BOLTS WHILE ONE HOLDS YOU DONOT!!! WANT TO MOVE THE PAN AROUND WHEN INSTALLED THAT WILL CAUSE LEAKS !!!!! AND YOU GET TO DO IT OVER AGAIN TIGHTEN ALL BOLTS TO SPEC USE A 1/4 DRIVE HAND RATCHET SO YOU DECREASE YOU CHANCES OF STRIPPING OUT THE BOLT OR BREAKING WHICH THEY WILL DO IF OVERTORK!!!! GOOD LUCK

 

Thanks westcoastmercedes. I appreciate the detailed work list. I figured it would be a weekend job and not a quick easy fix.

Jim

 

make sure this car is on a lift or forget it no way youll do this on your back in the driveway BE SAFE!!!!

 

Great job very useful just what I needed thanks. Maury AZ