I was looking under my hood today and noticed that the driver side front most spark plug wire looked very soiled with oil. Further inspection showed that fluid, looks like oil has also dripped down onto the exhaust manifold directly underneath. It is only that one side in that one area that is dirty every other plug and area looks clean, could this be a failed gasket? I don’t seem to be loosing any more oil that usual, 2 ticks down from full after 5000K. Performance seems as usual and there are no strange sounds or hesitations.

My truck is a 98 ML 320 with 196,000KM on it (123,000Miles).

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions on this.

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1998 ML 320
BIG Sound

does it look like it is coming from the oil fill cap and or adapter neck?
look at the attached pictures

It happened to me. It drips all the way down at the front and side to spark plugs and even further down from there. It was the rubber gasket under the oil filler neck. The dealer told me that I cannot get the gasket only, like Carson's chart show individually with a part number. At the time I did'nt know so I've got the whole filler neck for $16, not bad though.

If this is your problem, it is a little tricky to get out and insert in. Let me know if you have any problems.

Rene

Thanks so much! Under closer inspection (popped the engine cover off should have done that before) it is defiantly coming from the bottom of the filler neck. Looks like #41 is the problem, however if the entire assembly is only $16 I might as well replace the whole thing. Rene what’s the trick to getting that thing out? Twist counterclockwise and pull really hard? Do I need to do anything to the new part before install?

Thanks so much for the top notch responses, Fantastic Pictures that sure makes it clear. This forum Rocks!

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1998 ML 320
BIG Sound

Say the front of the oil filler neck is towards the radiator. Look in the back between the neck and the valve cover and you will see a stop that won't let you turn counterclowise. Well, you have to turn counterclockwise. Pull up the back of the filler until past the stop, then turn counterclockwise. It will come right off. If you turn clockwise, it will spring back in place and won't come off.

To insert the new one, just turn clockwise until past the stop, it will then spring back in place.

Actually in my case, after buying the new filler neck, I just cleaned up the old one, turn the gasket backwards, and inserted back in place. No leaks since. I have 2 benz that use the very same part so I just kept the new one in case I need it again.

Looks like it is a common problem because I went to a little bitty MB stealer we have on the west side of the city and even them will have it in stock.

You bet.

Rene

Thanks so much for the help. Got the part 111-018-00-80 for $3.50 Canadian $$. Installed in about 10 minutes including cleaning up the mess. It would have only taken 5 minutes but I snapped some pictures along the way. Check them out at.

http://www.furgasonhomes.com/ml/fillergasket.htm

Please be patient that server is a little slow.

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1998 ML 320
BIG Sound