Another 119 oil tube question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Bob I · #1 11-05-2005, 01:02 PM

The dreaded lifter noise on the 119 engines seems to be more common as these engines exceed 100,000 miles. I have not found definite answers to the following questions in all of the 119 engine oil tube discussions.

1. Are the metal oil tubes that apparently were installed originally in pre 1994 119 engines still available from Mercedes?

2. If available, can the metal oil tubes be used as a replacement for the plastic oil tubes used in later 119 engines?

It sounds like the metal tubes are superior if they can be used.

Thanks!

mbshop · #2 11-06-2005, 06:08 PM

no, not available. don't know if the old metal will fit in place of the plastic.
i look closely at the plastic ones. some of the "crimps" to hold the little plastic cap are poor so i melt them a bit more to better hold the cap.
also check yer oil pressure. repeated problems point out a bad oil pressure
regulator.

george

mbshop · #3 11-06-2005, 06:11 PM

kinda a ps to my note. these cars also like to spit out the little
caps that look like freeze plugs that are inserted in the front of the hollow cams so crank the engine over before you do anything if possible to make
sure no oil is poring out of the front of the cams.

george

Bob I · #4 11-07-2005, 03:03 PM

George,

Thanks for the info.

When you talk about the caps being spit out, are these the ones in the end of the oil tube or is it on some other part?

Any idea on why Mercedes switched to plastic from metal for the oil tubes?

mbshop · #5 11-07-2005, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob I

George,

Thanks for the info.

When you talk about the caps being spit out, are these the ones in the end of the oil tube or is it on some other part?

Any idea on why Mercedes switched to plastic from metal for the oil tubes?

yes, the little caps at the end. take out the old bad one and its obvious.
yes, might be overkill with the melting bit but new ones are spitting them out also.
they swithed due to cost obviousely. and maybe a few oz of weight.

george

JimF · #6 11-08-2005, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbshop

yes, might be overkill with the melting bit but new ones are spitting them out also.
george

Of course any part can fail but I've personally not seen a replaced oil tube fail prematurely, ie right after it was put in. Maybe it's b/c I do check each part for a solid end cap before it use it. So far haven't found a bad one.

I think you'll find that the heat and oil pressure is the real cause of the cap failure. And further, the 'heat-fusing' idea is probably the best bet to eliminate all failures.

JimF · #7 11-07-2005, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob I

The dreaded lifter noise on the 119 engines seems to be more common as these engines exceed 100,000 miles.

1. Are the metal oil tubes that apparently were installed originally in pre 1994 119 engines still available from Mercedes?

2. If available, can the metal oil tubes be used as a replacement for the plastic oil tubes used in later 119 engines?

It sounds like the metal tubes are superior if they can be used.

To second mbshop, I checked w/ my tech's part supplier and they are not available. I'm not a 'fan' of the plastic version, but as you have found, they do last about 100K miles. So if you replace them, you shouldn't have a problem for a long time.

On my page, there's a pictorial of how to do it; MENU#19. Also mbshop's idea of securing the ends should just about make them last forever.

I've not done this but a good technique would be to use an hot small tip soldering iron. Then position the tip so that it lays across the body and cap; then touch both simultaneously so that the body and cap start to melt and doing so, weld together. Do this every 120 degs and that should secure the cap nicely.

Good idea but may be overkill.