Some 2004-08 Mercedes-Benz cars and light trucks with 3.5-liter V6s and 4.7-liter and 5.5-liter V8s (M272/M273) may leak oil from the rear of the engine.
One likely cause of the leakage, the car maker said, is a defect in the plastic expansion plug(s) at the back of the cylinder head(s). New-design, improved plugs are now available to address the concern.
Order part No. A000 998 55 90 for the small diameter expansion plug; part No. A000 998 56 90 for the larger size plug.
"Factory Fixes" is written by Jim DePalma, a 30-year veteran of the auto repair business who has served stints as a service manager, parts manager and ASE-certified technician. His column provides vehicle manufacturers' authentic factory technical service bulletins (TSBs) that have been condensed for easier reading. Mr. DePalma advises that techs always check with a dealer or repair information system for the latest revisions before starting to work on a vehicle. He can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].