Merc E350 bluetec engine seized advice pls

[Cluelesslady]

As can be seen by my username I've joined to get a bit of advice.

2013 merc had oil leak was taken to independent merc specialist who diagnosed oil cooler repair needed. Booked in car brought home not driven again until repair day. Oil was checked before driving to garage. Repair done and collected and 24hrs (90mile) later car loses power managed to coast to safety Towed back.to garage who did repair -.engine seized

Garage tried to 'hand crank?' but no movement say needs new engine but not linked to repair. Options are get second hand engine or scrap ? Any idea of a scrap value ?

Just would appreciate your thoughts on what next steps.. Car wasn't due a service no light on.

[119]

You are better off speaking to citizens advice as you will get a million conflicting answers in here.

Good luck.

[surveyor]

On the balance of probability it seems very convenient that the fault is not related to the garage messing around with the oil cooler immediately before it failed.

In fact it’s almost unbelievable.

[Cluelesslady]

[redacted]

[Cluelesslady]

surveyor said:

On the balance of probability it seems very convenient that the fault is not related to the garage messing around with the oil cooler immediately before it failed.

In fact it’s almost unbelievable.

They said the repair only involved work externally not internally where fault is .. Given that repair was for an oil leak should they have checked oil level as part of repair?

[ZX10R NIN]

Did you manage to check the oil level when the car stopped?

[surveyor]

Do you have legal expenses insurance with anyone?

Did you pay by credit card?

Does the garage belong to a professional scheme?

Regardless if the garage are trying to avoid owning the issue I think you will have to spend to prove fault.

[Decky_Q]

Seizure could be coincidental but the 350d is a good engine and not known for random seizure.

I assume it is due to low oil pressure, or oil passage blockage? If not what have they said is the cause?

[GeniusOfLove]

Mercs, helpfully, don't have an oil pressure light.

My guess would be that the fitter forgot to put any oil in after doing the work, but you can be quite sure they've filled it up to right where it needs to be now.

[Dapster]

GeniusOfLove said:

Mercs, helpfully, don't have an oil pressure light.

My guess would be that the fitter forgot to put any oil in after doing the work, but you can be quite sure they've filled it up to right where it needs to be now.

Cluelesslady said:

....Repair done and collected and 24hrs (90mile) later car loses power managed to coast to safety....

Could it have done 90 miles with no oil?

Would an independent engineer be able to advise how the engine failed? Surely there would be signs of oil starvation (even if the repairing crooks subsequently topped it up).

[soad]

https://www.cartakeback.com/scrap-car-calculator/

[skyebear]

For any repair work on an oil cooler would it be normal to drain the oil? Or would it be coolant that would be drained?

OP should work out how much her car is worth in running condition and go from there. Can enter details in auto trader, carwow, webuyanycar for example to get a rough estimate.

[Cluelesslady]

GeniusOfLove said:

Mercs, helpfully, don't have an oil pressure light.

My guess would be that the fitter forgot to put any oil in after doing the work, but you can be quite sure they've filled it up to right where it needs to be now.

As the faulty cooler was causing the oil leak should the garage not have also replaced/checked oil level/filter/pump or.anything else that could have been impacted also by the faulty cooler before handing car back? It sounds like they did the cooler repair but didn't consider the oil leak and check anything else - or am I just expecting too much?!

[samoht]

If you want to take it further I think you'd have to get the car towed to a different garage to inspect the engine, they may be able to tell why it seized.

Yes it means spending more money now, but I don't see any other way forward. Or you give up and accept what the first garage is saying that it's not caused by their repair.

[trevalvole]

GeniusOfLove said:

Mercs, helpfully, don't have an oil pressure light.

My guess would be that the fitter forgot to put any oil in after doing the work, but you can be quite sure they've filled it up to right where it needs to be now.

They do have oil level alarms though.

[Smint]

I wonder if this is an external oil cooler or one like in some previous inline engines behind the oil filter housing, when they fail its the same symptons as CHGF, coolant heavily oil contaminated.

[surveyor]

Smint said:

I wonder if this is an external oil cooler or one like in some previous inline engines behind the oil filter housing, when they fail its the same symptons as CHGF, coolant heavily oil contaminated.

It's a known failure point. External cooler that sits in the V of the V6. Usually the failure point show's as an oil leak which drains via a hole to the rear of the engine.

[Smint]

surveyor said:

It's a known failure point. External cooler that sits in the V of the V6. Usually the failure point show's as an oil leak which drains via a hole to the rear of the engine.

Much obliged

[snotrag]

The repair will have been to the oil cooler seals which are a known failure on this engine (and its only real problem point). The parts and repair are easy but lengthy as the oil cooler is well hidden in the V and requires extensive strip down of everything on top. Coolant and Oil will be at least partially drained to access.


This is almost certainly due to a maintenance induced error, your difficulty is in proving it.

[snotrag]

This shows how much dissasembly is needed...



To reach this little silver oil cooler and fit the nice new purple rubber seals between it, and the engine block, before re-assembling it all.