Taxi Driver Online

Mercedes Vito cdi, got this straight from the horses mouth [Mercedes old hand fitter/ tech, van expert]

These Vito cdi are prone what is known in the trade as "Black Death"

What happens is the seals to the injectors go, causing a bypass of engine gases, over a period of time, maybe without you knowing a build up of carbon appears around the diesel fuel injector base

A good mechanic [if they know the product] will check for this and let you know whilst they do the servicing, but most don't, if it is left to long, its a major job

They use Coca-Cola poured on the injector base to soak over night, if that don't work, usualy does in some cases, but still can't get the injectors out, its really an engine and transmission out to get full access/ cylinder head off

so the next time you go for Vito cdi service, tell the garage, could you check for Black Death, before its to late

If the injectors last that long mine have had to be replaced about every 18 months on average the vehicle is 4 years ols and on its third set and i had to have one of those done last year so one injector has been changed 3 times !

I thought 'black death' was an engine oil disease........

All injectors get sootted at the end, the seals only cover about 1mm of them, whats happening is the hot gas is attacking the threads.

The injectors seem to be a weak spot on these, just see farmer brown and ask for an old set off his tractor..............

Better still buy a pattern part as the original OEM are so poor.

How bizaar.. just discoverred the site and only 3 days after having this problem sorted..
To explain ( as the mechinic did..)
the injectors are locked in by a pin not screwed and at the bottom, there's a copper seal. Because over time the vibration wears the seal, a diesel vapour is sprayed onto the top of the block. This then cooks with the heat until it becomes hard.
My mechanic took a couple of hours to get rid of that and another couple to replace the seals and put everything else together.
Total cost was about £250
No long term damage or improvement, just the smell of old diesel has gone.