Crankshaft Oil Leak (I think)
 

As a fairly new owner of an 83 300CD (last year) and contributor to this forum I am finally faced with what I think is a fairly complicated repair on my car...The car is high mileage but had an engine replacement with a great engine (starts great in cold weather) but it is leaking oil near the front of the engine...I assume it is the front crankshaft seal and I am not sure it is that major but it is causing the oil levels to go down. As a fairly anal car owner my thought is to repair this but I believe there must be special tools needed. I consulted the official CD manual but did not find a very detailed description. Anyone in the forum had experience with this repair and offer suggestions..Thanks

This should get you started.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/22647-failed-123-diesel-harmonic-balancers.html?highlight=harmonic

Tom

before
 

tearing it apart be sure where the oil is coming from.

tom w

Why assume it's a crankshaft seal?

The SD was leaking plently of oil from the oil cooler lines.

The drain from the air filter housing can also leak. The turbo drain line is also a source of leaks at the front of the engine.

Get it thoroughly cleaned off (a miserable job) and look for the source.

Tracking down my oil leaks I did the following.

Turbo drain and oil pan.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/74122-replacing-turbo-oil-drain-seals-gaskets-help.html?highlight=dave+turbo+drain+oring

Oil seperator check valve which includes the oil pan gasket.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/122057-617-engine-replacing-oil-separator-check-valve-upper-oil-pan.html

Front crank shaft seal.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/135541-replacing-300td-front-crankshaft-seal-other-front-block-oil-leaks.html?highlight=dave+turbo+seal

The front crank seal R+R does require a seal tool. $55 or so from Sir Tool (M0061). Mandatory, probably not, but its pretty cheap and it does the job corectly.
Doing the Front crank SUPPORT does require a special alignment tool that Sir tool does sell. Mercedes Tool # 617-0014. I was able to borrow the tool from the dealer.

http://www.peachparts.com/diy/mb_tools/mb_tools.php

Dave