Oil leaks outside hood? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

44toy · #1 07-06-2006, 04:45 PM

I recently bought a 81 300sd and been having good luck so far. But over the last few weeks oil has started creeping out from under the hood above the drivers headlight? There is oil stain on underside of hood (no hood pad) kinda over the power steering pump. I wash it off but cant tell were it comes from ? It may take a week for it to creep over the hood an inch or 2. I have seen 2 other 300d cars do this. Any clues?

tangofox007 · #2 07-06-2006, 05:16 PM

If it's coming out around the headlight, you might be leaking blinker fluid!!!

rrgrassi · #3 07-06-2006, 05:24 PM

Blinker fluid??

Better check the muffler bearings while you are at it.

81mercturbo · #4 07-06-2006, 05:36 PM

Good lord... ok I thought I was going crazy!!! I am getting the same thing!!! It's not motor oil thats for sure cuz its clean... I wiped it off one night thinking that it was from someone elses car in front of me or something... and BOOM... there it was again after I got home the next night!!!

What is this crazy phenomenon?

winmutt · #5 07-06-2006, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrgrassi

Blinker fluid??

Better check the muffler bearings while you are at it.

? The blinker relays may be leaking fluid. Bad news... the oil pump is over there to... Time to put some clean towels in the engine compartment and see where its really coming from.

81mercturbo · #6 07-06-2006, 05:49 PM

Are the turn indicator relays down there close to the light or nearer to the signal stalk? And if it were engine oil... would it be clean or the infamous black that our oil turns?

rrgrassi · #7 07-06-2006, 06:04 PM

All kidding aside, could it be power steering fluid? I would consider washing the engine compartment really well, and look for a leak then.

44toy · #8 07-06-2006, 06:07 PM

It could be I have washed it a few times and really cant tell? There seems to be no loss of fluid from PS. But there does seem to be a fine film of oil on backside of PS pully. Just got done washing it again and will be keeping an eye on it.

81mercturbo · #9 07-06-2006, 06:13 PM

My PS pump was just replaced before I bought it... the week before I picked it up... could it be residual fluid that may have been thrown up into the headlight area that is seeping out at speed once the engine warms up? The PO said it was spitting PS fluid pretty bad which is why he replaced it.

Diesel Giant · #10 07-06-2006, 08:07 PM

Maybe you have an oil cooler leak. That is the closest thing with engine oil that it could be.

#11 07-06-2006, 08:30 PM

I had that condition with a small leak on the upper oil cooler fitting that was spraying onto the PS pump pulley. It made quite a mess and soaked the hood pad in the area. After I fixed the leak, I was still getting some oil above the headlight. Replacing the hood pad cured it for good.

redassag00 · #12 07-06-2006, 08:41 PM

Ragdoll had this issue, turns out it was a power steering leak, finally fixed but It 'seeped' oil all over the hood for months.

It was in the hood pad and stuck behind the grille all over still. Check for leaks, otherwise it was from a repaired leak.

81mercturbo · #13 07-07-2006, 11:03 AM

I talked to the PO lastnight and he said that yes it was just residual fluid from the PS pump failure. Soaked in the hood pad of course... I need to change my hood pad anyway, that thing is nasty after 25 years

redassag00 · #14 07-07-2006, 11:11 AM

Clean in and around the grille area too.

The oil got really far in there and soaked the rubber piece between the grlle and the hood. I replaced it when the car was repainted.

Pete Burton · #15 07-07-2006, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel Giant

Maybe you have an oil cooler leak. That is the closest thing with engine oil that it could be.

That's what I think too. Check both the cooler and the lines going to it, a pinhole leak probably won't show up until the oil is hot, opening up the oil thermostat to allow oil flow to the cooler.