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  #1  
Old 11-07-2006, 05:57 PM
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82 300sd oil pan leak

Hey folks, you've been so helpful in the past, I hope the streak continues

I went on a 150 mile roundtrip drive on saturday night and when I got back, I found that I had an oil leak spraying the entire underside of the car. Last I checked the oil (a couple days before the trip) it was at the top of the dipstick gauge, and now it is at the bottom. Thankfully I didn't lose it all, but I'm still trying to determine the culprit. Here's a few photos, and my recent work on the car is at the end of the post.

I know that the oil pan drain plug washer has been leaking a tiny bit (from being reused), but this recent loss of oil is orders of magnitude larger than what was leaking before. I noticed what I think are new dents in the oil pan, so plan on replacing it (along with the gasket, drain plug, and drain plug washer) but was looking for other places to check as well.


The area directly to the right of the drain plug/pan (in the photo - what is that metal support called?) is the area that was dripping with oil after I put in a bit more oil and took the car out for a spin.


You can see some of the drain pan/dents in this photo


Dents can be seen here, on the passenger side of the pan

It seems like the oil pan could be the culprit, but then I wonder why the dripping oil is coming from directly behind the drain plug? Are there other spots I should be checking? Also, if I replace the drain pan, is it more indepth than draining the oil, loosening the bolts, replacing the gasket and pan, and putting the bolts back in?

I did just adjust my valves (1st time newbie here ) and flush and refill my powersteering fluid/filter - while I don't think they're related, I thought I should mention all that I've done recently in case there is a link.

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  #2  
Old 11-07-2006, 06:09 PM
benzforlife's Avatar
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i have the exact same car, over the summer i had to change my oil pan,"i can say right now, it is not supposed to look like that', it should be flat on the bottom with small ridges, i believe, i wont tell u how i smashed it, but it was leaking oil froma split in the bottom.

looks t me like the pan is the only thing wrong here, but for safety i would recomend cleaning all the oil that has been spewed, let sit for an hour, and return to look for a possible leak!

an another thing, DON'T REUSE THE COPPER WASHERS!
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  #3  
Old 11-07-2006, 06:34 PM
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I would consider a new oil pan for a couple of reasons. Potential cracks and oil pickup problems. Also in replacing the oil pan you will need to replace the lower oil pan gasket.
Other potential leak points!! Sice the entire pan ( all sides and bottom) are covered I would figure that the oil leak is at the front of the engine.
Clean the entire engine, consider going to a car wash and use the engine degreaser nozzle to do the job. The allow it to dry. Drive the car home and then take a careful look at the engine to find the oil leak.

On the passengers side of the engine check the following
Turbo oil line, rubber
Air filter oil separator drain tube from the airfilter to the upper oil pan.
Turbo oil drain lines and attachment points (Orings)
Around the intake/exaust manifold gasket.
Valve cover ehaust gas recycle tube to the air filter.

Front of the engine.
Oil cooler lines and attachment fittings.
Front main seal
Vacuum pump seal
Front block access bolts

Other
Oil pan gasket
Vavle cover gasket
Injection pump gaskets
Oil filter gaskets.

That should cover just about every potential oil leak that you could have.

Dave
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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car
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  #4  
Old 11-07-2006, 07:01 PM
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In looking under the car again, it doesn't seem like the oil pan itself is covered in newly leaked oil - but this looks like a potential culprit as well.

Driver side, just next to the oil pan




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  #5  
Old 11-07-2006, 07:09 PM
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check your oil cooler lines. they should not have any oil on them. they are the forward most point where oil is, so if they are leaking it will make its way all over everything in the engine compartment and under the car. my oil pan is always dented. i chenged it once. and a month later it had dents in it. i plan on getting another and welding some reinforcing steel to the pan to make it "armored" agenst rocks and whatever else might be denting the pan.

I wasn't going to change the pan when i did last time, but it was only 20 more for the pan and gasket. i think it was 35 for the gasket at napa, and 55 for the pan and gasket off of ebay.
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  #6  
Old 11-08-2006, 12:51 AM
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That is your Air Conditioning compressor. No black oil in there. BUT just forward of the AC compressor is the oil cooler. I will bet that your lines are leaking. They tend to do that after a while. It is the radiator looking unit just to the right of the radiator ( when looking at the engine from the front of the car) At the bottom are the 2 oil cooling hoses that go back to your oil filter assembly.
When the engine is running the oil will seep out of either the rubber to metal fitting, the actual fitting of the hose to cooler or from the actual "radiator" like unit that is your cooler. It is then blown back over the engine. Clean the entire engine/engine bay and then run it and check those areas.

If you do not have any oil on the front of the AC compressor then it is coming from the front of the engine (crank seal, vacuum pump seal, valve cover, access bolts) and is slung outward to the accessory components and spreads over the entire engine.

Dave
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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car
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  #7  
Old 11-08-2006, 03:04 AM
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I am having the same problem...oil coating along the underside of the driver's side of the car. Have you checked your oil filter housing gasket? Didn't seem to be the problem on mine, but it could be on yours.
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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine
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  #8  
Old 11-08-2006, 03:12 AM
ForcedInduction
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I know my oil filter base leaks and the injection pump mount leaks as well. The IP mount is right above the A/C compressor. PITA to replace....
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  #9  
Old 11-08-2006, 03:40 AM
bgkast's Avatar
Rollin' on 16s
 
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Location: Vancouver WA
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AH HA!

Check your oil feed line for the turbo where it mounts to the oil filter housing...mine has a nice fat drip on it. The part of the floor pan that angles down where the seat mounts is coated with oil, as is the rear suspension arm. You can really see how the air flows under the car with this oil leak.

I believe it is unrelated to the other leak, but my transmission is also coated in oil. The front of the flywheel looks clean though...doesn't seem like that could be the rear seal does it?
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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine
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  #10  
Old 11-10-2006, 08:44 PM
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Thanks for all the help!

As it turns out, it appears to be my flat-plate heat-exchanger leaking veggie oil. After washing out the engine and underbody, I drove it for a bit and brought it home. Sure enough, dripping oil from the same spot (that metal bar in the first photo I posted, from one of the holes in the bottom of it. I stuck my gloved hand underneath it and was surprised when it looked like, and smelled like grease.

Now it's a matter of finding the time to pull it out and find out if a hose split, or if the thread-sealant is leaking....it certainly is losing a significant amount of grease, and this is without even switching over to veggie oil. I'll post back when I know more.

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