My car now spots it's resting spot...2 in diam. overnight.
I think it is the front main seal.

__________________
82 300D....went to MB heaven
90 350 SDL....excercising con rods

When you have to run a hose and funnel into the cab and top it off while you drive.

Oil leaks can be a pain. I am sure that is not easy to replace the front main seal.

__________________
85 300D Turbo

no rust on the back of my car, too many droplets of oil

__________________
Bill

'82 300SD 195K
'84 300SD 199K

Mine leaves about a 2" spot when I park. It doesn't seem to leak when running though so I never worried about since I parked in the street and it can't be loosing too much oil. Now that I park in my driveway so I can plug in the heater, I need to fix it since I don't want spots all over the driveway.
I cleaned the engine and it really looked like the oil pan gasket was leaking. I replaced the gasket and it is still leaking. I think it may be dripping onto the pan lip first and then on the ground. I'll have to investigate further. I may put an old floor mat on the driveway for now to catch the oil.

It does make great rust prevention for underneath, and you don't need to change the oil because you are continually cycling in fresh oil.

If the oil is ever below the low mark when you check the oil level, fix the leak/s or check more frequently.

Sixto
93 300SD ... exercising the low oil level sensor

All machinery seals leak. It's just a matter of what is acceptable.
If the amount does not bother you than you can allow it to continue for a while. But as always the seals will progressively get worse as they age. so you really will have to decide. A 2 inch black oil spot each day could get to be unsightly.
I have a oil leak right now ( think it was the valve cover gasket or tightness, gasket is 1 month old so I tightened the nuts and well see how it goes) But in the garage I have epoxy painted floors and saw dust under the area. so I don't make a mess.
The power steering box seals are also leaking. It's time to decide if I should remove the box and reseal it or replace it with a rebuilt. Since I have to fill the reservoir about once a month.

Dave

__________________
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

It becomes a problem when you've got four quarts of oil in the trunk and you made the first 40 miles of a 200 mile trip........and you lose oil pressure.......pull over..........check the stick..........nothing showing..........and need to add three of those quarts.........

I've fixed main seal leaks by using the high mileage oils. While I wouldn't recommend such oils if they are not diesel rated, a seal conditioner added to the oil might solve your problem. Worth a try for the little amount of $$ it would cost.

Otherwise, the time to fix the oil leak is when oil costs exceed diesel costs.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

You can try adding about 3 to 4 tablespoons of DOT 3 brake fluid to your motor oil. It will rejuvenate the seals for a while, but you will have to replace them eventually!

Jkid, check out your turbo oil drain seals. My pan gasket also looks like it is leaking, but naw nothing's that easy. It's the turbo drain seals for sure in my case AND the pan gasket AND the front crank seal. Sigh.
I had to park way down the street at Christmas because my sibling has a very big expensive house with a very nice articulated paver driveway that I have been told never ever ever to park on because of my leaker.
I think that syn oil spreads out over a wide area fast making you think that it's leaking much more than it really is, yet still very very irritating because everybody you know that drives new cars don't have leaks and you're constantly embarassed because you can't go anywhere without leaving a mess. Sigh.

__________________
'02 BMW 325i
'85 300D 450k
'93 190E 2.6 170k(killed by tree)
'08 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S 6k
'06 Ducati S2R800 14k(sold)

I am finally leak free. Replaced the front crank seal, IP gasket, oil filter housing gaskets, and the vacuum pump gasket. The vacuum pump gasket was apparently the worst offender. Also replaced the oil cooler and transmission cooler hoses before they started to leak. ('82 300D)

I, too, am a victim of the leaky Benz. My '91 350SD leaks a good bit - spotting everywhere I park and leaving a good blot overnight on the broken 1/2 piece of sheetrock (great for oil leaks - and free behind Home Depot) I put under the car to catch it. When it gets too soaked, I'll throw it out and put a new piece under there and start over.

I also thought perhaps it is *sort of* good to have an oil leak - then you're constantly replacing the old, dirty oil with new oil. Kind of like *bleeding* the car on a regular basis - but then again, I'm pretty sure they determined that bleeding is not an effective medical practice back in the 1800's, so I could be completely wrong.

__________________
Autos:
1991 350SD 276,000 miles
2001 VW Beetle TDI 115,000 miles

Horns:
1955 Selmer Mark VI Alto (55,xxx)
1958 Selmer Mark VI Tenor (85,xxx)
1964 Selmer Mark VI Tenor (125,xxx)
1967 King Super-20 Tenor (430,xxx)
2002 Selmer Series III Soprano

For Jazz Saxophone enthusiasts - check out my website...
www.RustyBlevins.com

Yep, once you get to one quart every 1K miles, you proabably can go forever on synthetic with only filter changes. Now........you got something to look forward to.........

In my opinion, it's a matter of economics.......when you begin to reckon your oil consumption like fuel mileage......then you are getting close to time to fix it....

My Benz doesn't leak....but my power wagon does.....upped the oil to 20w50 in the power wagon.....slowed down the leak......still leaves a noticeable trail on a wet road....sheen spot every 50-100 feet......

Someone mentioned the High Mileage oils....for the Diesel, I would recommend trying the Lucas additive.....to whatever Diesel spec lube oil that you use....

SB

__________________

Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG

this stuff will really foam your motor oil, search for lucas threads, someone did a lab test on it and I will NEVER put it in any vehicle I own.
John

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!