Thanks to the very helpful members of this board, I have been able to get my car to go from leaving oil spills to just oil leaks. However it still leaks, and I do not think I will be able to fix all of the leaks.

Now my HOA freaks out about leaving oil spots on the ground, so recently I have been putting out a piece of cardboard under my car every day when I get home.

However, this looks very "ghetto" and dont want to have to pull out cardboard every time I park at home.

How does everyone else deal with this? Is there any way of getting cardboard or some other absorbent material attached to the bottom to collect small drips?

Thanks!

If the leaks are bad enough to leave spots in your parking space, they should be fixable. Clean off your engine at the car wash and start tracing them down. Valve cover gasket, PCV hose, oil filter housing to block joint, are all places that typically leak.

__________________
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

Move to a place that doesnt have a HOE (I mean HOA).

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

Ya already tried washing the engine off. Very small "leaks" in many places - and Phoenix heat is here already making it difficult to do repairs in the summer. I fixed major leaks but still have some. And moving is not an option. Car would go before the house.

Thanks!

Where is it dripping from?

__________________
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

Personally, I have never seen a leak proof engine. Take a look at every driveway and garage and see if there are any spots or not.

Put out some regular kitty litter or oil dry and park the car over it. Sweep it up once a week or so. Draw back its there is no protection from the rain.

If you park the car in the garage, you can build an oil dry holder of sorts using 1/4in plywood and 1x2 lumber.

__________________
RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

As an owner of several past and present British cars..."if its not leaking oil its not British". E-flute brown cardboard is the best and most transportable thing to use to absorb oil until you can get under the car in cooler weather
and get to fix'n.
Keep a sheet of cardboard in your trunk so you can pull it out and prevent your car from drizziling all over your friend's driveways. When it gets all grundgy put it in recycling and pull out a fresh piece.

Unlike a Mercedes its the oil bath that keeps the undercarriage of a British car from rusting...and you never have to change the oil...only replentish!

__________________
FRED

Daily Driver: 98 E300TD 199K
Hobby Car: 69 Austin Mini
Past Diesels: 84 300SD, 312K
87 300SDL, 251K
94 Chev. K-1500 6.5Ltr.TD, 373K