98 E300TD oil leaking from exhaust manifold bolts?

[bkkirby]

Am I crazy or is this possible. I have an oil leak on my 98 TD. It appears to be coming from the front 2 exhaust manifold bolts. I degrease the area and thats where the oil is visible first. Is this possible?

Thanks,

Brian

[zeet]

I've added talcum powder to a freshly degreased engine before to find oil leaks. It'll keep the oil from being blown around as much. There could be a head leak there.

[WINGAS]

Nope. Its the valve cover gasket. Those are blind holes unless its oozing out the ports!

[Parrot of Doom]

If liquid is coming out, than gas should also be coming out, and you can easily test for gas.

[bkkirby]

I dont see any indication of oil coming out of valve cover, but maybe it's burning off. I will try a piece of masking tape above the area I see the oil stains it.

Thanks,

Brian

[bkkirby]

Originally Posted by Parrot of Doom

If liquid is coming out, than gas should also be coming out, and you can easily test for gas.

OK, remember I'm stupid..., so what do you mean by easy to test for gas. It is a diesel car and I smell no indication of diesel.

Brian

[anghrist]

I have the same problem and have no clue as to where this is coming from. I've changed the valve cover, correctly, so it's not from the valve cover. I had wondered if it was from the stud because that was the first place I saw it.

Thus far the leak manifests as follows:
1) Oil appears to be seeping from the most forward exhaust manifold bolt. First from behind the nut against the manifold and the threads on the exposed stud.
2) Later the lower stud will start to show the same symptoms.
3) The exhaust gasket starts to show 'seepage' from the excessive amount of oil that must be flowing through the manifold somehow.

I have yet to find a fix, and I'm afraid of what this may be doing to the turbo. There is also a slight mis-fire/compression? that occurs at about 1700rpm and the car has a slight miss while cruising.

[sixto]

In a 603 it's an indication of head gasket failure or exhaust valve stem seal failure.

Sixto
87 300D