Recently the car started to develop more and more oil leaks. There is the leak from under the valve cover - this is perhaps the bulk of it, but also, the oil cooler lines (up in the radiator area) are leaking some, around the EGR valve and also somewhere around the turbo. Lower oil pan is 'soaking wet'... This is starting to become and issue, and I would like to do something about it, but don't really know where to start...

A bit about some of the maintenance items completed in the past (fairly recently):

I've adjusted valves and changed the valve cover gasket. I've also replaced the lower oil pan gasket with a brand new one (about 5000 mi back). I run Rotella T oil. I've replaced the oil filler cap with bran new on last year.

The car has some blowby (filler cap will dance on top slightly). I sometimes have oil coming out around the filler cap and the vent tube on top of valve cover. Also, the air filter has some oil on it (recently). I've checked the oil separator in the air filter taking it apart - but found no blockage.

I am getting ready to do a compression test (as soon as the weather improves) - maybe this will be a good start. I read that most of the oil leak problems and blowby is caused by bad piston rings... I'm anxious to see the results of the compression test because the car does not have problems starting or running - it runs really good when warm. Interestingly enough I never had to add oil even though I check it regularly so I'm not aware of any oil consumption. I also don't drive the car all that much as I work from home.

How do I tackle these issues and what's my best bet to eliminate some of them without doing a rebuild.

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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

A common leak is the turbo drain leak. were it goes in to to the oil pan. It's a big project you can find plenty of disscussion on this sit about doing it

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1983 300 D 256K Turbo drain, vacuum pump

MercFan,

Time for New Lines, Quick!
If one "Goes" the engine's "Done For"

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

Just great... the dreaded oil cooler lines first off... according to DieselGiant pictorials it sounds like an ugly 6 hrs job...

Think I'll try to de-grease the engine and pressure wash it before I start this. What do I need to protect from over-spray before I start hosing it off... obviously the turbo air intake and the oil breather tube - anything else?!

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1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

Need to double-check to make sure my valve cover is torqued down properly.

1) What is the proper torque for the nuts on the valve cover, and

2) Should there really be crush washers under each of the nuts?! Don't think i have any and i seem to have read a post mentioning crush washers in that spot... if so, where to get 'em.

THx,

__________________
1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K