Small oil leak

I'm a new kid on the block. Just bought a beautiful 1983 300D for a great price and love it. Noticed it has a small oil leak---a few drops per day. But I'm paranoid about oil leaks. Lost an engine years ago when I went quite a distance when I had a leak and I blew the engine. If the solution turns out to be expensive, is it okay to try one of the "stop leak" fluids on the market. Forgive me if this is a great Mercedes taboo. I just don't want to spend several hundred dollars at the moment when the leak is so small.

Also, any overall advice about the car from all you wise MB veterans is welcome.
Thanks...Steve

[Capt Kirk]

Park the car over a clean patch of concrete and in the morning line up the oil spot to the component that is leaking.

Also, clean off the engine thoughly with engine cleaner, it will help in tracking the oil leaks down.

[Aaron]

Steve,

Don't use any "stop leak" products. As Kirk said, wash the engine down with some Engine Brite so you can pinpoint the leak spot. One thing to be cautious of is that if your oil cooler lines are leaking badly, those should be replaced without further delay. Those can eventually blow while at speed and dump all of your oil on the road!

I would have to agree with the others, and clean your engine and try and find where the leak is coming from. Depending on the location of the leak, and how sever it is can determine if it is worth fixing. If it is the oil cooler lines, or the oil filter housing gasket that are leaking, then it would be worth the time and money to fix them. I replaced my oil filter housing gasket last month, and it is nice to not have a major oil leak anymore. I still have a few minor leaks, and I don't even think they leave a spot on the ground.