hello all, my wife's 99 E300D left a Frisbee sized puddle on the driveway overnight. it's on the driver's side, in line with or slightly in front of the wheel. I removed the rear belly pan a year or so ago. it is all over the inside of the wheel/tire, some on the spring, and some right in the middle of the tread. it is also puddled on top the frame rail, and on the driver's side of the engine. the belt is dry.

this literally happened, or became WAY more significant over night. she drives about 30 miles one way per day, and she looked where she parked yesterday, the area is dry.

any idea where to start, or common leak sources? thanks in advance!

Where is the oil cooler located on your year and model. Check the Oil Cooler hoses.
If it is the Oil Cooler hoses, I will not drive the car till they are replaced as if one goes while driving oil starvation can ruin your engine.

Make sure your oil level is up to normal.
Other than that, there is just the generic leak finding instruction, which is to clean and degrease everything and, in your case, don't drive the vehicle but run the engine till you see or carefully feel a leak. Do that with common sense.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

it is 100% the oil cooler line. probably the return line, bc it tool about 10 seconds to start leaking from the metal part close to the washer reservoir. thanks for the help!

follow up question, where can i find a replacement? pelican doesn't seem to stock one. i have looked on a few sites, it's called an "engine oil cooler line" right? i can find the transmission oil cooler lines everywhere...

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'92 300D 2.5
'99 E300TD

Take it off and get it to a shop that builds hoses to see if they can help.

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Jim

Glad you found it.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

If you are having trouble finding a part find a parts site that will give you the Mercedes part number and search with that part number. When you search you often just need the number without the dashes between the numbers.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

With the limited research I did the engine oil cooler lines appear to be a set of steel tubing.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel