OK, it has been a week since the aborted trip and the oil leak/use has subsided. I just came in to the computer from checking out the turbo. I also cleaned the bottom of the engine area with degreaser and took a short trip to see if I could locate the source of the leak. Here are my findings so far:

The only fresh oil I could find under the car after the cleaning was on the bottom of the turbo. The oil was on the bottom of the small round part on the turbo under the large housing that holds the turbo fan. The oil drips off that piece and drops down to the motor mount. It appears based upon the appearance of the motor mount that oil has been doing this for some time. However, until the road trip at highway speed it apparently did not leak enough to be noticeable. No spots on the driveway. I pulled the air intake hose off the turbo and checked the condition of the intake wheel. There was a small amount of oil (about the size of a nickel) inside the housing in front of the wheel. The wheel was not covered in oil however. The wheel did spin freely with no noticeable rough or sticky spots.

Would the presence of this amount of oil in the turbo indicate a problem with the turbo seals? I did not find any other areas under the car engine with any noticeable fresh oil. Driving the car around town for short trips and at lower speeds does not appear to triger the amount of oil loss/use that was present on the interstate highway trip.

Thanks for all the feedback. I am still not sure if the problem is the turbo or something else.

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• 2001 E320

sounds like a leaking turbo oil feed line. Check it --usually on top, banjo bolt. Could also be the return line on the bottom, line is larger and, I believe, has an o-ring on the end where it goes into the oil pan.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

both my Se and Sd tend to leak a little oil if oil level is at the full mark on the dip stick ,leaks stop if I run with oil level about 1/4 inch down from full mark on dip stick.......
William Rogers......

Well, it looks like your "stop leak" worked.... What brand was it ?