About to install new air filter. . .

[MBwD]

Hi all, I'm about to put in a new air filter, but I'm hesitant because I know that soon after it's just going to get completely soaked with oil. Is there anything that can be done to prevent this from occurring? The oil is coming from the black tube that's attached to the top of the valve cover. Is it a separator issue? The car is otherwise healthy, starts and runs fine.

Speaking of oil, I just recently noticed a leak from the cover of the oil filter housing. Oil pressure is fine, so does this just seem like an old, dried-out rubber gasket from the cover? I'm scheduled for an oil filter change as well. . .

[Pete Burton]

diesels suck up oil from the crankcase and old diesels with lots of blowby suck up lots of oil

[Pete Burton]

at some point around 1980 the 617 engine received a modification to the inside of the valve cover in the way of an internal baffle which may help. Removing the valve cover to adjust the valves would allow you to find this out, you may also be able to tell by removing the oil filler cap and using an inspection mirror.

[84300DT]

Originally Posted by MBwD

Hi all, I'm about to put in a new air filter, but I'm hesitant because I know that soon after it's just going to get completely soaked with oil. Is there anything that can be done to prevent this from occurring? The oil is coming from the black tube that's attached to the top of the valve cover. Is it a separator issue? The car is otherwise healthy, starts and runs fine.

Speaking of oil, I just recently noticed a leak from the cover of the oil filter housing. Oil pressure is fine, so does this just seem like an old, dried-out rubber gasket from the cover? I'm scheduled for an oil filter change as well. . .

a pic is worth a thousand words if you can get a shot of the air filter housing when you remove the cover, and a pic of the old filter.

oil filter housing , is the leak coming from the top or the engine side?

it would also help a lot to know your general location .. so to ascertain current ambient temp. etc.. and mileage on the car/engine

[JMan300sd]

I have the exact same problem and reservation with the air filter in my 82 300 sd.

[smileydude]

quick question about air filters. are they difficult to replace, and would they affect shifting in an automatic at all?

[SD Blue]

Originally Posted by MBwD

Hi all, I'm about to put in a new air filter, but I'm hesitant because I know that soon after it's just going to get completely soaked with oil. Is there anything that can be done to prevent this from occurring?

One thing I found on mine is the drain tube from the filter housing to the crankcase was obstructed. The PO had broken filter housing mounts for quite some time evidently. After a cleaning with some flexible wire and motor flush, while changing the oil, it cut the oiling of the air filter down considerably.

[tangofox007]

Originally Posted by smileydude

quick question about air filters. are they difficult to replace, and would they affect shifting in an automatic at all?

Changing the air filter is usually very easy. Remove the air cleaner housing cover, remove old filter element, install new filter element, then replace cover. The cover is typically secured with a nut in the center and clamps along the perimeter.

The air filter does not directly affect the automatic transmission. However, a filter that is very dirty will affect engine performance. Any thing that affects engine performance can have an affect on transmission performance.

[MBwD]

The car has just about 150k miles on it, and I'm in Florida. I wish I had a digital cam, I would have definitely taken a picture.

As far as the oil filter housing, it's leaking from the top, from underneath the cover. I'm going to open it up tomorrow when I replace the oil and filter.

I might just go ahead and replace the air filter, and disconnect the ventilation hose from the air filter housing end, putting it into some container. Then see what's going on. Only problem is that I might lose lots of oil. . . .

[billrei]

I have a 1980 300TD (wagon) and the air filter shows no signs of any oil contamination so it sounds like something is not right with your setup. Good quality oil filters always come with a new O-ring seal. Make sure there is a seal there when you pull the cover off!

[dmorrison]

Mercedes desgnesd a replacment tube from the valve cover to the airfilter. it is supposed to help. item number 4

http://www.************************/BitMapPage.aspx?bitmapid=139&bitmapname=Internal%20Engine

Second, the oil seperator allows the oil to drain to the upper oil pan. ths tube, as was posted, may be clogged.
Third, located at the upper oil pan is a one way valve that is supposed to prevent the "sucking of oil up from the oil pan". You need to check the one way valve and see if it is bad.
Fourth, Disconnect your hose going from the valve cover to the airfilter, how much blowby are you getting?

Dave

[billrei]

As you see from these pictures my engine does not have a hose #4

http://community.webshots.com/album/262019459ljhYQF?382

Same problem...decent blowby...no plugged tubes

273K miles or thereabouts.

I have the old breather tube but still...this air filter is sad looking...it was new when I got the car and other than a crapload of oil, it looks clean. Maybe I will try to seal all the "in air filter" parts except for the out tube that goes down the intake twoards the turbo. (all of thiis stuff is inside my air filter)

Hm.