My 1987 280GE (5 speed manual) has developed an oil drip from the drain hole in the bellhousing. Parked on an upward slope yesterday for 3 hours enough oil dripped out to make a stain on the ground about 12" in diameter.

Presumably the rear main oil seal is failing. I don't have a manual for the car and I wonder if anyone knows how much of a job it is to replace the seal? Do I lift out the engine or drop the gearbox? In fact do I do anything at all yet or wait for the clutch to fail?

Any experience anyone??

Chris

It does sound like the rear seal. I would not wait for the clutch to fail, why make this more expensive? You will have to remove the transmission, bellhousing and oil pan I suspect. I am not familiar with this engine in particular but, it sounds like you have a leak large enough that it needs to be addressed. There are a couple of more technical forums for the G-wagen that would be of great help. They compete with this forum so mail me off the board and I will be happy to direct you. brenth@wcta.net

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1995 G320
1984 280GE
1971 Unimog 416

I do believe that you have to drop the crank to get the rear seal in, not nice!

I think I would be happier if it were the tranny leaking. Of course the tranny would be leaking nice red ATF. It is engine oil, right?

Have you screwed out the drain at the bottom of the bellhousing to see how much more comes out?

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Greg
'73 416 UNIMOG DoKa
'85 300GD G Wagen

Drop the crank? Oh good!! The oil only seems to drip out when I park on an upward slope so I'm ignoring it for the moment. Perhaps it's not so bad. If I don't think about it perhaps it'll go away?! I've spent 1400GBP in the last month on new rad (punctured by ice while crossing a lake), new custom made stainless 'straight-through' exhaust (original centre box destroyed rock-crawling)(now sounds like V8!), new rear springs (both broken, don't know when, only noticed when fitting new exhaust) so I need a breathing space before ripping out engine / box!