'98 E320 W210/M112 What's leaking? (pic) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

benzthere · #1 10-17-2005, 11:49 PM

I've got a small oil leak on my '98 E320. The drip forms on the lower bolt on the compressor. I traced it back to the part circled in red on the attached circle. It's between the crankshaft and power steering. Can anyone tell me what it is? I assumed it was just a pulley, but then why would there be a oil leak?

CLK320MIA · #2 10-18-2005, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benzthere

I've got a small oil leak on my '98 E320. The drip forms on the lower bolt on the compressor. I traced it back to the part circled in red on the attached circle. It's between the crankshaft and power steering. Can anyone tell me what it is? I assumed it was just a pulley, but then why would there be a oil leak?

That is your tensioner (sp?) pulley. That's not the source of your leak. Check your valve covers and oil filler cap and neck. Those all went south on my 98 CLK 320 M112.

benzthere · #3 10-18-2005, 02:37 PM

The valve covers look clean, and the oil filler cap & neck looked good on first inspection (I'll check again since you mentioned it).

An oily buildup is around the bolts for what I think is a pully. Assuming it is a pully, then you're right, I need to look elsewhere.

CLK320MIA · #4 10-18-2005, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benzthere

The valve covers look clean, and the oil filler cap & neck looked good on first inspection (I'll check again since you mentioned it).

An oily buildup is around the bolts for what I think is a pully. Assuming it is a pully, then you're right, I need to look elsewhere.

Also, it could be power steering fluid. The resevoir is located above the area you mentioned.....

benzthere · #5 10-18-2005, 09:32 PM

Thanks for the suggestions, keep 'em coming. The power steer pump looks clean too. I'll look around the oil filter assy. again, but it looks good from the top. This one's frustrating.

Johnhef · #6 10-19-2005, 08:12 PM

There is a small cover plate with a plug in it held on by two torx bolts with a rubber gasket behind it, chances are its leaking. Clean the front of the engine, spray the area with tracing powder and run the engine untill the leak develops again.

benzthere · #7 10-19-2005, 09:54 PM

Johnhef,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, that sounds like it. I'll clean it up this weekend to confirm, but then again, what is it??

benzthere · #8 11-07-2005, 09:26 PM

Update: The oil leak is coming from somewhere below the oil filter housing and above the pulley. That's as much as I can tell without tearing things apart.

Johnhef - Could this be the small cover plate & plug you describe? Can you tell me what it's for?

Cocca · #9 11-08-2005, 12:17 AM

do you change your own oil? when the filter's pulled out it may drip onto that tensioner (pulley). In the alternative, the oil filter housing may be leaking or the filter is loose/the rubber gasket leaks/there is more than 1 gasket on there and it's leaking (a stuck gasket from a previous filter).

Finally, behind the tensioner is a cover that may leak also.

the d.j. thing to the right here is a total non sequitur, but it's interesting

benzthere · #10 11-13-2005, 11:04 PM

Johnhef, I think you're right. I went to my local MB parts dept. and picked up a replacement gasket (112-184-02-80) for this mysterious cover plate. The parts guy couldn't tell me what it was for either.

Any advice on how to replace this? Do I have to drain the oil first? Do I just remove the two torx bolts and replace the gasket?

Once again, thanks for the help.

larry16v · #11 11-14-2005, 12:13 AM

I would drain the oil first just to be safe.

benzthere · #12 11-22-2006, 10:10 PM

I just referred someone to this link and realized I never updated it.

You don't need to drain the oil, just unscrew the two torx bolts to take it off and replace the gasket. The dealership gave me the wrong gasket the 1st time. Here's the part # that fit my engine - 112-184-01-61.

This link shows the torque specs from Dr. Diesel
M112/E320 Need torque spec for oil pressure test cover

Johnhef · #13 11-22-2006, 10:31 PM

sorry i didnt reply earlier, dunno on the purpose of the plate but there are 2 different seals depending which engine you have. also a crush washer in the plug in the plate that should be replaced too. dont need to drain the oil either.