this maybe a long shot, but it happened to me on my Jeep GC.

are you sure you took out the old rubber gasket from your last oil filter?

what happened to me is i left the old rubber gasket and place the new filter on top of it. oil all over.

__________________
joel

Prayers bring forth enlightenment.

I would suggest to monitor also the oil level? Is it really motor oil?

Have a look to the steering damper, it may leak.

May be you did it already, have you removed the bottom protector to try to see from bottom where the oil is dropping from.

Good luck

__________________
Keep us posted especially if your problem is solved
Present cars:
My car: E-class 420CDI, 2008, W211, V8, 180 000km

Wife's one: C-class 220CDI Sport Coupé, Euro, 2002, W203. 345 000km

Son's one: GLK class 220CDI, 2009, W204

Sold E class 260E, W124, 1988 beloved car sold after 489 000 kilometres of reliable services (engine M103, clutch and 5 speed manual gear box all original).

E-class, W210 320CDI, 2000[/B], 225 000km, Sold

I did check the steering and it is dry and all buttoned up. At first I thought that was the problem but luckily it is not. When under the car, I traced the stream of oil and it was apparently coming from the area of the oil filter. Changed the filter properly, changed the oil pressure sending unit properly, and it still leaks just as much as before. I am going to order a new oil filter stand gasket and replace it. There is old oil in places coming from the timing cover, but nothing fresh. It looks like someone dealt with that in the past, because there is gasket sealant on both sides of the cover. Question: Can the oil filter stand be removed without removing other assemblies?
Thanks for the ongoing support!
Chris

just a recommendation.

If I were you I would try to clean every single zone where there is oil, and then try to identify more precisely where oil is coming out before bying any further part.

If you remove the oil filter have a look to the contact surface on the engine crankcase where the gasket is applied in case that surface has been damaged.

__________________
Keep us posted especially if your problem is solved
Present cars:
My car: E-class 420CDI, 2008, W211, V8, 180 000km

Wife's one: C-class 220CDI Sport Coupé, Euro, 2002, W203. 345 000km

Son's one: GLK class 220CDI, 2009, W204

Sold E class 260E, W124, 1988 beloved car sold after 489 000 kilometres of reliable services (engine M103, clutch and 5 speed manual gear box all original).

E-class, W210 320CDI, 2000[/B], 225 000km, Sold

OK let's use our noggins here. M103 engine with oil leak on left rear. Oil cap replaced and dry. Valve cover gasket replaced and dry. Timing cover inspected and dry. Head gasket inspected and dry. Oil filter replaced properly. Oil sending unit replaced properly. As with any oil leak, area was cleaned (with Brakleen) and wiped down. Cannot determine source of leek because I cannot see behind the starter motor or under the intake manifold.
I asked the question earlier in this thread: Does anyone know where I can get the dye additive for the oil to determine the leak source?????
Also asked: Does anyone know the procedure for disassembling the oil filter stand from the engine???????
I appreciate all of the suggestions, but I feel we are covering the same ground. Where else COULD it be leaking from? I just want to be able to go show off my car without leaving a streak mark behind!
Thanks,
Chris

Did you ever find the source of the leak, was it the filter housing? I have a leak coming from the same area and think this may be my problem as well.

Have not found the source yet, but have a new oil filter stand gasket and a full day to work on the car tomorrow. I'm going to really inspect it again before taking anything off the block.

__________________
1992 400E current
1988 300E sold
1973 280C totalled
1973 280SEL never got it running
1971 250C my first love but rusted out

Hi cmcdonnell,

Just another suggestion: may be your new filter has not been correctly screwed on the housing? then gasket is not pushing correctly on the contact surface.

good luck

__________________
Keep us posted especially if your problem is solved
Present cars:
My car: E-class 420CDI, 2008, W211, V8, 180 000km

Wife's one: C-class 220CDI Sport Coupé, Euro, 2002, W203. 345 000km

Son's one: GLK class 220CDI, 2009, W204

Sold E class 260E, W124, 1988 beloved car sold after 489 000 kilometres of reliable services (engine M103, clutch and 5 speed manual gear box all original).

E-class, W210 320CDI, 2000[/B], 225 000km, Sold

I looked again and now it is coming from the oil level sensor seal in a large amount. The lower timing cover is leaking a bit too. And there is still oil coming from the oil filter stand area. I wish I knew if anyone knows about removing the oil filter stand-do I have to remove the intake?

__________________
1992 400E current
1988 300E sold
1973 280C totalled
1973 280SEL never got it running
1971 250C my first love but rusted out

here ends my knowledge because fortunately I never had to face such a problem.

Can't say if it is mandatory to remove the intake, at least removing the air filter housing should help.

__________________
Keep us posted especially if your problem is solved
Present cars:
My car: E-class 420CDI, 2008, W211, V8, 180 000km

Wife's one: C-class 220CDI Sport Coupé, Euro, 2002, W203. 345 000km

Son's one: GLK class 220CDI, 2009, W204

Sold E class 260E, W124, 1988 beloved car sold after 489 000 kilometres of reliable services (engine M103, clutch and 5 speed manual gear box all original).

E-class, W210 320CDI, 2000[/B], 225 000km, Sold

OK this car is playing tricks on me! I think I have figured this out now (again). I definitely know that I had a leak near the oil filter stand. Replaced the filter and the oil pressure sender, topped off the oil and went for a drive. Came back and after a couple of hours the oil was on the driveway again, so I replaced the oil filter again, topped off the oil and same problem. Today after looking at the oil pan I could see that the oil level sender was leaking a cosiderable amount of oil and blowing back and dripping off of the drag link, creating the same puddle as the oil filter drip. There is not much oil around the oil filter stand today so maybe this will fix it! I did not realize that topping off the oil would make the oil level sender leak worse. The car is holding a steady reading of 1/2 low on the dipstick.

__________________
1992 400E current
1988 300E sold
1973 280C totalled
1973 280SEL never got it running
1971 250C my first love but rusted out

Good work.

So, is it time to replace the oil level sensor and gasket now that you have isolated the problem?

You are lucky. That is an easy fix.

__________________
2012 E350
2006 Callaway SC560

I think I will just reseal the thing and move on to the ACC/cooling system issues.

__________________
1992 400E current
1988 300E sold
1973 280C totalled
1973 280SEL never got it running
1971 250C my first love but rusted out

You mentioned also having a "lower" timing cover leak. I just wanted to let you know that it is very common for the upper timing cover to leak along it's bottom "horseshoe" seal. Be sure to check that out carefully.

I had a similar leak on my M103 and fortunately resealing the cover fixed it - going on four years now. I think the key to success with the seal job is to get everything super clean and dry before applying sealant.

The lower timing cover seal would be a PITA to change because it involves removing the crankshaft balancer.

It's really hard to tell exactly where it is coming from. Looks like it is seeping from the upper and lower timing covers. I suspect that this car sat for a long time before I bought it, because of the low 89K miles and the really Florida-baked interior and neglected paint. So really it could all be leaking a little bit. I replaced the oil level sender seal and it has helped alot. But when I replaced the distributor cap I could see that there was a small bit of oil coming from the seal behind the rotor bracket/stand. Also it looks like the PO had the same upper timing cover issues, as there is what appears to be RTV all around the cover where it meets the head. Sort of resembles a bathtub caulk job, very sloppy. The oil drain plug is stripped bare, so I changed the oil with a turkey baster and a piece of hose through the oil level sender hole. Slow, but effective. I may need a new oil pan if I can't get the plug loose, so I am waiting for that before proceeding. With a 20 year old MB there is no lack of things to do.

__________________
1992 400E current
1988 300E sold
1973 280C totalled
1973 280SEL never got it running
1971 250C my first love but rusted out