1989 300te... There are two timing chain covers - upper and lower. One is leaking. So, how do I determine that? The pass. side of the engine is wet. Just below the juction of the upper and lower. Could be the side of the lower or the bottom of the upper. Any ways to determine?

The top cover is known to leak on most 103 engines and if you don't know how....and most people don't, it may take several trys to get it sealed properly. At the corners of the junction between the top cover, where the rubber strip ends are against the head is where the leak is. Remove the upper cover, Clean it VERY well, rough up the aluminum a little to give a sealant something to grab, clean it with brake cleaner and use a top quality sealant at that junction including on the ends of the rubber U shaped seal. Be careful not to damage the cam seal.

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Eliot, if you plan to go to the trouble of removing the upper timing chain cover to replace the rubber seal between the upper and lower timing chain covers be sure to buy the proper sealant from your local MB dealer. It's fairly expensive, but does the job. The Parts Department tech explained to me that the Service Shop techs use that sealant for many "problem" leaks regularly. It comes in a unique tube that works like a caulking gun.

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Fred Hoelzle

^^what he said
when i bought my oil pan gasket, the guy just gave me a tube for free! I think it usually runs 20 bucks or so, but well worth it.

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