UPDATE! It was the very short coolant hose that runs from the thermostat housing to the head that was leaking. Put in a new clamp and it has stopped leaking! Glad it was nothing serious! Thanks!

FINALLY a problem to report on my 88' 300SEL after it being a boringly trouble free car.

I have read about this and have seen several threads about the front timing cover being an issue on these cars. I was under my car the other day (after not driving it for 2 weeks, as I was out of town) and noticed coolant drips on the lower front of the oil pan. Concerned, I wiped under there and its a oil/coolant mix. Its green, but it feels more like oil once on the finger. Does this sound like its the timing chain cover or the headgasket? There is NO coolant in the oil, nor oil in the coolant and it never overheats. Its so small of a leak that the oil level is almost always full, even after 4000 miles and the coolant level has stayed the same over several months. I did have to add coolant back in the winter, but when temperatures warmed in the spring and summer, it never went down again.

Here are some photos I snapped about 2 weeks ago... still like this.

If it is the front timing chain cover, is this a difficult repair and how much would a typical shop charge on average to replace this seal? I dont know... maybe its time to get another car.





thanks for any advice!