I have oil dripping from 2 or 3 of the lower bolts of the exhaust manifold of my 81 380sl, and as far as I can tell, it isn't coming from the valve covers.

Can anyone tell me what else could be causing this, given that my car 1) doesn't seem to be burning oil, 2) only has app. 20k since the valves and head gasket were redone 3 years ago, and 3) has an extraordinary amount of power for a 380sl.

Thanks in advance for the help.

dripping from timing cover and rolling back on the block and on the bolts? check valve gasket again?

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1990 190E 3.0L

Here's a story about a very different engine...

but I guess some tips are transferable in there...


OM617 manifold oil = broken valve guide

I hope it doesn't turn out to be a broken valve guide.

I hope this gives you food for thought and not that horrible sinking feeling of oh %^*&^& in your gut - good luck

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Will do.

Well, it did for a second, even though that thread was about oil in the intake manifold, and my problem is oil on 1 or 2 the exhaust manifold bolts. Also, I doubt if it's a guide because they were replaced fairly recently and, if I'm not mistaken, that would cause clattering, whereas the engine is very quiet.

So I was thinking that maybe it could be a stem seal on 1 or 2 exhaust valves? However, I'm still hoping that maybe it is leaking from the valve cover, even though I put silicon on the covers to keep them from leaking.

Yeah right as if I'd have noticed that on an OM617!

Good luck and take some pictures if you find something interesting

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!