300SEL Oil Leak
 

I've read a previous thread about a known fix for a persistent oil leak on an 89 300SEL, but I'm still hoping I can find a leak or two without resorting to a valve job. Is there a best way to look for a leak on this 6 cyl, or is it more likely to leak from one seal or another?

103 leak points.

headgasket
cam seal
valve cover
front upper timing cover
lower cover, bottem l/h bolt in bearing bracket. (l/h being the side as if you were sitting in the car)
front crank seal
rear crank seal
rare but, oil filter housing, oil pan
oil level sensor.



Joe

Thanks for the list, Joe. Now, let's say I'm lazy, and I want to get the right one (most likely) first. I definitely don't want to go head gasket/valves unless I have to. I've got a good amount of oil on the right front of the engine, so I might do the cam seal just for grins. After that, is there a better way to find a leak than wipe it off and look for spots?

Tim,

You're looking for the holy grail.

For argument's sake, my money's on the horseshoe gasket between the head and the timing chain cover. I think the head has to come off for that one.


BTW, if you're too lazy to wipe the engine and look for the source of the leak, you're really lazy :)

Joe,

What's a cam seal? The cam is completely inside the valve cover. How can a cam seal cause an external leak?

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

Holy Grail
 

But still not lazy enough to take it in and write the check.

... as that would be me :)

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

Tim, replace the cam seal and U-seal. The cyl. head doesn't need to be removed, just the valve cover and distributor cap/rotor. Remove the fan too, and you'll have all kinds of room to work. The corners of the U-seal need to be sealed to prevent future leaks. Sixto, the camshaft pokes thru the front cyl. head cover. It's what drives the ignition rotor, and has a miniature kinda front crank seal(radial seal to be exact). The majority of the leak though, is most likely the U-seal. Good luck

Gotcha. I've been spending so much time on the SDL that I forgot about the distributor. Thanks.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

Many thanks Jo, Sixto, and ILUVMILS! I'm optimistic now that I can stop putting as much oil as gas into this beast without having to explain to the wife why I'm living in the garage.

(I promise to clean up after the procedure)