HELP! Oil all over engine compartment! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rjk · #1 01-01-2004, 10:02 PM

I have an '88 300TE and am 500 mi. from home. Here is the scenario. After a high speed run, the low oil level light came on but pressure was still up at 3 bar. I filled up w/gas and checked the oil level which was low so I added a quart. After tha car sat about 30 minutes we got back on the highway and the level light was out but lots of smoke was billowing out from under the car, after a few minutes, the smoke disappeared so we kept on truckin'. A short time later, the low oil level light came back on again but since the pressure was good, I watched it closely and kept running about 85 mph (approx. 3800 rpm). An hour later, we pulled over at a rest stop and I idled for about 15 minutes waiting for everyone to "rest". Just before we were ready to pull out large amounts of smoke started coming out from under the hood (same color as before). I popped the hood but could see no discernable leak. However, the exhaust manifold was covered with oil (hence the smoke) and the passenger side of the engine compartment and the top of the engine was also covered enough that there was a puddle under the car. The puddle was warm but not hot, the engine oil level is acceptable, oil pressure idles at 1 bar and maintains 3 bar at speed. I'm thinking hydraulic oil from the leveling system but where is it coming from? Anyone out there with similar problems? Ideas? Thanks in advance...