1972 280SE W108 Leaking Something

[Baxterdown]

My car is leaking something. I don't know what it is but noticed it today after not driving it for a week. There are two separate puddles near each the front tires. Take a look:

Left Tire


Right Tire

[Tomguy]

Recently greased front suspension?

[Baxterdown]

Good question. I don't know. I just bought the car about a month ago. I could ask the previous owner...

[Baxterdown]

UPDATE:

I asked the prior owner and he had not greased the front suspension.

The car has now been parked for two weeks. Here are some pics I took today. The puddle is only on the driver's side. The drops on the other side must have been old from something else (my car shares the garage with another car--so it could be the other car).

I took this pic from the front end looking back. The puddle is right at the driver's side front tire level.


This pic shows the puddle from the side. The fluid is oily but clear brown.


This pic shows the wet frame where the fluid is leaking from


This pic shows two drops of fluid forming.


Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Jose

[Graham]

It's a known fact - Old Benzes leak. I have marks all over our driveway and garage floor to prove it

Sometimes the leak is not where it appears. It ends up dripping off some low point, but could start up higher somewhere. In your case, possibly PS reservoir. But it could be from oil pan too. Sometimes, the fan or just the movement of teh car blows the leak to a totally new place - just to confuse you

Best to get under there with some Gunk or at least a solvent soaked rag and wipe everything off. Then next time you park, get under there again and watch. Or at least place a large piece of cardboard under car to help locate the drip. Then put a plastic container under drip so you can collect the fluid in enough quantity to tell what it is.

I have 2 cars leaking at present - It's not that much fun chasing down leaks.

[68_280SE]

I would say either a leaky brake master cylinder or brake fluid resavoir. If not that then a leaky power steering box.

The rubber grommets that hold the brake fluid resavoir onto the master cylinder hand perished on my friends 72 280SE 4.5 and leaked brake fluid down the frame rail just like that.

John

[Idle]

First you have to identify the fluid since given its' position it could be oil, brake fluid or automatic transmission fluid.

See what runs above it that can be causing the leak. Two problems I have run into the in the past are: The dipstick has come loose. There is a bolt holding the dipstick tube to the engine on many Benzs from this era. This bolt will loosen and fluid will splash out since the tube in no longer making a good seal.

Your automatic transmission cooling lines could have had a hole rubbed in them and be leaking some fluid through pinhole.

A quick way to narrow down the leaking area is to take the car to a car wash and hose down that side of the engine and engine bay until it is as clean as you can get it. Then drive home. After the car has cooled for a bit raise the hood and look for the leak. There is a good chance you will be able to see the source since everything will be clean except for the leaking spot.

And if this does not show you where the leak is it will show you where it is not. Either way you will have narrowed down the potential trouble spots and moved closer to finding the leak.

[ejboyd5]

Here's one primer that may help: Identifying Automotive Fluid Leaks | Autobytel.com
There are many like it on the net if you choose to search.

[Baxterdown]

Guys, thanks for your replies. I went ahead and put a white casserole dish where the fluid is dripping. Since I know I won't be driving the car this week, that will give me time to collect enough fluid to take to my mechanic. Hopefully he'll be able to determine what it is.

I'll keep y'all posted.

Jose

[Tomguy]

I'd put my money on the steering box. Location is correct, fluid sounds like PS. The solution is to top off PS fluid, or deal with an expensive rebuild. The boxes require specific settings and tools very few people have the expertise to correct.

[JMela]

Give me five on crapped out ps pump return hose.

[Marrs]

I'll put my five on the brake master leaking.

[Tomguy]

My 108 leaked a LOT of fluids, but brake fluid was never one of them. It could very well be one of the PS hoses, sure; they will weep over time and with age... but I don't think anyone has a vintage MB without a leaky PS gearbox, except maybe 280SE Guy...

If it IS brake fluid, you have missing paint on stuff, or you WILL have missing paint on stuff, if you don't clean it off completely ASAP.

[Baxterdown]

I stopped by storage today and noticed that the car has leaked only a few drops since I put the dish to collect the fluid on Sunday. Considering the size of the initial puddle I'm wondering if whatever is leaking already dropped most of the fluid and there isn't much left in the reservoir to begin with.

[JMela]

If it's delicious, it may be bourbon.