So the oil was not the crank or the trans seal... 56kBeware - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jfman · #1 10-14-2006, 01:12 AM

Regarding this thread...

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=162776

I finaly got around to taking the donor's combo apart today and.... well, the leak did not come from the trans seal or the crank seal as I suspected..

Tranny seal... Good

crank seal.. good

No leaks around it is clean as a wisle

Now look at this..

Whatever was leaking from the torque converter area was coming from above.. see how it is streaking down the block from up top. The rectangular area you see in the 3rd picture is where all the oil pooled and then leaked down on both sides of the crank. there is a notch on top of the shim plate between the tranny and block and the oild that is coming down from the top end enters that notch and fills the reactangual area...

the whole area about the tranny was pretty greasy.. hard to say where the oil was coming from.... I suspect the valve cover gasket... Could it possible that the head gasket would let oil out like this ??? Doesnt make sense to me because.. isn't it not coolant that would be leaking istead of oil if it was the head gasket ? Anyway the motor was oily all the way to the valve cover...

I spend at least 2 hours just cleaning the motor and tranny and more work is needed.

As I replace the valve cover gasket, I noticed how the intake manifold gasket sticks out abou 1/4 in and the oil leaking from that side of the valve cover would have to choise but to run thru that 'channel' to finaly leak behind the motor... right where the block was the greasiest... Does this make sense ?

I did not want to replace the crank seal because it's a major pain in the arse but I also want to get this leak sorted out before I drop the motor into my car.

#2 10-14-2006, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman

I suspect the valve cover gasket... Could it possible that the head gasket would let oil out like this ??? Doesnt make sense to me because.. isn't it not coolant that would be leaking istead of oil if it was the head gasket ? Anyway the motor was oily all the way to the valve cover...

Post a picture from up higher so we can see the head/valve cover.

Oil and coolant both pass through the head.

jfman · #3 10-14-2006, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

Post a picture from up higher so we can see the head/valve cover.

Oil and coolant both pass through the head.

Is it common for head gaskets to leak oil on these cars ?

The motor has now been cleaned...

But the rear near the head gasket was pretty greasy... even above the head gasket it was greasy as well. A lot of caked on grease almost all the up to the top of the head near the valave cover gasket.

On the intake manifold.. the edge of it... where the last runner ends.. it was a lot of caked on grease on that as well. And it was running down the side of the block too...

sixto · #4 10-14-2006, 01:32 AM

How does a clean flexplate suggest a good crank seal?

Sixto
93 300SD

jfman · #5 10-14-2006, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixto

How does a clean flexplate suggest a good crank seal?

Sixto
93 300SD

Well once the flexplate was removed, I looked that the tip of the crankshaft and it was dry.. not wet in any way and no oil near the crank seal.

I showed a pic of the flxplate cuz it's all I got.

sixto · #6 10-14-2006, 03:02 AM

I agree. I just thought I missed something.

Sixto
93 300SD

fireman1073 · #7 10-14-2006, 08:41 AM

jfman

My 617 motor leaked like that.

I thought it was the head gasket but i noticed the turbocharger oil line and after closer inspection i noticed where it went through the clamp on the back of the head it was chafed and leaking.

I bought high pressure line and heavy duty clamps.

slipped the line over the steel line and double clamped it now no more leak for over a year.

Probably better though to replace the steel line completely.

The line runs from the oil filter housing to the turbo.

Oh mine is a 83 300D by the way.

Steve

t walgamuth · #8 10-14-2006, 09:02 AM

yeah, that oil turbo line sounds promising. also the valve cover gasket. imho the head gasket would never leak in such large amounts.

that motor is soaked and coated. it is a fire hazard!

yipes!

tom w

kerry · #9 10-14-2006, 11:17 AM

I'd say the most likely culprits in descending order of probability are the valve cover, the turbo oil line and the head gasket. Put a level on the block while the engine is in the car to see if the oil has a tendency to run back in that direction. Alternatively, pour a little oil around the base of the valve cover and see if it flows in the same pattern. Get a look at a picture of the block/head to see if there is an oil gallery near that location that might be seeping by the headgasket.