I finally got around to replacing the turbo drain, was hesitant about doing the job as I read many posts here about how difficult it was. Finally did it tonight and had some difficulty but all in all it wasnt that bad.

Had a somewhat difficult time trying to figure out how to remove the upper drain. With much prying and twisting it finally came out. Next was the lower half. Tried as I could it woudnt budge. So I strapped a small hose clamp on the upper end and put a bottle jack underneath and jacked up to the clamp and held it together with one hand while pumping the jack with the other, and it popped out with no effort at all.

Actually I think the hardest part was removing the old gasket on the upper drain to the turbo as it was hard and caked on. Took a lot of scraping, as it was just darn hard to get to. Put it all together and fired it up and took a test drive to get things heated up and all is well...no leaks!!!!

Seems that the o-ring on the bottom of the tube does most of the sealing of the oil and the large seal on the bottom is more of a secondary seal. My original o-ring was hard and dry...guess thats why it was a leaker.

You can get the upper hose on with the turbo in place?!? I messed with that thing for hours...then finally loosened up the turbo so I could get the darn thing in place.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

I usually remove the turbo with the upper drain still attached.

Me too...then I forget to align it when I put it back together.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

To install the upper gasket. First install the gasket on the upper tube, not the turbo. Use Permatex High Tack. It sticks the gasket to the upper tube and will hold it while you get the tube in position and the 2 mounting bolts threaded. Then use a long extension with a spring loaded universal to tighten the bolts. I did the job from below the car.
This worked both times that I did it on the 82 300TD.

Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

After all the fuss it still leaks. I did the drain tube for the air cleaner after, thinking it was leaking also but the turbo drain still leaks. Dont know what else to do. Did I install the gaskets incorrectly? Is there a correct and incorrect way of installing the gaskets?

where is it leaking from? Top, middle, bottom? Mine doesnt leak but I will be changing the manifold gasket soon. One reason why Ive been procrastinating. I dont want to disturb that drain pipe.

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'85 300D Cal 280,000 miles
'14 GLK 350 60000 miles

Leaking at the bottom seal a lot.