ID part please... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

85 DSEL · #1 12-09-2006, 08:51 PM

The tube that runs from underneath the air cleaner and "snakes" its way down to the top of the oil pan(?)?

Poking around today under the hood I removed the air cleaner to see if I could see where the oil was coming from that makes passenger side front suspension parts wet from some kind of oil leak. Seems the 'mystery tube' fits very loose at the oil pan and is pretty wet all around that area. Is it possible/probable that that's where the oil is coming from? Thanks for insight...

(Now I have to share the computer with the wife

but I'll be back!) See ya!

#2 12-09-2006, 09:01 PM

That is the oil drain tube for the crankcase breather/oil separator inside the air filter housing. There is a rubber gasket and check valve at the base of the tube.

Whiskeydan · #3 12-09-2006, 09:50 PM

Check your three air cleaner mounts and the bracket for cracks. I've seen the oil supply line thats under it rubbed thru from running with a broken mount.

Samuel M. Ross · #4 12-10-2006, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

That is the oil drain tube for the crankcase breather/oil separator inside the air filter housing. There is a rubber gasket and check valve at the base of the tube.

... I agree as I think about how our 1980 300D [non-turbo] has such a separator inside the air breather and there are several places where this system might leak oil on the passenger side of the engine...
but then I note that this is a Turbo model and I do believe the oil from the turbo returns to the front oil pan in this same manner.

Q - Does it also have and/or combine both an oil drain for a separator and the turbo so they drain down in the same "pipe" or "tube" ?

There is a rubber grommet at the bottom of the pipes/tubes I'm familiar with and a gasket at the top of the pipe/tube where it bolts to the turbo.

Sorry IF this ONLY muddy(ies) the question,

85 DSEL · #5 12-10-2006, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samuel M. Ross

Q - Does it also have and/or combine both an oil drain for a separator and the turbo so they drain down in the same "pipe" or "tube" ?

I'm back..finally!

It appears there is only the one pipe coming out of the bottom of the breather that snakes its way to the oil pan. Looks like the turbo drain enters the pan right beside th tube in question.

This tube doesn't have anything to do with the EGR or does it?

hey_allen · #6 12-10-2006, 02:29 PM

On my 300SD, there are two tubes, one from the turbo which is a two part setup, and the long multiple bend one from the air seperator.

I finally decided on mine that I was more annoyed with it dumping oil out at the top of the oil seperator tube (spraying it all over the hot side of the turbo) than I was about a little leaking from the bottom side. That being said, I'm still trying to figure out how my oil return tube ended up looking about 1/2 inch too short for the space it's in!

85 DSEL · #7 12-10-2006, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hey_allen

I'm still trying to figure out how my oil return tube ended up looking about 1/2 inch too short for the space it's in!

Turbo heat made it shrink!

Samuel M. Ross · #8 12-10-2006, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 85 DSEL

I'm back..finally!

It appears there is only the one pipe coming out of the bottom of the breather that snakes its way to the oil pan. Looks like the turbo drain enters the pan right beside th tube in question.
This tube doesn't have anything to do with the EGR or does it?

NO - the EGR only ports exhaust gases into the intake manifold... no oil directly involved.
... these two:
(1) the bracket on the air breather that shook loose first and this allowed the shaking to wear out other things too. Look at:
http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=1WH11JXAQ1YQ14I2JI&year=1985&make=MB&model=300-DT-001&category=All&part=Air+Cleaner+Bracket
and
(2) there should also be some kind of seal on the air/oil separator drain tube where it enters the front oil pan. Here is a link for the grommet seal that is at the bottom of the turbo oil drain tube which you should also check and if you remove the oil pan to get at these seals, you should replace both of these rubber seals... and the pan gasket of course.http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=1WH11JXAQ1YQ14I2JI&year=1985&make=MB&model=300-DT-001&category=All&part=Turbo+Drain+Grommet

There could be two seals (upper & lower) on each one of these oil drain tubes... and all 4 of these could be candidates for replacement. Before you start ripping into this project, be sure to I.D. all of these and I would go ahead and get these parts for they should be relatively cheap. Otherwise you could find your car disabled for lack of a small piece of rubber/neoprene!
Regards,

85 DSEL · #9 12-10-2006, 07:29 PM

The breather support bracket seems to be in good condition, actually looks fairly new. (PO must have had it replaced fairly recently.) Still, it could have been cracked or broken for a while before it was replaced and did the damage to the drain tube.

Thanks for all your help! You're simply the best...