ok, i've done the stop box successfully, I'm on to the oil pan gasket. As dangerous as the stop box was, the oil pan gasket looks a bit more ominous, as the two trans bell housing bolts have to come out and it looks like not enough room to remove the pan comletely without taking off some linkage or a cross member (I haven't looked again exactly since last week). In addition, the two tough bolts look very difficult to get to flush, as the cross beam there seems to block enough to make it hard. Finally, it looks like I would have to clean and seal (approved sealant came with gasket and oil filter i ordered) with about 10cm of clearance only, all just dropped a bit from it's place. Maybe I should go ahead and remove it all, to clean it correctly and place the new gasket. Any charitable thoughts?

wow, a 5 hour minimum (listed in manual) job...lift the engine to get the pan off...maybe next weekend...

I cannot imagine the upper pan to block interface leaking, it does not move and there is no gasket, just black RTV sealant.

The "lower pan" (really side pan) gasket isn't a big deal, although hard to reach.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Have you attempted to eliminate all other leaks? Pan gasket would be the LAST place I'd go.

My IP leaked, oil level sender, valve cover, front main, etc. Basically every place it could leak... it did.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

If it's leaking in the left front, check the vacuum pump gasket. If it's leaking in thr right front, check the belt tensioner bolt into the timing chain cover and the cylinder head gasket near the #1 exhaust runner.

Sixto
87 300D