Just guessing, but it doesn't seem like the air filter in my 84 300D should be soaked with oil...I took off the cover on the air filter thingy-ma-bob, and found the entire inside of that casing soaked in oil...and the filter equally drenched.

So, what does this mean? Where is the oil coming from? I'm still working on the seemingly never ending job of figuring out why my engine compartment looks like an oil tanker ran aground in there...

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1984 300D: 275,000 miles (soon to be for sale)

In search of my 1987 300D in anything but white.

You have a leak somewhere so go hunting

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1986 300SDL, 211K,Dealership serviced its whole life
1991 190E 2.6(120k)
1983 300D(300k)
1977 300D(211k)

You've either got very bad blowby or an issue with your oil separator.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

From what I can understand from this forum and other places, blowby seems to be somewhat normal...although most sources I'm reading say "excessive" blowby can cause oil to show up in the air filter. I'll hope that's not the case.

Help me out with the oil separator...what is it, what does it do (separate oil?), where is it, etc.

Thanks.

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1984 300D: 275,000 miles (soon to be for sale)

In search of my 1987 300D in anything but white.

It's inside the air filter assembly. The vent hose from the valve cover goes to it. The fact that you ask for it's location makes me wonder whether it's missing which would explain the oil on the filter.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I should always remember to search the site through Google, rather than the search function on the top of this site. I found a few good threads on this (and other) area, causing oil to spill everywhere. In the morning, I'll pull the vent hose and see what I see in there.

This is the best part of owning this car...looking at parts that I have no idea about. It's hilarious! No worries, I'll see something in there...

Thanks Kerry.

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1984 300D: 275,000 miles (soon to be for sale)

In search of my 1987 300D in anything but white.

When you open the air filter housing, you will see the oil separator has a top held down with two metal tabs. Remove the housing and clean aroung the top of the oil separator with brake cleaner then seal around it with RTV. Once the RTV has set, reinstall the air filter housing and I believe you will be pleasantly surprised at the difference.

Another couple of things to note: Replace broken air cleaner mounts and new o-rings on the bottom of the separator where it attaches to the drain.

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

Some oil in there is normal, but not soaked....all of ours have at least a little oil on the filter....

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Will do - thanks. Heading off to get all my parts for my big weekend replacing all my cooling system stuff...I'll be sure to get some RTV and some various o-rings. Shoot - I'm about to drop a ton of coin...sad, but also something a little satisfying about it too...

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1984 300D: 275,000 miles (soon to be for sale)

In search of my 1987 300D in anything but white.

Ahh...good ol' Michigan support. Thanks for pointing out that my car isn't THAT much inferior to all yours. Remember, I'm still a rookie...give me a few decades and a couple more cars to figure out where oil separator is.

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1984 300D: 275,000 miles (soon to be for sale)

In search of my 1987 300D in anything but white.