So my better half got home from her trip to Ohio today in the 300SD. It appeared to be leaking a significant ammount of oil today. I popped the hood and here's the nice suprise I got.



So I hunted around but couldn't find anything disconnected or blown, I started the car and revved it in neutral and park with no ill effects. I should add that I confirmed it had oil pressure and no "gushers" before I revved the engine. The oil level seems ok, but I wasn't on a perfectly level surface so it could be user error.

Is anyone else thinking oil cooler lines? I'm betting that might be the problem. Thankfully I have new motor mounts, oil cooler lines, 8 quarts of Rotella, an oil filter (+ O rings), and the time to do that job tomorrow. Let me know what you eagle eyed diesel-heads think from the pictures.

everything looks tilted, I bet you REALLY need motor mounts.
check your power steering belt, is it contacting the upper oil cooler line?

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

The belt isn't rubbing the oil cooler line, I squeezed both lines pretty well and nothing came out, but they didn't feel like they had pressure, and I'm not sure if they would while the car is off. The motor mounts look like their rubber is still intact but I'm going to be replacing them anyway since I'll be doing the oil cooler lines.

looks almost like its coming from your power steering pump... sure it oil and not p\s fluid?

wait...
you can squeeze your cooler lines?
mine are nearly solid feeling. like Hydrolic lines...
no WAY I could squeeze them!

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I've had similar messes from failed powersteering shaft seals.
hows the PS fluid level?

__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Could be a leaky oil cooler line that wasn't leaking when you looked due to the fact that the oil thermostat was not open to pressurize it.

__________________
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

If you really wanted to be sure, add some oil dye to it and recheck after running. Just a thought.

__________________
Thanks,
Mark in NC

"Spark plugs?...We don't need no stinking spark plugs!"
1985 300SD "Der Silberne Schlitten" 420,000 mi


Wish these were diesel:
2003 Ford Club Wagon 130,000 mi

With that much of a spill it should be easy to find which fluid reservoir is low. PS fluid and fuel have cleansing properties so I'd expect a 'cleaner' mess than that. That has to be engine oil unless the inner fender is normally black.

Sixto
87 300D

I see someone is trying to outdo me.

When I got my replacement oil cooler lines I could squeeze them. They're still a bit smooshy, but after this winter I doubt they'll be able to do that.

My old ones were hard as a rock. I used a handsaw to chop through them when I was replacing them.

__________________
-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

My P/S pump has been leaking from the input shaft seal for about 2 years. As a result, it coats just about everything with a film of P/S fluid, and that means no rust! My car is practically rust proof at this point, and it continuously replenishes the rust proofing. I just add 1/10th of a quart to the P/S reservoir every 1000 miles or so. Small price to pay for rust proofing.

If the lines can be squeezed, I'd be looking into replacing them ASAP.

__________________
-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)

if you look @ it, it seems that the oil is being drawn up from the center of the engine and being deposited via belts. From the way it puddles and splashed around... just my .02.

I have the same issue with a front crankcase seal, the belt brings oil up from down there, but not nearly as much as is shown. Good luck

__________________
'81 300SD- OM617.951, Euro Head Lights, Hella 550's, 2.5" Turbo-Back Straight Pipe, ALDA Removed, Camo Dash + Seat Covers, Boost Gauge, DU Floor Mats, Cobra CB, LED Trunk lights, and other things...


'03 Chevy CCSB LT LB7 "P-Stroke Killer"
219K mi. - AirDog II 165, EFI Live, Alligator Stage V, ISSPRO EV2 Pyro/Boost, PPE Boost Valve, LML Manifold, MBRP Downpipe, Debadged, Bills Custom 3.5" Turbo Horn, B&W Hitch, S&B Intake

Yeah, I had a leaking P/S pump that slung fluid around, but when it soaked the belts, it caused the car to overheat after shredding and throwing the belts due to oil contamination 2 1/2 hours away from home at 9pm. Be sure to take care of that even if it is only a P/S pump. Mine was not this bad though.

__________________
Thanks,
Mark in NC

"Spark plugs?...We don't need no stinking spark plugs!"
1985 300SD "Der Silberne Schlitten" 420,000 mi


Wish these were diesel:
2003 Ford Club Wagon 130,000 mi

Oil is always flowing through the cooler to prevent an air void, albeit at a restricted rate until the oil is hot.

Power wash the whole engine to get a fresh start narrowing the leaking area.