oil everywhere
 

I drive 20 minutes to school everyday in my 84 300D. When I got home I noticed oil dripping. So I look closer there is oil all over the engine compartment and slung underneath. I check the oil and the dipstick is dry.
Like I said there is oil everywhere it is hard to tell where it is coming from.
I searched the forums and found this cases to be similar to mine
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=285347&highlight=oil+engine+compartment

I talked to my mechanic and he thought the oil cap came off and to add more oil. I checked the oil cap and it was tightly closed.

Where should I check for the leak? What should I do?

Answer
 

Engine oil cooler and hose/line issue, link thread
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=1738108

OM617 head gasket failure - pictures
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=2557247






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When did you check the dip stick last? Oil cooler lines are the first thing I would check.

A couple of weeks ago the oil level was fine. I just added 2 quarts of oil and it brought it up to the dipstick but below the low notch. So I am hoping that no engine damage has resulted from the 2-3 qts. of oil loss. I am going to run it in the morning and try to find the leak.
I saw where one hose had been cut into a little but it did not appear to be cut to the point of leakage.

If all you lost was 2-3 quarts... You are fine.

You say that you saw one hose was cut into!!:eek: If that is an "Oil Cooler" line, DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR!! If an oil cooler line goes, you will have a catastrophic failure that is irreversible.

I would not drive the car until you can actually identify the leak and have some kind of idea of the "loss". You should be checking the oil before you start the car every day if it is "that bad".

any abraision to the oil cooler lines, = replace the lines, and replace the motor mounts that allowed the power steering belt to contact it.

Related to the Oil Cooler and Hoses is the Thermostat inside of the Oil Filter Housing. The Thermost will not begin to open until the Oil temp is up some.

This means that when you first start the Engine and the Oil is cold there will not be as much of an Oil leak.
When the Thermostat opens the leak is going to get bigger as more pressure an Oil volume go through the Oil Cooler and Hoses.

Also your Oil Pressure Gauge is deceiving; you have more pressure after the 3bar than the Gauge shows.
When I hooked a test Gauge to check the Oil Pressure my cold idle pressure was around 87psi. When I revved the Engine it went up to 97 psi.

Found the leak
 

So the place where the power steering belt had worn the hose was the source of the leak. I cranked it up and it shot out a steady stream of oil.
I am glad I made it home before I lost all of the oil.
So I guess I will now have it towed to the mechanics and let him replace both oil cooler hoses and engine mounts.

Yep. And hope for the best. You may have really lucked out.....

You have about $180 in hoses and eng mounts, ordering them here on AllPartsExpress. It is a DIY job. Depends on how much time you have available and how soon the car needs to be up and running.

Be nice for the mechanic if it was clean to work on. guess that is why they get the Big Bucks for working on them. ;).

Charlie

As previously stated your Engine Mount is squashed allowing the Belt to cut through.