On my 300SDL, I can see oil at the oil level sender. Then I also noticed oil collecting at the bottom of the pan. BUT I couldn't see any path of oil from the sender to the bottom of the pan. So I wiped off everything really well, drove about 25 miles, again see oil at pan bottom. But, the perimeter of the pan seems clean. It seems like it has to be coming from the sender, but I'm confused as to why I can't trace the oil.

Can a path of leaking oil be so slight as to be hard to detect? Any other thoughts? I'm assuming there's no realistic possibility of oil weeping THROUGH a 26 year old pan.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 178k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 75k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Never assume.

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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 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Seriously....have pans been known to weep oil?

__________________
14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 178k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 75k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Fix what you see. If the sender is leaking, fix the leak. If the pan gasket is leaking, change the gasket. If the pan drain plug is leaking, replace the drain plug washers. Move on to the next leak.

When was the last time you changed trans filter? Do that while you have the car up.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

If you are driving on the highway the air movement can push away the oil, or splash it somewhere else, or if at lower speeds, engine blowby may be lower resulting in less of a leak rate. Use solvent with a brush to clean the mating surfaces of the parts in question and then use q-tips for checking for leaks. If you just changed hte oil it will be harder to see sepage due to the clear oil.

This year model Ive heard of the injector pump being at fault alot of times for hard to find oil leaks,various gaskets to look for when examining.

I have seen oil leaking from the center of the oil level sensor, where the connector is plugged in. Clean the center really well and plug a piece of kitchen towel inside the hole. It will tell you for sure.

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Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

In such a case, have you found the the sender needs to be replaced or just the o-rings?

__________________
14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 178k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 75k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

It is NOT the O-ring. It is plastic part in the middle aged and develops a crack. You can replace the whole sensor or you can clean it well and use rtv to fill the void completely.

__________________
Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

I've never heard of an oil pan weeping but I suppose a hairline fracture is possible. Might oil be leaking from the side sump gasket? Clean and dry the junction then set a strip of masking tape to alert you to seepage.

Sixto
87 300D

Yes. Aluminum is porous when cast, and it can weep oil.I've seen it before

__________________
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 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I say the leak is from the oil sender too, I put up with oil collecting under my pan for years. Once I replaced the oil sender, no more wet oil pan.

The two seals are only ~$2.50 for both, replace them...if still leaks, replace the sender too. BC either way, if you replace the sender...you'll need to replace the two seals anyway. But I would replace the sender too & be done with it, it's only $45.

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85' 190E w/collector plates

Confirmed: definitely coming the the center of the oil sender

__________________
14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 178k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 75k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife