Pretty sure my oil cooler hose burst (WRONG), but I wanted to make sure
 

I was driving from Columbia to St Louis, and when I started pulling out of the (gravel) driveway I heard a pop, but I was driving over ice and snow so it sounded like ice cracking. Should have checked.

Anyways, about 60 miles later I stopped to top off my tank and calculate my mpg, and figured I'd let my little sister drive to get some driving experience in the benz. But for some reason I felt like checking the oil before she drove just to make sure nothing horrible happens..... and it was dead empty. Wouldn't even read on the dip stick. I put about a quart in, and it barely started to show on the dip stick. I put the rest of the oil I had with me, about 2 more quarts. Then bought 3 more, and put 2 in and kept one just in case. It was full. Looked underneath and saw not one giant puddle of oil, but lots of little splattery places trailing along the car if that makes sense (from when I drove in).

I checked the new oil hose that I had replaced, and it had some oil splatter marks on it, but I didn't see any holes so I assumed the hole was on the bottom and it was spraying everywhere. Today I got the hose out and there is no visible rips, tears, or any form of hole. Is it possible it could not have been the oil hose?? There is oil all under the air filter area, just covering it. My current theory is I was wrong about the hole being on the bottom of the hose, and instead its a tiny pinhole that I can't see on the top of the hose, which sprayed the bottom of the air filter, and splattered it everywhere. Here is a pic of all the oil in the area that was squirted on in case someone else is smarter imgur: the simple image sharer

I drove about 10 miles after I filled it up with oil, and checked it. It was half empty. So it seems to reason that after 20 miles the car would have been empty. which would mean that I had driven for about 40 miles, with my oil being essentially empty... is that even possible?

Not showing on the dipstick isn't necessarily dry, but it's not good either.

I'd figure out your leak before you drive it again. 1/2qt in 10 miles is BAD.

Looks like the turbo drain might be the culprit in this case.

But would a turbo drain be squirting upwards? I figured the oil cooler hose makes the most sense because it's pressurized. I'm sure the turbo drain has some pressure too, but isn't less than the oil cooler?

I assume you're referring to the turbo oil feed line is that correct? I can't imagine anything else which would produce oil on that side of the engine besides the turbo line. The leak should be visible with the engine running of that is the case.

Huh? Which line did you replace? The only line I see with oil on it in the picture is your turbo feed line. The oil cooler lines are on the other side of the engine.

Guess I have the wrong terms then. It was this hose that I replaced. It's not in the first picture, the first picture was just supposed to show where all the oil had ended up sorry for not being clear.

It's tough to imagine how a leaking oil cooler line could spray oil under the air cleaner housing. You might want to inspect the turbo supply line, especially where it crosses behind the engine.

Or, maybe what you see under the air cleaner is just the somewhat typical leakage from the air/oil separator and your actual problem is elsewhere.

I'm still confused as to what line you replaced. The picture shows you holding a line on the turbo side of the engine. Oil cooler lines are on the other side. Where did that hose you replaced attach?

It connected to the radiator, it dripped oil, and when I replaced the hose my oil leak rate was shortened by more than half (still had two other leaks). So I assumed it was the oil cooler line and didn't think much more than that.

Now I see that it doesn't connect to the engine on the other side. It go towards the engine, down, around the front, and connects to the black ac compressor or whatever that's called. The line has a red knob on it.

That line doesn't have oil in it. Start the engine with the air cleaner off and see if the turbo oil feed line which is visible in the first picture you posted is squirting oil out.

Where in COMO are you? I've owned three of these cars and do all my own work. I live in COMO. I could come by to look at it if you want. DO NOT DRIVE IT UNTIL YOU FIGURE OUT WHERE THE OIL IS LEAKING HOWEVER!!

The small lines that connect to the radiator are transmission cooler lines.

The small lines that go to the AC condenser (looks like a thin radiator) shouldn't have oil in them.

Can you provide any more photos?

In looking more closely at that picture, I suspect the oil separator return tube exiting the air filter was not in the tube leading to the pan.

I just tested it, and I'm not sure where it's leaking from. the turbo feed line was totally dry, everything was totally dry and stayed dry. I haven't cleaned off the bottom of the engine yet, because the ENTIRE bottom of the car is covered in oil.

What should I get a photo of?

npretnar, thanks for the offer I'll remember that. Currently I'm in St. Louis and it's in the garage.

I was very determined to get it right when I put it together, but maybe it came out with a bump, it doesn't sit well. But I don't think that should cause such a massive increase in oil leakage.

Agreed. Maybe it's time to look at obvious things, like the oil filter lid and oil drain plug. Or a hole in the oil pan.