Oil on floor mat - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Doug Vazquez · #1 07-14-2002, 10:34 AM

I have read somewhere about oil on the driver's floor mat. I think I read that something about the oil pressure gauge leaks eventually. Could someone get me started in the right direction?

Thanks,
Doug V.

rickjordan · #2 07-14-2002, 10:50 AM

For your car there is a direct line from the engine to the backside of the oil pressure gauge. You can gently pull the instrument cluster out and check the fitting. You will need a 10mm open end wrench. Actually you should have 2, using one as a backup wrench. You do not want to strip this fitting or break it off. If the guage is leaking internally, I don't think there is anything you can do about it, other than getting a new (used) instrument cluster from a junkyard. If you get a new one, you will want to swap out your speedometer.

autozen · #3 07-14-2002, 10:57 AM

Most of the time it is the gauge that leaks. You have to replace the whole piece which includes the gas, water,and oil. New is about $250. A used unit will probably leak one day if it isn't already. It is a classic problem.

Peter

Doug Vazquez · #4 07-14-2002, 12:02 PM

Rick,

Have you had any luck retightening the fitting? I guess that would be worth a try, if one can tell that the fitting is leaking. If not, I guess buying a used one would be kind of a crap shoot. A gamble with pretty poor odds, at that.

Any other tips on pulling the instrument cluster?

Thanks,
Doug V.

Kyle Blackmore · #5 07-14-2002, 12:23 PM

Hi Doug,it also could be the ignition switch leaking oil because the vacuum pump diaphragm is starting to leak.Check the inside of the air cleaner to see if there is oil being drawn into the housing from the exhaust line from the pump.These were the two places that oil first appeared when my vacuum pump packed it in.Good luck,Kyle.

Doug Vazquez · #6 07-15-2002, 11:38 PM

Thanks Kyle,

That makes sense, because just recently I noticed a new oil stain on the concrete. Maybe the diaphragm just started to leak. Are there any other telltale signs that would indicate a bad diaphragm?

Doug V.

Kyle Blackmore · #7 07-16-2002, 06:56 PM

Hi Doug,if you suspect the vacuum pump you should notice a few glitches like it doesn't shut down as 'crisply' as before and the door locks aren't as fast as before and won't operate as many times after shut off (usually 10 cycles).Good luck,Kyle

autozen · #8 07-16-2002, 11:19 PM

If you have drips on the concrete, I goubt it is from the vacuum pump. It is probably from some seal leak, the turbo, or the oil separator drain tube from the air cleaner back to the crankcase is disconnected. The latter usually happens when the air cleaner bracket breaks, which is a chronic problem on the OM615.950 series engines. That small vacuum switch on the side of the ignition switch that ports vacuum to the diaphragm at the back of the pump to pull the rack to a no fuel condition might be leaking because of a faulty vacuum pump, but I'm still betting on the oil gauge.

Good luck,
Peter

Doug Vazquez · #9 07-17-2002, 10:09 PM

Thanks for the replies, all.

The turbo drain and air filter drain are both OK. The car does not seem to have leaked much latley. I don't know what caused the most recent puddle, but I don't think it has done the same thing for a couple of weeks.

I think everything ( shut off operation, door locks, etc) is pretty much as it has been since we bought it. That does not mean that it was not marginal when we bought it and has just gotten worse.

I notice oil on the vac pump itself, but I think it is the valve cover gasket leaking. I'll try to check it out later this week a little more.

Doug V.