More Turbo fun....oil leak - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Smoker · #1 11-23-2013, 08:37 PM

Took the newly headed CD out for a road run, all is well except it puts a good bit of oil out of the turbo oil drain.

Is it possible to disconnect the drain line at the turbo for the (looks to be real fun) job of replacing the tube, grommet and o-rings or does the turbo have to come back out?

I've already got the tube, grommet, o rings, gasket to turbo / oil line, and lower oil pan gasket on order from Pelican, having read that the lower tube usually has to be pushed out from below with a hydraulic jack. I did order the turbo to exhaust manifold metal gasket as well just in case, but if there is a way to unbolt that drain line from the turbo in-place I'm all ears!

jt20 · #2 11-23-2013, 08:43 PM

I have done it in-situ. Hardest part is getting everything lined up while the sealant on the drain tube is still gooey and in the same spot that you put it.

Do a couple trial runs before you put the sealant on to get comfortable.

It could take some time on the first try.... and I feel responsible in warning you that it may be incredibly torturous....

but removing the turbo is no fun either.

Smoker · #3 11-23-2013, 09:05 PM

Did you end up making/bending a wrench to get to the bolts on the turbo or were you able to get in there with a flex socket? I know when I just did this head I tried to get to those bolts and didn't figure it out, and didn't realize the turbo just pulls up (silly details not in FSM).

I'm sure me pulling back on the turbo while the drain was connected messed up the rotted old grommet the tube goes in

.

jt20 · #4 11-23-2013, 10:17 PM

Its been a while, but I've never had a complex set of tools and have rarely, if ever, been successful with a flex (universal) socket.

Stubby wrenches, maybe a 1/4" ratchet.... but I think I got in there with the standard 3/8.

If you get the bottom half to drop into the oil pan its pretty simple from there: get one bolt undone on the upper half to turbo connection - then spin it, if possible... if not, swear at it and continue on the hard way.

jt20 · #5 11-23-2013, 10:20 PM

Also, on the bottom half: cut the upper lip- that is visible- off the grommet before shoiving the whole thing into the pan

sometimes the grommet gets hard with age, sometimes it just becomes mush.***

Do some searching, there are a lot of great tips and write-ups here on the issue.

key words: turbo oil drain grommet tube

***an idea: try soaking it with acetone for a few days beforehand. keep spraying it on periodically to soften it up.

Smoker · #6 11-24-2013, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jt20

Also, on the bottom half: cut the upper lip- that is visible- off the grommet before shoiving the whole thing into the pan

sometimes the grommet gets hard with age, sometimes it just becomes mush.***

Do some searching, there are a lot of great tips and write-ups here on the issue.

key words: turbo oil drain grommet tube

***an idea: try soaking it with acetone for a few days beforehand. keep spraying it on periodically to soften it up.

Ah, now that's a method I hadn't read, the few how to's I found just said to bash it out from the bottom once the pan is off. Makes sense it'd need to be pushed down for an in-situ turbo method.

charmalu · #7 11-24-2013, 10:08 AM

Here is a few I dug up, first one has a video.

You don`t have to remove the Turbo to remove the upper Tube. I have removed it after removing the two 13mm bolts. Rotate the Tube and pull it up off the lower tube.
Think I got the bolts loose from under the car with a long extension, and the inner bolt with a swivel/universal. I have a 13mm that is a swivel, and it is handier than a socket on a U-joint.

Think after I got the bolts loosened, I used a 1/4" Ratchet from above. been a while since I removed one.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/296396-turbo-drain-tube-install-2-minutes-no-tools.html#post2688294

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/113087-w126-om617-1985-300sd-turbo-drain-tube-gasket-seals.html

PointedThree - 617a Turbo Drain Tube oil leak

Charlie

JB3 · #8 11-24-2013, 10:43 AM

I have the exact same problem to take care of as well. Glad this came up, lots of interesting links

Diesel911 · #9 11-24-2013, 11:43 AM

There is quite a few threads on this forum and other forums on changing the Turbo drain.
I did remove the Pan to and use a Deep Socket and a Hammer to tap out the lower portion of the Turbo Drain from below; with the lower Pan removed. I did not need a Hydraulic Jack to do that.
Others have managed to get the Lower Tube out from above by picking out pieces of the Grommet and then putting a Hose Clamp on the Tube so there is something to catch on so that you can pry. That did not work for Me and I it dented the Tube.

Turbo Drain and Blow-by Drain Seal Replacement; Mein Kampf
Turbo Drain and Blow-by Drain Seal Replacement; Mein Kampf - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum

ROLLGUY · #10 11-24-2013, 12:12 PM

I just did mine a couple days ago, and forgot to bring my camera to take photos and post a how-to. However, I was able to do the entire job without removing the turbo. All the above suggestions are good, and I will offer my experience as well. I use mostly all 1/4 drive tools to remove the two bolts for the turbo drain tube. The inner bolt is harder, but two universal joints and a long extension made it easy. Also, a lift is a wonderful thing! Having done this job in the past with the car on stands, the lift made it sooooooo much easier. Another thing that helps (mentioned previously), is to pick out the entire old grommet so the lower tube will move sideways enough to remove the upper tube. I used silicone spray on the grommet (slipped on the tube before installing in the upper pan) and Orings. The drain tube gasket was easily scraped off with a razor blade, but the new one was hard to line up once the tube was installed. I dropped the gasket several times, but finally got it lined up so I could get the outer bolt started. The inner bolt was easy after that. Once the bolts were tightened, I sprayed more silicone lubricant on the grommet and tube, and pressed it down in it's final resting place. An end wrench just larger than the tube helped push it down. I suggest replacing the air cleaner drain tube Oring while you have everything apart. It is fairly easy with the turbo drain tube removed. I also replaced the pan and gasket while I had it off (made it easy to push the tube up from the bottom). Photos of the finished product to be added soon.

Smoker · #11 11-24-2013, 01:11 PM

Thanks for all the tips folks. I did order a new pan and gasket from Pelican as well, simply because my pan is a bit dented. Someone used it as a jack point I suspect. Not me....I used a shop crane to do the motor mounts.

I truly wish I had a lift. The only way I can use one is to drive to the hobby shop on base and that's 90 minutes each way. Both my pole barn and garage have ceilings too low for a lift

.

Pelican says parts should be here next Monday or Tuesday, so I expect I'll have an update the next weekend.

Smoker · #12 11-28-2013, 01:00 PM

Well, got really lucky. Took a close look today and the grommet in there looks new, suspect PO replaced it. When I removed the turbo for the head gasket job my wiggling of the turbo back to clear the manifold studs caused the grommet to pop up out of the upper pan.

I just put some sealer around the exposed area, used an open end 23mm around it to push it down and then made sure the lower tube was still fully seated up in the upper.

No leak.

Of course saturday a new tube, seals, etc will be here from pelican. guess they'll go on the shelf as spares.