Massive Oil Leak! 1976 w115 300d - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

studjuice · #1 01-22-2014, 01:10 PM

I've attached some pictures that i tried to take by putting my arm under the car to find out where it's leaking from, it's just so damn cold and snow on the ground I can't get a look. Anyone have ideas of where this is probably leaking from? The oil pan is pretty dry, front and top of the engine are dry, it's from somewhere behind the oil pan that I can't see yet.

Imgur link for some semi high res pics:
View from under passengers side - Imgur

I just recently got this car for $250. It's my second diesel benz, before I had an 83 300d. It was my uncles car who gave it to my grandpa and it sat around their yard collecting rust and getting ugly.
I've only been able to drive it 3 times so far, once to drive it home, once to go get new tires, and then today to go to an eye doctor appointment (about a mile of driving today). But when I got back I noticed a long oil trail behind the car and a massive puddle under the car.

I've committed to restoring the car over time since it's a family car and I love the way it looks. Some one on here once said it's good to buy a car that you love so that you won't regret putting money into it.

maclaveau · #2 01-22-2014, 02:49 PM

Possibly an oil cooler line blew or the bolt for the oil filter canister is loose.

Stevo · #3 01-22-2014, 03:02 PM

Have you filled the oil and run the engine? That big of a leak should be fairly easy to see if you can clean things off a little.

Diesel911 · #4 01-22-2014, 03:33 PM

Laying on a sheet or Sheets of Cardboard will insulate you a bit from the Snow until it gets wet.

charmalu · #5 01-23-2014, 11:28 AM

Could be the Turbo Oil Supply line at the Oil Filter housing is cracked. I had this happen when I forgot to bolt the bracket at the back of the head on the R/R side. it vibrated and cracked where it is welded to the banjo fitting.

A lot of oil can be pumped out of a small crack pretty fast, especially under pressure.

Don`t drive the car till you figure out where it is coming from.

I can`t imaging laying in the snow to work on a car, we have 5ft of sunshine in the front yard this morning.

Charlie

tangofox007 · #6 01-23-2014, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmalu

Could be the Turbo Oil Supply line at the Oil Filter housing is cracked.

On a 1976 W115, I would bet against that theory.

cooljjay · #7 01-23-2014, 12:32 PM

That is a massive leak! I would think its the oil cooler lines, as its the most common issue...BUT....since it is snowing out and you've barely driven the car...I would bet against that as the thermostat in the oil housing doesn't allow oil into the cooler until it reaches 275F...Can you post a few photos of the top of the engine? I would look into the oil filter housing bolts as was suggested.

barry12345 · #8 01-23-2014, 12:43 PM

I too would consider looking in the oil filter area initially. That low underslung horizontal housing on your model is a prime suspect. I just assume your model has that type of filter setup.

whunter · #9 01-23-2014, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by studjuice

I've attached some pictures that i tried to take by putting my arm under the car to find out where it's leaking from, it's just so damn cold and snow on the ground I can't get a look. Anyone have ideas of where this is probably leaking from? The oil pan is pretty dry, front and top of the engine are dry, it's from somewhere behind the oil pan that I can't see yet.

Imgur link for some semi high res pics:
View from under passengers side - Imgur

I just recently got this car for $250. It's my second diesel benz, before I had an 83 300d. It was my uncles car who gave it to my grandpa and it sat around their yard collecting rust and getting ugly.
I've only been able to drive it 3 times so far, once to drive it home, once to go get new tires, and then today to go to an eye doctor appointment (about a mile of driving today). But when I got back I noticed a long oil trail behind the car and a massive puddle under the car.

I've committed to restoring the car over time since it's a family car and I love the way it looks. Some one on here once said it's good to buy a car that you love so that you won't regret putting money into it.

From the current pictures.

In order my best guess is:

* Valve cover gasket at the rear. only because it is cheap / easy to check.
** Engine oil cooler hose failure. If this is the issue, remove the cooler with old hose attached, (you may need to cut the rubber close to the cooler for removal), take it to a hydraulic hose shop = they can replace the rubber section, and/or separate the fitting from the oil cooler with least possible damage.
** Engine oil filter housing gasket / seal failure. Cheap / easy to check.

Pelican Parts - Automotive Parts and Accessories - Porsche & BMW TEST

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tangofox007 · #10 01-23-2014, 02:08 PM

Not likely, perhaps, but there are some oil gallery plugs on the rear of the block that could be the culprit. That would present as a leak from the transmission bellhousing.

studjuice · #11 01-23-2014, 05:55 PM

A ton of great advice as usual! Tomorrow is supposed to get up to about 35 so I'll try to go out and find the oil filter. Haven't been able to find any pictures online of where it is, and the chilton manual I have depicts a w123 oil filter. The only things I've found are that it is in the 'rear left if you are sitting in the drivers seat'. Don't think I can see it from above, so tried putting my arm under the drivers side to get a pic of the condition and got this blurry pic.

More of the oil seems to be on the drivers half under the car so I'm thinking it's the oil filter housing or oil cooler lines?

Since the oil is on top of ice it hasn't dried up or anything I'm still working on getting enough cardboard to lay on top of it. Hopefully someone around here has some cat litter...

t walgamuth · #12 01-23-2014, 05:57 PM

I vote for the oil filter canister being cockeyed or its o ring being out of place.

whunter · #13 01-23-2014, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by studjuice

A ton of great advice as usual! Tomorrow is supposed to get up to about 35 so I'll try to go out and find the oil filter. Haven't been able to find any pictures online of where it is, and the chilton manual I have depicts a w123 oil filter. The only things I've found are that it is in the 'rear left if you are sitting in the drivers seat'. Don't think I can see it from above, so tried putting my arm under the drivers side to get a pic of the condition and got this blurry pic.

More of the oil seems to be on the drivers half under the car so I'm thinking it's the oil filter housing or oil cooler lines?

Since the oil is on top of ice it hasn't dried up or anything I'm still working on getting enough cardboard to lay on top of it. Hopefully someone around here has some cat litter...

The oil filter is on the driver side just forward of the engine sub frame.
Air flow blows leakage along the sub frame and oil pan = weird ground pooling locations.

Here is a W115.114 oil change video
Mercedes W115 240D oil change - YouTube

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/263174-damn-w115-oil-filter.html

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studjuice · #14 01-29-2014, 05:31 PM

Car has been in the shop for a few days and they got to look at it today. He said that it was the line for the oil pressure that goes to the instrument cluster that came loose and the plastic fitting came out. Something like that.

whunter · #15 01-29-2014, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by studjuice

Car has been in the shop for a few days and they got to look at it today. He said that it was the line for the oil pressure that goes to the instrument cluster that came loose and the plastic fitting came out. Something like that.

That is an easy fix..

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