OM642 Oil Leak--front of engine - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

fritzkeel · #1 03-26-2019, 06:10 PM

Hello all. I have a 2009 E320 BLUETEC (OM642) that has a strange oil leak. At start-up, in colder weather (32 degrees and below) I get a drip that runs down the side of the block onto the air conditioner compressor and then drips from the bottom of the compressor off of the power steering hoses going to the steering rack. Access is difficult without removing things like the power steering pump, etc., to find the leak. I am suspecting the oil filter housing gasket to the block, but was curious if anyone else had seen this?

No oil coming from the weep hole by the bell housing on the back left of the engine, so I think the oil cooler seals are intact. I also do not see anything along the EGR or the PCV/intake/turbo.

Thanks in advance for any advice! Love this forum.

Cheers,

Fritz

jay_bob · #2 03-26-2019, 09:15 PM

Hmm yeah I would be looking at the oil filter tower, it is the only thing on that side of the block that has oil in it.

However you're the first one that I've seen on this board having that problem.

nulu · #3 03-26-2019, 09:43 PM

There is a forward hole leading from the oil cooler area , in addition to he rear weap hole , the gls leak out the rear the e leak out the front weap hole
the ml usually out the back but sometimes the front or and the back together, due to the rake or angle that the engine is in the car

fritzkeel · #4 03-27-2019, 08:24 AM

Thank you for the feedback. First I've heard of a front weep hole. Where is it in relation to other components? Be nice if I could get a pen light or something to observe it at startup. Also interesting that it appears to stop leaking after it warms up as I never have a drip on the floor after shutdown, only on cold mornings at startup!

Crazy!

paul roberts · #5 03-27-2019, 11:07 AM

Not impossible, but we've never seen an oil cooler seal leak from the front. We have replaced quite a few oil filter housings for a leak right where you're looking. Easy to check if you clean off the bottom of the housing then look with a mirror and pen light. Note, the housing is made up of two pieces and usually leaks at the gasket where they pair together instead of where it mates to the block. Good luck finding the gasket where the two pieces mate together.

fritzkeel · #6 03-27-2019, 04:17 PM

Thank you, Paul. I was going nuts trying to find a front weep hole. I see that the housing is available as a new part number 642-180-14-10-M22 on pelican parts. May try some sealant first though if it is indeed where the pieces come together. Will try and tackle it this weekend.

paul roberts · #7 03-27-2019, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fritzkeel

Thank you, Paul. I was going nuts trying to find a front weep hole. I see that the housing is available as a new part number 642-180-14-10-M22 on pelican parts. May try some sealant first though if it is indeed where the pieces come together. Will try and tackle it this weekend.

You're welcome. If it is indeed leaking where the two pieces mate up, don't waste your time with sealant. It's an imbedded seal, so sealant isn't going to work. If you don't mind spending the money, it's easier to just replace the whole housing and be done with it. If you choose to replace the seal where the two mate, it's easier to take the whole housing out to do it. I did find and buy a couple of the right seals that I found on Amazon. Oddly enough, it was packaged with the same 642 180 1410 PN as the housing.http://https://www.amazon.com/WayJun-Housing-2007-2009-Sprinter-6421801410/dp/B07DPC6HC7/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_263_img_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=Z9KVV99K1BWQHA7N2K2H

fritzkeel · #8 03-28-2019, 12:38 PM

Perfect, thanks again. I will let you (and the rest of the forum!) how this turns out.

fritzkeel · #9 04-01-2019, 07:01 PM

So after further diagnosis, I have excess oil in my intake that is pooling at the turbo and leaking into the “V”. Still believe the housing to block is leaking as well as the A/C compressor is covered with oil. Looks like the place where the two pieces of the housing meet is still dry. Will replace the PCV and turbo inlet gasket and clean from the top down to determine where leaks are occurring. Hope to get this fixed. Not losing a lot of oil, but sure need to buy stock in Purple Power for the mess in the driveway!

engatwork · #10 04-01-2019, 08:10 PM

You need to try to get a oil catch can on it if you can. You don't want to plug up the DPF.

fritzkeel · #11 04-01-2019, 08:43 PM

Anyone have a good design for a catch can on the OM642?

engatwork · #12 04-01-2019, 09:13 PM

Do a google search. There are a lot out there and they are not very expensive. You can probably find a cutaway and copy it.

fritzkeel · #13 05-02-2019, 01:43 PM

So...after a month...success! I took my time with this one, working on her bit by bit over the past few weeks. As I began looking more closely, it appeared that there was more oil in the bottom of the "V" than I would expect from the turbo inlet. So, I determined that, not knowing the service history on this car, I would go ahead and replace the oil cooler seals as preventative maintenance. As I began the tear-down, I discovered that the gasket between the turbo and the pedestal was leaking oil, which I now believe was the primary source of my oil leak. Once I got to the oil cooler, I discovered that there is indeed a front weep hole on this engine! Verified by pouring some isopropyl alcohol to see it stream off the bottom of the A/C Compressor. When I removed the oil cooler, the seals were the Viton Purple. Cleaned everything, replaced all gaskets, and also replaced the oil filter housing gasket, along with a new PCV "puck" and turbo inlet gasket. Oil change with Mobil 1 ESP 0W30. Car runs fantastic and MPGs are up as well (seeing 38-39 at 72mph). Good repair. Thanks to this forum and a few YouTube videos for guidance on this!!

Pics below show the locations of the front and rear weep holes.

engatwork · #14 05-02-2019, 07:46 PM

Try to find Mobil 1 Delvac ESP at Walmart. It is a more appropriate "diesel rated" oil in my opinion. They can get it if they don't have it.

jay_bob · #15 05-03-2019, 07:43 AM

That’s very interesting. I pulled the specs from Mobil on Delvac ESP and found that the 5W-30 variant carries MB 228.51 approval and 5W-40 carries 228.31 approval.

On my 2008 E320 Bluetec (and my 2008 ML320 CDI with the same engine) the under hood label states that 228.51 or 229.31 oil must be used. The owners manuals refer you to the MB service products bulletins for the correct type of oil to use.

On my 2013 E350 Bluetec (and my 2014 ML350 BT with a similar engine) there is no under hood label (other than a warning to read the manual for the right oil) but the manual says 228.51, 229.31 or 229.51.

The latest oil usage specs are at https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/d/d/en/Spec_223_2.pdf
This document states that OM642s through 2016 may use 228.51, 229.31, 229.51, or 229.52.

Mobil1 X1 ESP is $13/quart unless you can find it on sale (or $52/gallon)
Note: I have found X1 ESP for $6/quart when NAPA runs their “any kind of M1 for $5.99/qt sale” once or twice a year.

Mobil1 Delvac ESP is $35/gallon at Walmart all the time. They don’t stock it at my Walmart, it is online only.

So it looks like you can use Mobil 1 Delvac ESP 5W-30 (228.51 compliant) in the OM642. This is confirmed on the MB Bevo site, https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/228.51_en.html

Thanks for the heads up!