Just got in a pair of O-rings to put at the upper and lower ends of the oil drain tube for the oil separator in the air cleaner housing. I can live with not doing the lower O-ring, but I'd really like to take out the whole drain tube and clean it good.

Along with this I got new rubber mounts that go between the air cleaner housing and the support bracket. They were shot and kept letting the oil drain tube come loose at the top.

The problem is that although the drain tube is loose and flopping around, I can't get it to lift all the way out - something is interfering with it pulling all the way out of the oil pan area.

Can this be removed without doing something like taking the turbo off? (I'm not gonna do that! )

Any tips from the crew?

1982 300D
Doesn't use much oil - just leaks it from the air cleaner!

Oh, I also am getting the upgraded tube that goes from the valve cover to the air cleaner / oil separator.

Thanks for any help.....

Ken300D

hey ken,

I was just there today, I am not sure if it can be done without removing the turbo but I would think it could be. I replace my turbo drain tube today via turbo removal. I hate to say this and I hope that I am wrong but are you leaking from the air cleaner or the turbo drain tube?

First of all the air cleaner tube is not supposed to move all around. There is a braket under the turbo wich secures the air cleaner tube. You may want to fasten it with a screw and bolt.

Any way the fact that it is loose is good, that might give you the clearance you need. Dont bother cleaning it all out just replace the o rings at the top and the bottom. removing that thing is easy whith the turbo half apart but I would avoid that if I could.

replace those two o rings. the bottom one is in the oil pan behind the turbo drain tube. Then clean everything off real well with degreaser then look for leaks and hope that it is not your turbo drain tube like mine.

good luck

bob c

Pull harder!
Actually, I've had the same situation. The tube itself is bent at two places so you sort of have to pull hard and twist and jiggle as you go. If you can get underneath and look up you should have a good view of the problem.
Hmm, now that I re-read, is it stuck to the air cleaner housing? This is definately solved by pulling harder or prying it off with a screwdriver. Its a tight fit, but dont be too gentle. It's German, it can take it!

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Paul
2004 E500 4matic; 72,000mi

try to find the braket that secures the pipe and remove the screw and bolt. It is directly under the middle inferior flange of the air cleaner mount braket. When you remove the air cleaner mounting braket it is easy to find. It may be easy to find from underneath without removing anything. I looked in the cd rom for any pictures but no luck

good luck

bob

Thanks for the tips - I knew someone would have done this before or at least been deeper on that side of the engine.

Soon I'll have a lot of stuff off the top of the engine for an upcoming valve adjustment, so I'll have a better view. I'll bet the bracket holding the drain tube has come loose or is missing.

Right now the oil separator just drips down the side of the engine, probably onto the turbo! Getting this fixed should help dry up the oil considerably.

Just to mention, the only other big drip is transmission fluid, which I think is coming from the front seal. Not doing that one until it loses at least a quart a week! Currently a quart every three months or so.

20 years old and 325k miles - what can you expect?

Thanks for all the help.

Ken300D

I have replaced the "O" rings on this tube which runs from the bottom of the oil cleaner to the oil pan. There is a nut and bolt which secures this in the middle of its length to some bracket deep under the manifold. On my car, this bracket was broken so I used a band clamp to secure this tube (with a piece of split rubber tubing over the metal tube to protect it. When I did the work, I dont think I removed the tube due to its shape. But you can do the work with the tube in place, although its very tight and you need to do it from beneath the car.....with the air cleaner housing removed, release the attachment bracket for the drain tube and push up on the tube to free it from the oil pan nipple. If you want to clean it, pass a wire through it (while in place) with a cloth swab on the end dipped in mineral spirits a few times. Another note...you said that the tube is loose....I dont remember the exact design of the attachment bracket, but I think it is designed to allow the tube to move due to engine vibrations.

Good luck

Mark

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1984 300TD Wagon, 407,800 mi (current daily driver)
1985 300DT Sedan, 330,000 mi (gone to that great autobahn in the sky)

The original tube is connected with a "clamp" at the exhaust manifold. If loose the clamp rubs the tube, and in my case thined it and caused it to crack. The crack was hidden by the clamp. It took me 2 years to find this leak when I was replacing the turbo oil return gaskets. The bolt at the clamp is the only thing holding the tube. I bought at new tube "at the dealer" $62. The new tube has a bracket welding instead of a clamp and should prevent this. If you remove the bolt that holds the clamp you should be able to pull if off the fitting at the oil pan. It may be difficult to completely remove without removing other stuff. It has the same O ring configuration at the bottom. When you losen the bolt, you can slide the clamp and look/feel under it. If it is broken, replace it. I did, and no more oil leaks.

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82 300d 194
75 240d sold
Gulfstar 41 4-107 Perkins Westerbeke 4.4 Gen
Puegot Bicycle Legs
AYP Lawn Tractor Briggs 12.5

clamps and bolts? Hmm, maybe thats why mine is so loose!
Disregard the pulling harder thing then if you have either; mine didnt.

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Paul
2004 E500 4matic; 72,000mi