I am trying to figure out how to stop a bad oil leak from my oil filter cannister on a 1995 E320.

I can plainly see the oil leaking out from the seal where the top of the filter cylinder case meets the black plastic top. I have seen this before when I forget to remove the old o-ring seal but I do not know how I am getting such a big leak now.

http://home.earthlink.net/~sasjzl/mercedesheadgasketreplacementjourney/

I want to confirm that I am putting the seal on correctly. If you look at photo #1 at the above site you see the upside down filter case top and the seal is right up against the top of top lip. I am unsure whether that is the correct place or if it is supposed to be 'down' (when putting the top on normally) in the space shown at the very top of the last thread but not right up against the lip (as in photo #2). Sorry the pictures are not clearer.

Also you will see an imperfection in the metal bottom part of the oil filter can in picutures #3 and #4. This was from some reckless manifold bolt removal attempts. Could that be the cause of the leak?

Thanks very much,
Jim Lee
1995 E320 Wagon

The correct location of the O-ring is shown in photo #2. The damage to the filter housing probably won't cause a leak if the O-ring is in the correct location. But it might. Get the O-ring where it should be and go from there.

Make sure that chip in the housing isn't interfering with the correct seating of the o-ring and cap.

__________________
Prost!

Yes. It looks to me like the problem isn't so much the chip, but that the housing is bent in a little at that point. O-rings are magical things, but if you mess with the mating sufaces much you break the magic spell. You need that whole circumference perfectly round, or as close as possible. If it is bent in at all you need to bend it (carefully) back out.

__________________
1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

I agree, the probable cause is the filter housing being out-of-round. I assume you are putting the O-ring as shown in photo #2, not #1.....

I would check the I.D. in several spots with a good caliper.

It might be possible to get it true again, but perhaps not.

Also feel the area in question with your finger carefully and see if you can feel any deviation in the mating surface.

__________________
-tp


1990 300SE "Corinne"- 145k daily driver - street modified differential - PARTING OUT OR SELLING SOON - PORTLAND OR. AREA - PM ME FOR DETAILS
1988 560SEL "Gunther"- 190K passes anything except a gas station
1997 S420 - 265k just bought it with a rebuilt trans. Lovely condition