Where is the oil leaking from? Look at photos

[Rick Dean]

http://picasaweb.google.com/osagebarber/1993Mercedes300e28OilLeak?feat=directlink

I've put up with this oil leak for 5 years and want to fix it. Can anyone tell me where its leaking from and what gaskets/parts to buy? Looks like its from the passenger side only.

Thanks. Rick barbershop@mchsi.com

[lorainfurniture]

At the rear, it looks like a rear crank seal. (between engine and trans)

The front could be from anywhere.

Valve cover, upper timing cover, front crank seal, the list goes on.. Oil leaks can get into the thousands real quick..

[d.delano]

Steam clean everything to find the true source(s) of the leak, may even want to use spray foot powder to trace. Can't really tell right now from the photos, but looks like multiple oil leaks to me. If you've put up with it for 5 years go ahead and put up with it a little while longer to determine the source(s). Then buy the parts. Mercedes are leakers, but as long as you keep a quart in the boot to top up you can live with it. Free rustproofing for the undercarriage. Actually fixing these leaks can get expensive and time-consuming.

[brewtoo]

I bet every bit of that is coming from the upper timing cover (behind distributor). Do a search, lots of info on this.

[88260e]

looks just like my 260e did front was timeing cover back was a mistery! I cleaned it with some engine cleaner and my garden hose with hot water hookup :{}, back was coming from the rear top of the engine dripping down the pasenger side of the car. never solved that one!

[big dog 2]

I hate oil leaks.

My 1989 300E leaks in the usual places (rear main and front timing cover). No quick fixes.

[dennish]

After changing upper timing cover seal and new valve cover gasket, there was a reduction in leaking but another culprit was the dip stick tube O ring

[big dog 2]

Yup! I changed that one already along with the gasket on the oil filler cap.

[dennish]

Acouple years ago, I had a leak and it was the oil pressure sending unit. The leaking oil covered a lot of territory. If it leaks, the unit itself may be cracked or it may be the O ring

[William73]

You need to degrease the engine well so you can find the source. I would use cans of foaming engine degreaser, except on the alternater, use electric parts cleaner. Once it's all clean, it will be a lot easier to find the leak(s).

[Rick Dean]

Thanks for the expert advice. I'll gunk the underside when the weather warms up a bit then use a small steam cleaner. The engine probably consumes/leaks 1/2 quart every 2 months. I lay cardboard in my garage park space. Currently using 10w30 and change oil every 3,000. I may move up to 20w40 on the oil. Thanks again.

[d.delano]

I switched from Mobil 1 synthetic 10w-30 to Shell Rotella synthetic 5w-40 for diesels and my oil consumption went down. It's relatively cheap and you can get it at WalMart. YMMV but the engine seems to run ever so slightly better on it.

[Mike@Exclusive]

Very hard to say by looking at those pictures.


Possible places
Head gasket
Timing cover
Oil Level sensor
Oil Pan bolts