hello,i have discovered a weeping oil leak it is located above the alternater,on the front engine timing chain cover,passengers side.the piece leaking is a very large round plug type or bolt,its got a huge allen wrench fitting on it. the round head of this plug is approx 1.5" diameter,i do not know what it is or if i should tamper with it,i had previously cleaned all the oil off and finger sealed the entire area with rtv but im seeing the oil slowly seep from this round headed huge allen head plug,thru the rtv silicone. this is on a 1989 300ce,any ideas as to if there is a copper pressure washer behind the plug or bolt, or if it can be loosened and rtv applied behind it,then retightend.thanks everyone.marc

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enjoy life,take the coal that is handed to you and turn it into diamonds. { PHILLIPIANS 4:13}

It sounds like the timing chain tensioner.

If you take it out, you will need to reset the chain tensioner before refitting it (one-way tightening only). This takes a bit of knowledge of the tensioner components and assembly procedure. It is also a bugger to refit due to the pressure required to compress the tensioner spring while trying to pick up the thread.

If it is the tensioner, it is sealed with aluminium washers on my M104 engine (extremely cheap to replace).

I would get a Mercedes specialist to replace the washers if you are not too technical. An easy job for them.

thanks for the info,what would happen if i get the correct size allen head and just put a little more elbow on it to tighten it,im thinking maybe its just a tiny bit loose causing the oil to weep out from behind it.also is it clockwise or counter clockwise to tighten it,i dont wanna loosen it any more than it is,thanks.

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enjoy life,take the coal that is handed to you and turn it into diamonds. { PHILLIPIANS 4:13}

the risk is that the tensioner has backed out because of the loose cover screw. That is, it has adjusted itself and ratcheted out. If you tighten it, it will press too hard on the chain. You could try it, and if it goes any more than a fraction of a turn, it needs to come out and be reset as described above.

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Prost!

that sounds to scary for me,its going in the shop for an EHA diag,i will show him the leak and see what kinda story he tells me,if it can just be tightened that will be great,but im not screwing with the timing chain.

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enjoy life,take the coal that is handed to you and turn it into diamonds. { PHILLIPIANS 4:13}

Resurrecting an old thread.....just wanted to see what the resolve was on this one.

I would be almost willing to bet that it was the timing cover leaking rather than the chain tensioner plug.

The timing cover can leak from the extreme end where it mates up against the head.
I bought a timing cover gasket at the dealership - it was a Victor Reinz. The new gasket wouldn't let the cover mate up to the head properly and there was a small leak - very hard to see. I ended up having to do the job again - paring the gasket slightly to get the cover to fit exactly.