Oil dripping from exhaust manifold bolts
 

I have oil dripping from 2 or 3 of the lower bolts of the exhaust manifold of my 81 380sl, and as far as I can tell, it isn't coming from the valve covers.

Can anyone tell me what else could be causing this, given that my car 1) doesn't seem to be burning oil, 2) only has app. 20k since the valves and head gasket were redone 3 years ago, and 3) has an extraordinary amount of power for a 380sl.

Thanks in advance for the help.

dripping from timing cover and rolling back on the block and on the bolts? check valve gasket again?

Here's a story about a very different engine...

but I guess some tips are transferable in there...


http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=276144

I hope it doesn't turn out to be a broken valve guide.

I hope this gives you food for thought and not that horrible sinking feeling of oh %^*&^& in your gut - good luck

Will do.

Well, it did for a second, even though that thread was about oil in the intake manifold, and my problem is oil on 1 or 2 the exhaust manifold bolts. Also, I doubt if it's a guide because they were replaced fairly recently and, if I'm not mistaken, that would cause clattering, whereas the engine is very quiet.

So I was thinking that maybe it could be a stem seal on 1 or 2 exhaust valves? However, I'm still hoping that maybe it is leaking from the valve cover, even though I put silicon on the covers to keep them from leaking.

Yeah right as if I'd have noticed that on an OM617!

Good luck and take some pictures if you find something interesting