Oil Level Sender Replacement m116

[JamesDean]

Hey everyone,

I've got a lovely oil leak coming from the oil level sender on the 420SEL. It seems that this is a fairly common leak. I was just curious as to how difficult this is?

I know I've got to drop the oil pan and get up in there to replace the seal.

Is there anything else I should replace while I've got the pan off?

Parts Needed:
Oil Level Sender Seal 0179975748
Oil Level Sender Seal 0179975848
Lower Pan Seal 1160140522

Should the sender itself be replaced as well?

-Thanks

[S-Class Guru]

I think the sender itself tends to leak through the wiring thruhole more often than the o-ring seal. I removed mine, cleaned it up well, and gob'd JB-weld around the wire. Been oil-tight for a couple years now. But mine is the 103 six, and a piece of cake to pull out - if you have to pull the pan on the V8, then you might not want to try the McGiver approach. New sensors are about $50 I think.

If the pan is off, you could check on the bearing wear status, and clean the oil pickup.

DG

[Hit Man X]

You will probably have to rotate that crank throw in order to pull the sender inside. Why it was designed in that manner is beyond me. I think I just used my handheld starter switch to pop it over a bit.

Buy two of each of the seals needed in the event you lose one or tear one. They are inexpensive enough. Most M116/7s I have seen have this leak, very common and very easy to fix.

Obviously attempt to do this around the time you perform an oil service and be careful with those allen head bolts.