Just logged in as a newbie. Bought a '79 300SD, 184K, near perfect except it used/leaked 2 quarts of oil in 500 miles. Oil was spread all under the car and blew up on the rear. Seems to be coming from the left side of the engine when facing it. Anyone have a suggestion where it might be coming from?

 

I reckon it must be coming from the engine because this is where the oil is kept according to my book on cars. I don't reckon it's using it 'cos it would be release as smoke from the exhaust tube.

 

Dialup_2001,

Thanks for your help. I'm sure I'll be able to go directly to the leak with your sage advice.
I'm just happy I don't have an air leak. Following your logic I'd be looking all over the world cause that's where the air is!

 

Hey Jack, The best way is to clean off the side of the engine you think is leaking and just search with the engine running. It could be the valve cover if it is up high on the engine but if it is lower say the middle of the engine it might be the head gasket. And I'm sure you know if it is real ow then it will be the pan gasket. But check your crankcase ventilation first before replacing anything. The "blow-by" has to go somewhere and if the crankcase ventilation is stopped up it will force it out a gasket.

 

Dialer,

Hey, man. Tell us more about your book. Does it have pictures?

 

Buck,

Thanks for the reply. This leak is a real puzzler. Took it to the CW yesterday, cleaned as much as possible, then drove it about 10 miles in city traffic. Found a drip of oil on the turbo boost controller but it sure didn't look like enough to lose a quart in 500 miles. That's the only fresh oil I found on the engine.

 

Just 10 miles? Doesn't seem very far to check for an oil leak, unless it really is gushing.

Drive it until it heat soaks (10-20 miles city) and then abuse it a little bit--just a little. Run up the rpm and give the engine a good spirited workout at high oil pressures.

 

Thanks, took your advice... Looks like not very good news. Oil is leaking between the oil pan and the transmission. Most likely from the rear main. M-B dealer says rear main seal is one piece, have to drop crankshaft, estimated cost $3000. I told them I didn't want to buy a new car, just replace an $8.00 part. Any suggestions how to get it done at a reasonable cost?

 

sleepwalker would do it for free if you could get him here to the states. Other than that, I dunno.

If it's any consulation, which I know it isn't, my valvle covers leak oil. Just needs simple, cheap gaskets. It's a $1,200 job because the top half of the motor has to come off to get access to the valve covers. You just gotta hate these MBs sometimes.

 

Lugnut,

Other than the black oil on the driveway and garage floor common sense tells you that you can go thru a lot of oil at $2.00 a quart befor you've spent $1200. My brother's solurtion: Paint the driveway and garagwe floor black and just keep putting oil in it.

Jacl(leaky '79 300SD)Wendel
AKA Jackw3306