Hello,

I've got a 92 300E (not sure if it's a 2.6L or 2.8L) w/120K miles. It recently started leaking oil
and I can't find the source. When I took it for it's latest oil change, I switched to Castrol High Mileage synthetic and took a close look underneath the car. It doesn't seem to be coming from the drain plug or oil pan gasket. It seems to be coming from an area higher up (perhaps valve cover gasket). When looking from the top of the engine near the front (belt tensioner area?)
there is some wet oil there. Just wondering if there is a known issue with this and any suggestions on where I should focus my efforts.

Thanks

 

Never change an old car over to synthetic,the gaskets were not constructed for it.And the syn removed the varnish like coating and the smaller more uniform molecules of the syn have found a point out.Change back,and monitor usage.
ohlord

 

Sorry, the Castrol GTX High Mileage is not a synthetic but has been specially formulated to help recondition seals and stop leaks.

The Castrol GTX High Mileage formula still delivers:

[ul][*]Seal conditioners to help reduce leakage[*]Unique technology to protect against wear and harmful deposits[*]Proprietary additives to minimize compression loss and maximize engine protection [/ul]

This is the main reason I switched to the Castrol GTX. Any other suggestions?

 

tinyurl.com/36gckm

If there are leaks, they will persist whatever oil is used. It is possible that fully synth will make pre-existing leaks more obvious, but I'm not convinced. If the leak is minor, I'd live with it, as thousands of MB owners do. If it's serious -- puddles under the car, extensive streaking of the underside, loss showing on the dipstick within a day or two, oil in the cooling system -- get it fixed. See what the owner's manual says about oil spec.

I run an E320 Coupé (60k), a 300E twin turbo (175k) and a W126 300SE (140k), all on Mobil 1 with no leaks.

The site of your leak looks familiar, from what I have seen online and in the E-Class Owner's Bible.

 

Then onto the next thing,the common m103 leak.Clean the area and see if it is leaking diy link
http://www.mercedesshop.com/Wikka/M103TimingCoverReseal
ohlord