HELP! ...oil on top of filter, burning? how?

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May 31, 2006 | 12:39 PM
  #1  
i have a 1991 190e, and yesterday i was driving a client to lunch and when i hit an expansion joint on the freeway- i started smelling oil burning and coming into the air vents.


i didn't do anything right away (as i had a client with me in the car) so i went to lunch, took him back to his office- and left for mine.


got to the parking lot and opened my hood, to find a bit of oil on the top of the big filter.


could something have bounced it where it splashed up?

what should i look for?

where should i be looking?




...i'm new to this car/engine- so i'm not familiar with the engine bay yet.

i dont have any pics of the oil on the top- but its not enough that i dont think the camera would pick it up.

but the oil is on top of the big black round filter canister thing.

Reply 0
May 31, 2006 | 12:51 PM
  #2  
If the oil is appearing on the air filter housing, the likely source of the oil is from the valve cover. There is a vent on the side of the valve cover, connected via a molded rubber hose, to the underside of the air filter housing. The vent is there to relieve pressure from forming under the valve cover and can carry valve train oil to the filter, where it was designed to go in such a case. Excessive oil in the housing would indicate that there is a pressure build up under the valve cover, which could be the result of bad valve stem seals (common in W201) or bad valves.

If the oil is appearing on the top of the oil filter itself (located near the firewall on the intake side and not visible in the pic) then it could be a faulty seal on the filter.
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May 31, 2006 | 02:23 PM
  #3  
Yep pull that filter housing off and look underneath and make sure the hoses are connected still under there and the oil filter is sealed properly.

On a side note! MTI where in the heck have you been? I guess I mean on the other forum?
Reply 0
May 31, 2006 | 02:57 PM
  #4  
thanks guys, when i get home today - i'll pull that lid off and see what's under it. maybe snap some photos and see if you can tell where the problem is...
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Jun 26, 2006 | 06:07 AM
  #5  
Like the airline companies currently are learning, burned oil is said to not be healty Just something to keep in mind!
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Jun 26, 2006 | 03:48 PM
  #6  
Quote: Like the airline companies currently are learning, burned oil is said to not be healty Just something to keep in mind!
talking about me or the car?
Reply 0
Jun 26, 2006 | 04:18 PM
  #7  
Burnt oil is (said to be) not good for you! Havent you heard of this? Its all over the news in Europe =)
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