Leaking Fluid all over the garage floor! What could it be?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
C320 4Matic & GLK350 4Matic
Leaking Fluid all over the garage floor! What could it be?
Happy New Year everyone.
I went away for the new year and had my 2003 c320 4matic stored in the garage for the trip for the weekend. Upon returning and pulling the car out of the garage I found a large puddle of what appears to be oil with a greenish tint. Could this fluid be radiator fluid or oil? I recently had the transmission mount replaced and several weeks ago noticed a small puddle on my GF's driveway but the rain had sinced washed the spot away. Any help you could provide would be appreciated. I have yet to take the pan off and get under the car but can't see any leaks from the top side.
Thanks!
I went away for the new year and had my 2003 c320 4matic stored in the garage for the trip for the weekend. Upon returning and pulling the car out of the garage I found a large puddle of what appears to be oil with a greenish tint. Could this fluid be radiator fluid or oil? I recently had the transmission mount replaced and several weeks ago noticed a small puddle on my GF's driveway but the rain had sinced washed the spot away. Any help you could provide would be appreciated. I have yet to take the pan off and get under the car but can't see any leaks from the top side.
Thanks!
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 506
Likes: 1
From: Argyle, TX
10 Tahoe LT, 07 Silverado Z71, 99 BMW R1100RT
If it is green in color, then it most likely is coolant. Check your coolant level, then start tracing the leak. Don't run the car for too long so that the coolant will fly all around as it will make it more difficult to locate the leak.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,267
Likes: 170
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Not necessarily. Tranny fluid thats been in the car a while turns from red to green.
If you wipe it up with a white paper towel, it's most definitely green.
Coolant is yellow typically, (though mine was blue from the factory)
NOT green and most resembles water not
oil since it's 1/2 H2O.
Check around the electrical connector by the tranny.
If it's leaking from there you want to replace the orings rights away before it wicks into the harness and destroys the TCU.
See here for an example. When you buy the orings now they make you buy the plastic piece too, and it's designated a "pilot" bearing or bushing or some such nonsense.
I do mine in conjunction with fluid change since that's when people seem to see trouble, when going from the old spec oil to the new.
So if they flushed the tranny and put new spec fluid, it almost invariably leaks after that.
Or just with age. A maint. item that isn't part of MB's things they would think to replace
regularly. You can replace it without replacing the fluid if you want, but you'll need a quart of fluid, you'll lose about 8-16 oz when you pull the connector.
http://installuniversity.com/mb/w203...on-o-ring.html
If you haven't done a full flush, and you are planning to DIY, now would be a good time, just do it all at once! Once you've got the car high enough off the ground to replace the orings, it just makes sense to
dump the tranny fluid too.
Check my all things AT related thread.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...n-related.html
If you wipe it up with a white paper towel, it's most definitely green.
Coolant is yellow typically, (though mine was blue from the factory)
NOT green and most resembles water not
oil since it's 1/2 H2O.
Check around the electrical connector by the tranny.
If it's leaking from there you want to replace the orings rights away before it wicks into the harness and destroys the TCU.
See here for an example. When you buy the orings now they make you buy the plastic piece too, and it's designated a "pilot" bearing or bushing or some such nonsense.
I do mine in conjunction with fluid change since that's when people seem to see trouble, when going from the old spec oil to the new.
So if they flushed the tranny and put new spec fluid, it almost invariably leaks after that.
Or just with age. A maint. item that isn't part of MB's things they would think to replace
regularly. You can replace it without replacing the fluid if you want, but you'll need a quart of fluid, you'll lose about 8-16 oz when you pull the connector.
http://installuniversity.com/mb/w203...on-o-ring.html
If you haven't done a full flush, and you are planning to DIY, now would be a good time, just do it all at once! Once you've got the car high enough off the ground to replace the orings, it just makes sense to
dump the tranny fluid too.
Check my all things AT related thread.
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...n-related.html
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; Jan 2, 2012 at 02:26 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
C320 4Matic & GLK350 4Matic
Well I brought my car into my local garage. They said it is tranny fluid leaking from around the transmission case somewhere but cannot locate the source.
I have not flushed the tranny fluid yet. I'm thinking of bringing it into the dealer for service this week to have the tranny flushed and O ring replaced. I'm hoping that is the source. I will get under the car tonight and see if I could find the source of the leak.
I have not flushed the tranny fluid yet. I'm thinking of bringing it into the dealer for service this week to have the tranny flushed and O ring replaced. I'm hoping that is the source. I will get under the car tonight and see if I could find the source of the leak.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 192
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
It's likely the Electrohydraulic bush. The fluid does get a green look to it & German fluid is green/straw in colour anyway.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
C320 4Matic & GLK350 4Matic
I appreciate the responses. The dealer quoted me $350 for a tranny flush and I'm not sure if he said that included parts and labor. (It was a message) As far as the leak they said they would have to take a look at it to evaluate where it is coming from. I think I'm going to let the dealer handle the tranny service as it is a major component to the car. The car has about 75K so I think this service is due.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,339
Likes: 11
From: Gulf Coast but not Florida
GLK350, SL63 AMG
Straw colour/color
I know my fluid was changed at 40k by the dealer with MB fluid. At the next change it came out straw colored which twisted some minds used to the red stuff but my tech just smiled. The main points are to check all the things Glyn said and make sure the fluid replacement includes the torque converter, filter change, magnet cleaning and exam of the electronic plug. If the pan is leaking they should clean the pan and replace the gasket.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
C320 4Matic & GLK350 4Matic
Dealership Quote, problems Identified
So I brought the car into the dealership and they found the following problems and associated repair prices:
Pilot Bushing/Electric Connector Seal Leaking $210.00
Rear Main Engine Seal Leaking $2100.00 for parts and labor!
Transmission Service, Filter change, doesn't include torque converter flushed.
What do you guys think I should do? I'm going to call an Indy today and get prices.
Pilot Bushing/Electric Connector Seal Leaking $210.00
Rear Main Engine Seal Leaking $2100.00 for parts and labor!
Transmission Service, Filter change, doesn't include torque converter flushed.
What do you guys think I should do? I'm going to call an Indy today and get prices.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8,384
Likes: 800
2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
$210 for the leaking pilot bushing? 
Stupid, stupid dealer. The pilot bushing can be had for about $6-8 dollars from RMEuropean.com and replaced yourself or by an indy in literally like 5 minutes.
I'm not sure about the rear main seal but I can guarantee you if you find a good indy mechanic you can get it done cheaper than that.
Stupid, stupid dealer. The pilot bushing can be had for about $6-8 dollars from RMEuropean.com and replaced yourself or by an indy in literally like 5 minutes.
I'm not sure about the rear main seal but I can guarantee you if you find a good indy mechanic you can get it done cheaper than that.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,714
Likes: 56
From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
Depends on how much the engine rear seal is leaking. Check before spending your hard earned.
They can go for years with a weep.
In fact when some seals weep it keeps the material in good condition & prolongs life.
They can go for years with a weep.
In fact when some seals weep it keeps the material in good condition & prolongs life.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,714
Likes: 56
From: 1 hours drive north of Sydney Australia
2007 W204 220CDI Classic Sedan
Glyn, Mostly on older seal types.All the engine/gearbox/ diff seals weeped slightly on my 1979 504 & were never changed in 28 years & 450,000 km..They considered the little lubrication advantageous.
I had a weep on my 220CDI ATM rear seal during warranty & MB said that it really did not warrant a new one but they changed it for me anyway.
With the case in question I would evaluate how much Tri-Stars engine rear seal is leaking first or whether the dealer was looking for work.He went in for the transmission leak.
I had a weep on my 220CDI ATM rear seal during warranty & MB said that it really did not warrant a new one but they changed it for me anyway.
With the case in question I would evaluate how much Tri-Stars engine rear seal is leaking first or whether the dealer was looking for work.He went in for the transmission leak.
Last edited by Carsy; Jan 7, 2012 at 01:21 AM. Reason: add
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
C320 4Matic & GLK350 4Matic
I brought the car to an indy who said the same exact thing. They are going to see how bad the rear main seal is leaking and explained that they can weep and last while that. They quoted me $1000 for that being taken care of. I'm going to have them look things over and go from there as far as what actually needs to be replaced. Thank you for all the insight and I'll keep everyone updated.
