help needed with oil leak
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help needed with oil leak
Hi there
my problems started with over filling my e300td (98) with a little too much oil,
i had a short trip after which i drained the excess out, but on and off ever since i get oil leaking out at the hose joint for the intercooler.
My question is pretty simple - should there be oil going to the intercooler or is it meant to be air that is cooled there.
If there is not meant to be oil there can anyone tell me how to fix it - which seal will need replaced etc.
Many thanks to all who read this.
Dave.
my problems started with over filling my e300td (98) with a little too much oil,
i had a short trip after which i drained the excess out, but on and off ever since i get oil leaking out at the hose joint for the intercooler.
My question is pretty simple - should there be oil going to the intercooler or is it meant to be air that is cooled there.
If there is not meant to be oil there can anyone tell me how to fix it - which seal will need replaced etc.
Many thanks to all who read this.
Dave.
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From: Santa Clarita, CA
1987 E300 TD
It seems normal with my car because on the intake hose, just before the turbo there is a tube coming from the block....that dumps access gases back into the motor. I took off my intercooler hoses because I replaced them with a set of stainless steel mesh hoses, and I noticed a little oil on the connectors as well....so I'm guessing it's in the norm?
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response
hi josh
would love to agree, but im afraid its not just a little oil, im losing around a litre of oil every week-fortnight, leaving oil puddles everywhere i go.
Its soo bad im considering going to the dealership.
Just to clarify the intercooler is cooling air? So where would the oil be coming from?
Any help apprieciated.
would love to agree, but im afraid its not just a little oil, im losing around a litre of oil every week-fortnight, leaving oil puddles everywhere i go.
Its soo bad im considering going to the dealership.
Just to clarify the intercooler is cooling air? So where would the oil be coming from?
Any help apprieciated.
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From: Santa Clarita, CA
1987 E300 TD
When I mentioned a hose going into the side of the intake line, it does push through access gases and some of which is oil. As for you losing 1 liter per week that sounds like a major issue, and I would recommend you going to the stearlership as I've yet so see anyone else here answer the problem. The intercooler does cool the boosted air right before it goes into the intake. But that sounds horrific if you are losing 1 liter through your intercooler system...are you sure your not leaking anywhere else?
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hmmm
thanks for clarifiying that josh, i guess the worst case is a sort of head gasget replacement type job. I would love there to be an alternative explanation like leaking breather etc but i would love to know if there is some sort of baffle system on these pipes that keeps oil where it should be and that that is what needs replace saving me lots of work.
will let you know final resoloution when it happens.
Dave.
will let you know final resoloution when it happens.
Dave.
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solution
Hi folks
Just an update on the pesky oil leak.
Firstly the leak is at the oil cooler. this is a seperate unit from the radiator/intercooler. The leak was from the threads on the pipe that is on the passanger side of the car and when we tried to remove it the alloy threads sheared off in the pipe. As did the other side when completly removed. This leads to the conclusion that corrosion was the culprit as the second pipe also tore off its associated alloy thread. This is also backed up by the fact that MB keep these pipes in stock.
Will update when i finish the job as im waiting on parts atm.
Just an update on the pesky oil leak.
Firstly the leak is at the oil cooler. this is a seperate unit from the radiator/intercooler. The leak was from the threads on the pipe that is on the passanger side of the car and when we tried to remove it the alloy threads sheared off in the pipe. As did the other side when completly removed. This leads to the conclusion that corrosion was the culprit as the second pipe also tore off its associated alloy thread. This is also backed up by the fact that MB keep these pipes in stock.
Will update when i finish the job as im waiting on parts atm.
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1999 300 Turbo Diesel
Hey Dave,
My 99 300 Turbodiesel just started leaking from that oil cooler... would welcome any lessons learned, before tearing the front off.
Would welcome to find how you got to that cooler?
Removed wheel well, or head light, or both?
Thank you, newby in Calgary, Canada
My 99 300 Turbodiesel just started leaking from that oil cooler... would welcome any lessons learned, before tearing the front off.
Would welcome to find how you got to that cooler?
Removed wheel well, or head light, or both?
Thank you, newby in Calgary, Canada
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2001 E320 Avant turbo diesel
I have the exact same thing fairly major oil seepage on the connection at the IC, I was wondering if the pipe had perished and lost a good seal it looks that way to me.. with a suspected boost leak on my car Ive been tempted to take it off and feel if good boost was getting through the IC and the Pipe itself but I am glad I never did ha .. the turbo side didnt look fab either any one know how much the 2 pipes cost
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1999 300 Turbo Diesel
You may want to inspect the rubber frame mounts for lines running to/from oil cooler, driver side under the wiper fluid reservoir. Mine were "gone", so the lines were exposed to diesl vibrations, unsupported. Let me tell you what I find over the weekend, expect just can install new mounts, and unscrew, and retighten the pipe fittings into back into the cooler, and no more leaks. BTW my fuel lines all leaked at o-rings (seals) in the connectors, that smudged up my intercooler pipe to manifold connection. No boost leaks whatsoever... :-)
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Hey Folks
Just thought i should give my experience as requested.
parts were not cheap, the intercooler was pricy at £221.00 from euro car parts
the pipes were also a bit of an issue at £53 for the pair from merc, who sent me one correct and the other too long which had to be botched slightly.
Access was easy, just the floor off and i think i took off the bumper to help. no wings or headlights to move. In hindsight read the manual never over fill with oil, and if you suffer the same leak try just tightening the unions by 1/8 of a turn, these are common faults due to corrosion. which leads me to beleive that it was on its last legs anyway, just be carefull with the other major components round there, lots of expensive things like the radiator can get damaged. All in took 2 days most of the time spent trying to fix old parts or waiting for new ones. replacement was always going to be better.
Just thought i should give my experience as requested.
parts were not cheap, the intercooler was pricy at £221.00 from euro car parts
the pipes were also a bit of an issue at £53 for the pair from merc, who sent me one correct and the other too long which had to be botched slightly.
Access was easy, just the floor off and i think i took off the bumper to help. no wings or headlights to move. In hindsight read the manual never over fill with oil, and if you suffer the same leak try just tightening the unions by 1/8 of a turn, these are common faults due to corrosion. which leads me to beleive that it was on its last legs anyway, just be carefull with the other major components round there, lots of expensive things like the radiator can get damaged. All in took 2 days most of the time spent trying to fix old parts or waiting for new ones. replacement was always going to be better.
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1999 300 Turbo Diesel
Replaced Oil Lines
Took three evenings, to remove the unions from that cooler, badly seized due to corrosion by steel nuts on alluminum threads. Ended up sawing off lines, sawing off union nuts, and then gently break and remove what remained. Install was uneventfull. No leaks in first go, runs just fine, again.
Only removed front undercover, and driver side wheel and wheel well liner.
Wondering what is next in store...
Only removed front undercover, and driver side wheel and wheel well liner.
Wondering what is next in store...
