Help! Oil Leak
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 25
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1999 E430 Sport
Help! Oil Leak
My 99 E430 has sprung an oil leak. There is no apparent leak from the top side. From below the engine, I have tracked the oil up as high as the base of the belt tensioner. What is the most likely source of the leak? Any suggestions on how to diagnose and correct are much appreciated......
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 355
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2007 S-550, 2001 E-430 & 1997 E-420
I had oil leak on my 1997 E-420. I found it was the gasket on lower oil pan. See the second photo
The way oil was splash all over, I though it was coming from bell housing or transmission, but came out to be oil pan.
$50 for gasket and 1 hour of DIY.
The way oil was splash all over, I though it was coming from bell housing or transmission, but came out to be oil pan.
$50 for gasket and 1 hour of DIY.
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Joined: Apr 2007
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300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
Different engine,different design
Clean it and look at the oil pressure port plug just above the tensioner and below the oil filter canister.They leak.Easy diy.I may have given it the wrong name but that's how I refer to it.
2 outer fittings and one torx plug in the center that you remove and replace the seal.Cheapest part the dealer probably carries
it screws into the block
2 outer fittings and one torx plug in the center that you remove and replace the seal.Cheapest part the dealer probably carriesit screws into the block
Last edited by ohlord; Nov 12, 2008 at 02:46 AM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 25
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1999 E430 Sport
Oil Pressure Port Plug
does appear to be the problem but will need to clean and get a better view once the engine cools later tonight or in the morning. A seal replacement....let's hope it is that easy. Thanks for the replies and to Ohlord for pointing me in the right direction. I'll keep all updated. Any idea if both fittings need to be removed or can the top one be removed and pivoted once the lower one is loosened? The reason I ask is it appears that the belt might be in the way of the lower fitting removal.
I'll keep all updated. Any idea if both fittings need to be removed or can the top one be removed and pivoted once the lower one is loosened? The reason I ask is it appears that the belt might be in the way of the lower fitting removal.
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Joined: Apr 2007
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300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
Just
depress the belt down to the bottom of it's half inch play.You can get the star socket on it ,no problem.Wrap the belt in glad wrap,so you don't get any oil on it.Clean front of engine with a spray of gunk foamy engine brite and a garden hose not a pressure washer when done.
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Junior Member
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1999 E430 Sport
Fixed
After cleaning and running the engine, oil did drop from the port plug as predicted. Went to the dealer to buy the seal. They also call this part the seal ring for the cap on the timing case (which is a bit wordy for me). $3.30 for the seal ring. Needed to provide VIN since there are two designs for the 1999. Thanks for the glad wrap suggestion, saved cleanup. Put a rag below part when removing to catch the teaspoon of oil that dripped out upon removal. While at the dealership, I treated myself to an early Christmas and bought the radio keys ($7.26) and bulb for my climate control module ($4.13).
Enjoy the pictures and I'll find a thread to add today's victory of spending $223 (parts and labor) to replace both cats. Thanks for all the helpful guidance Ohlord....... jplion
Enjoy the pictures and I'll find a thread to add today's victory of spending $223 (parts and labor) to replace both cats. Thanks for all the helpful guidance Ohlord....... jplion
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Newbie
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1
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1999 mb e320
Same problem....hopefully same fix
Having the same problem with the leak coming from the timing case front cover seal. Heading off to the dealer for another seal. Will post pics in a bit.
Thanks for having this problem before me and even more thanks for having resolved it --making it easy for me to make my fix.
Thanks for having this problem before me and even more thanks for having resolved it --making it easy for me to make my fix.
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Newbie
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1
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W210
Draining motor oil first?
After cleaning and running the engine, oil did drop from the port plug as predicted. Went to the dealer to buy the seal. They also call this part the seal ring for the cap on the timing case (which is a bit wordy for me). $3.30 for the seal ring. Needed to provide VIN since there are two designs for the 1999. Thanks for the glad wrap suggestion, saved cleanup. Put a rag below part when removing to catch the teaspoon of oil that dripped out upon removal. While at the dealership, I treated myself to an early Christmas and bought the radio keys ($7.26) and bulb for my climate control module ($4.13). Enjoy the pictures and I'll find a thread to add today's victory of spending $223 (parts and labor) to replace both cats. Thanks for all the helpful guidance Ohlord....... jplion
Enjoy the pictures and I'll find a thread to add today's victory of spending $223 (parts and labor) to replace both cats. Thanks for all the helpful guidance Ohlord....... jplion
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Südflorida
'99 E430, '05 ML500, '15 GLK350
The oil level at rest is way below the oil pressure port. You may get a little bit (spoonful) out but as long as the engine os off, no more than that.
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1
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e 430
Hi Guys,
I had a similar problem on my E430.
Found to be oil leaking from the two rubber seals between the oil cooler and the oil filter housing. 4 x hex head bolts hold the oil cooler onto the filter housing. Easy to remove and found the two seals had gone hard over time and no longer giving a good seal.
Oil was dripping from the underside of the oil cooler housing onto the serpentine belt and being thrown around the front of the engine. Made a mess but steam cleaned oil away and replaced the serpentine belt which by this time was ruined by the oil.
I would be interested to know if anyone else has had the same problem.
I had a similar problem on my E430.
Found to be oil leaking from the two rubber seals between the oil cooler and the oil filter housing. 4 x hex head bolts hold the oil cooler onto the filter housing. Easy to remove and found the two seals had gone hard over time and no longer giving a good seal.
Oil was dripping from the underside of the oil cooler housing onto the serpentine belt and being thrown around the front of the engine. Made a mess but steam cleaned oil away and replaced the serpentine belt which by this time was ruined by the oil.
I would be interested to know if anyone else has had the same problem.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 541
Likes: 22
From: USA
10 speed bicycle
After cleaning and running the engine, oil did drop from the port plug as predicted. Went to the dealer to buy the seal. They also call this part the seal ring for the cap on the timing case (which is a bit wordy for me). $3.30 for the seal ring. Needed to provide VIN since there are two designs for the 1999. Thanks for the glad wrap suggestion, saved cleanup. Put a rag below part when removing to catch the teaspoon of oil that dripped out upon removal. While at the dealership, I treated myself to an early Christmas and bought the radio keys ($7.26) and bulb for my climate control module ($4.13). Enjoy the pictures and I'll find a thread to add today's victory of spending $223 (parts and labor) to replace both cats. Thanks for all the helpful guidance Ohlord....... jplion
Enjoy the pictures and I'll find a thread to add today's victory of spending $223 (parts and labor) to replace both cats. Thanks for all the helpful guidance Ohlord....... jplion
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1
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sl500 e430
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2
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E430 Avantgarde
Thanks
Hi Guys,
Just wanted to thank you as it turned out this was the issue with my E430. The leaking oil made a right mess of the lower engine bay.
For anybody else, ask the dealer for a:
"Seal Ring" 112 184 01 61
This should help them know what you are talking about.
Just wanted to thank you as it turned out this was the issue with my E430. The leaking oil made a right mess of the lower engine bay.
For anybody else, ask the dealer for a:
"Seal Ring" 112 184 01 61
This should help them know what you are talking about.
Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, TX
1998 E320 4-Matic Wagon
Thanks all, for your knowledge. My old E320 wagon started loosing oil at an alarming rate. There was so much oil leaking out, it was hard to pin point. I took a chance and spent a whopping $3.60 (inc. tax) for a new ring seal. Amazing. Leak is gone.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
E430
Hi Guys,
I had a similar problem on my E430.
Found to be oil leaking from the two rubber seals between the oil cooler and the oil filter housing. 4 x hex head bolts hold the oil cooler onto the filter housing. Easy to remove and found the two seals had gone hard over time and no longer giving a good seal.
Oil was dripping from the underside of the oil cooler housing onto the serpentine belt and being thrown around the front of the engine. Made a mess but steam cleaned oil away and replaced the serpentine belt which by this time was ruined by the oil.
I would be interested to know if anyone else has had the same problem.
I had a similar problem on my E430.
Found to be oil leaking from the two rubber seals between the oil cooler and the oil filter housing. 4 x hex head bolts hold the oil cooler onto the filter housing. Easy to remove and found the two seals had gone hard over time and no longer giving a good seal.
Oil was dripping from the underside of the oil cooler housing onto the serpentine belt and being thrown around the front of the engine. Made a mess but steam cleaned oil away and replaced the serpentine belt which by this time was ruined by the oil.
I would be interested to know if anyone else has had the same problem.
PS: the photo is after cleanup
Thanks for the tip
