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98 e300D-T oil pan gasket replacement

Old May 16, 2012 | 10:26 PM
  #1  
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From: San Antonio, TX, USA
98 E300
98 e300D-T oil pan gasket replacement

I have an oil leak that appears to be coming from the front of the oil pan under the alternator.

I've searched and cannot find a procedure or tips on how to pull the pan to replace the gasket. It looks like the engine needs to come up high enough so the pan can clear the subframe and steering rack. Shops are quoting 10 hrs of labor.

Does anyone know any tricks? Thanks for any help.
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Old May 17, 2012 | 10:45 AM
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That's one seal I have yet to address on my car. Are you 100% certain it is the oil pan gasket? Is the alternator wet with oil? If so, check a few other items in there:
-the oil supply line to the turbo
-headgasket on exhaust manifold side

Getting a month subscription to EPC Net can be a lifesaver. It will list many of the repair procedures you need to do. For example, I used it to identify the steps in my headgasket repair job.
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Old May 17, 2012 | 11:26 AM
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300E a couple 1994 w124wagon E320 Wagon/,1971MGB Track/Rally, MG Midget Autocross ,2000 E320 wagon.
Have you cleaned

and dried the area and puffed some talcum powder on the area to detect where the leak is originating? If the oil pan you can loosen slightly all bolts and then re torque them in proper pattern to factory specs,often times solving the leakage issue.
Attached Thumbnails 98 e300D-T oil pan gasket replacement-sitting-co-pilot-seat-b-25-mitchell-bomber.jpg  
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Old May 18, 2012 | 12:52 PM
  #4  
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From: San Antonio, TX, USA
98 E300
Originally Posted by EdzBenz
That's one seal I have yet to address on my car. Are you 100% certain it is the oil pan gasket? Is the alternator wet with oil? If so, check a few other items in there:
-the oil supply line to the turbo
-headgasket on exhaust manifold side

Getting a month subscription to EPC Net can be a lifesaver. It will list many of the repair procedures you need to do. For example, I used it to identify the steps in my headgasket repair job.
Originally Posted by ohlord
and dried the area and puffed some talcum powder on the area to detect where the leak is originating? If the oil pan you can loosen slightly all bolts and then re torque them in proper pattern to factory specs,often times solving the leakage issue.
Thanks for the responses. After reading them I again cleaned the engine, then idled for about 15 minutes before checking again. I'm certain it is the gasket to the block. I took many photos and made this album.

here are a few shots:
pan under main seal before cleaning/idling


and after


turbo oil supply connection


turbo oil return connection before idling


and after idling (no change)


here is the source of the leak before cleaning


and then after cleaning and idling


it appears to be coming from the area in the fastener adjacent to the main suspect too


lastly some shots of the block/pan interface showing seepage




So I'm convinced that the pan gasket is the source of the problem.

EdzBenz- I will take your advice about the temp subscription to EPCNet. If I actually go through with this after looking at that material, I will take photos and put together a DIY.

If anyone else has any suggestions, please let me know!
thanks
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Old May 21, 2012 | 11:08 AM
  #5  
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Good research and photos. Definitely the pan gasket. The forum would certainly benefit if you posted a DIY of this job! Good luck,
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Old May 21, 2012 | 11:40 AM
  #6  
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98 E300
After spending the weekend with a temp subscription to WIS, I have decided to live with the leak for now. Biggest issue I face is lifting the engine enough to pull the pan out to properly clean the surfaces.

At this time I am not losing a significant amount of oil. (I have never needed to add oil between changes) I will be placing an absorbant mat between the pan and lower engine cover and replacing it when it is saturated.

Thanks again for the suggestion to get the WIS subscription. I've saved many diagrams and procedures that will come in handy in the future.
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