Help finding oil leak source
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Help finding oil leak source
Hi all,
I recently saw a leak on the front driver's side of my 08 350. It's not coming from the top and running down since the camshaft magnets have been replaced and are dry. I replaced the oil cooler gasket about 10k miles ago but cleaned everything up afterwards. Valve covers are also not leaking. It's strange how the AC compressor is mostly covered in fresh oil. Could it be the power steering pump leaking slowly? I am attaching a couple of photos below. Any ideas of what to check?
Thanks!
I recently saw a leak on the front driver's side of my 08 350. It's not coming from the top and running down since the camshaft magnets have been replaced and are dry. I replaced the oil cooler gasket about 10k miles ago but cleaned everything up afterwards. Valve covers are also not leaking. It's strange how the AC compressor is mostly covered in fresh oil. Could it be the power steering pump leaking slowly? I am attaching a couple of photos below. Any ideas of what to check?
Thanks!
#2
Thorough cleaning with brakleen, test drive, use mirror and flashlight to see where the leakage is coming from. Pretty much the only way to be sure. Everything else is just a guess work.
The following users liked this post:
Overheated (12-03-2022)
#3
Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: L.A., Moscow, NYC, San Diego, Baja
Posts: 245
Received 36 Likes
on
32 Posts
1998 E320 Wagon, 2003 W211 E500, 2003 W211 E500, 1999 W210 E55 AMG
In the 2nd photo the leak appears to originate from the center of the pulley on the lower right. Notice how the color goes from dark black originating there, to grey as the oil is sprayed outwards.
#4
Member
Thread Starter
I'll clean it up and see what's going on. The pulley @Overheated is talking about is the AC compressor pulley. I haven't noticed any issues with the AC system but I'll test it and run computer diagnostics before checking pressures.
The following users liked this post:
Overheated (12-03-2022)
#5
Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: L.A., Moscow, NYC, San Diego, Baja
Posts: 245
Received 36 Likes
on
32 Posts
1998 E320 Wagon, 2003 W211 E500, 2003 W211 E500, 1999 W210 E55 AMG
I've not worked on AC, but it strikes me the unit has no fluids in it. All I see is black liquid dripping from there onto the sway bar then down. Could it be that the engine was cleaned during the recent work and the fluid is residual cleaner that's dripped?
#6
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Republic of Texas
Posts: 3,343
Received 992 Likes
on
772 Posts
'99 and '05 E55 AMG
Is the oil filter housing separate from the engine block? If so, replace the gasket fitted between the housing and the engine block. I've had to do it on both of my M113 engines. IIRC, it is a 47mm nut holding the housing to the engine block.
#7
Member
Thread Starter
@Overheated The AC system has oil in it, about 30ml or so. It gets mixed with the refrigerant when the system is operating but the goal is to lubricate the compressor and O-rings in the system. Technically it could be leaking, but I'd be losing refrigerant and oil at the same time and my compressor would soon seize.
@bbirdwell I just checked and yes, there is a part number for that gasket. I've read that the oil filter gasket is a common leak on the M112/3 engines but I don't know if it is a common thing on the M272/3. The oil cooler gasket was leaking when I first got the car and it was quite squished and hard when I took it out. You can be absolutely right and it could be the oil filter housing gasket, given the state of the oil cooler one. I'll clean up the engine and drive around and observe.
@bbirdwell I just checked and yes, there is a part number for that gasket. I've read that the oil filter gasket is a common leak on the M112/3 engines but I don't know if it is a common thing on the M272/3. The oil cooler gasket was leaking when I first got the car and it was quite squished and hard when I took it out. You can be absolutely right and it could be the oil filter housing gasket, given the state of the oil cooler one. I'll clean up the engine and drive around and observe.