Oil Leak from Rubber Hose - What is it?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 6
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From: Ashburn, VA
08' GL450, 08' M Roadster, 02' CLK55
Oil Leak from Rubber Hose - What is it?
Hi all,
New to me owner of a GL450 and new to the forum here. Hoping you can tell me what little rubber hose this is under the engine compartment that's slowly leaking oil. Please see picture and thanks for your help!
New to me owner of a GL450 and new to the forum here. Hoping you can tell me what little rubber hose this is under the engine compartment that's slowly leaking oil. Please see picture and thanks for your help!
Last edited by btsoom1; Dec 27, 2016 at 12:44 PM.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 6
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From: Ashburn, VA
08' GL450, 08' M Roadster, 02' CLK55
Hi Plutoe - Thanks for the reply. Sorry, *new to me* GL450, it is a 2008. I've had the car in the shop twice recently for an oil change and to replace the oil separator and cam plugs but still have a very small/slow oil leak (a couple of drops a day?). Funny thing is the oil leak only showed up after the oil change but the technicians are having trouble identifying the exact cause of the leak.
I don't have a lift myself and was hoping to narrow down the problem before taking it to another shop.
I don't have a lift myself and was hoping to narrow down the problem before taking it to another shop.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Ashburn, VA
08' GL450, 08' M Roadster, 02' CLK55
So I just rolled around under the car for a few more minutes trying again to identify where the leak is coming from and followed the moisture to part of the steering system? Perhaps I confused the leak to be oil and it's power steering fluid. More photos below, first two from underneath the car show some drips and the third looking down from the engine bay onto the location where the leak might be originating... Thanks again for the help.
Last edited by btsoom1; Dec 27, 2016 at 01:21 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,932
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From: Allentown, PA
'08 GL 320 CDI
The best way to find a leak is to start with everything clean and then monitor closely. However, you may be able to follow that trail just the way it is. Although you can slide under the vehicle just the way it is, a set of car ramps or jack stands can be a good purchase if you're wanting to do this kind of stuff yourself.
Is this something you'd feel comfortable doing, and finding out more about on a forum, or is it something you'd just leave the shop, anyways?
With that picture, it's really hard to tell where the oil is coming FROM - we can only really tell where it's dripping to. Try following the slick on the tops side of the hose in both directions.
Is it possible that this is still leftover "spillage" from the oil change?
Is this something you'd feel comfortable doing, and finding out more about on a forum, or is it something you'd just leave the shop, anyways?
With that picture, it's really hard to tell where the oil is coming FROM - we can only really tell where it's dripping to. Try following the slick on the tops side of the hose in both directions.
Is it possible that this is still leftover "spillage" from the oil change?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 291
From: Allentown, PA
'08 GL 320 CDI
Ha! We were posting at the same time - you answered some of the questions I had posed.
It's still kinda hard to tell anything from the pictures (at least for me, anyways). But it's not your picture-taking skills - it's just the nature of the beast without being there in person to see it.
I'd still start by cleaning things REAL well. Brakleen is great for this - get the non-chlorinated kind as it's safer. Once you have everything clean, it'll be much easier. Monitor often as "windage" can mask things. Do you monitor your fluid levels (oil, steering, etc)?
It's still kinda hard to tell anything from the pictures (at least for me, anyways). But it's not your picture-taking skills - it's just the nature of the beast without being there in person to see it.
I'd still start by cleaning things REAL well. Brakleen is great for this - get the non-chlorinated kind as it's safer. Once you have everything clean, it'll be much easier. Monitor often as "windage" can mask things. Do you monitor your fluid levels (oil, steering, etc)?
Newbie
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 11
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2008 GL 450
You may want to investigate the connection between the powersteering fluid tank and the powersteering pump. This has been known to be a common leak point. There is an o-ring there that tends to fail. Good luck.
