Driving down the road and heard a loud pop. Everything seems normal, but there is a leak from underneath. It seems that is the leak is coming from near the transfer case. I don't know if the leak is related to the loud pop sound. The ML drives normal and no check engine light, but I did smell something burning when I pulled into the driveway. Any ideas.


Thanks in advance.

 

You have a fairly sizable oil leak there. It looks like it has been leaking for a while.

How long have you owned the vehicle?

How many miles are on the vehicle?

How many miles have you put on the vehicle?

What service has been done to the vehicle during your ownership?

 

It has about 160,000 miles and I have owned it for a few of years. The ML had about 100,000 miles when purchased.

I don't know if the ML was leaking before the loud pop. I also don't know if the oil is coming from the transfer case or near the torque converter. I am unsure if the loud pop or bang is related to the leak. The ML made it home without any dummy lights. It is shifting ok.

 

What does the leaking fluid smell like? If it were mine I would swipe some with my finger and smell it. Each fluid in a vehicle has a distinctive smell.

 

After looking it over, it does seem as if the ML has been leaking for sometime, yet I did not see any leaks during the last oil change about 3 or 4 thousand miles ago. I touched the fluid and attempted to get a smell, but I can really smell anything. It looks like oil and I think the fluid is oil. I looked way up to the back of the engine near the top and I see a spots fluid the same color. I see the same color fluid way up near the cam covers. I do believe the fluid is oil. I am including a picture of the fluid. I just don't understand what that loud pop sound was. I went back to the spot on the road where the pop occurred and I didn't see anything. She said the pop sounded like it came from the passenger side. Maybe underneath but she doesn't know.

 

I just drove the ML for about 20 miles and everything seems normal. I did not smell anything. I also opened the hood, removed the engine cover and reached behind the engine near the cam covers and when I pulled my hand back, my hand had the same color fluid on it. I believe the fluid in question at the bottom is oil, but I do not know what that loud pop was. There are no marks on the ML and I don't believe anything was run over or hit. I am at a loss and don't know what is going on.

 

The leak you have is where the engine meets the transmission, so the leak could be from the rear eng. seal or the front trans. seal, or both.

 

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping that was not the case. I will have the leak fixed after I make an appointment at a local independent shop. Thank you all for the replies. I will post an update with an estimate and the final cost to fix issue in a week or so.

 

I was having the same leak in my ML350 Bluetec , it was from pcv , if you facing the engine it's location on the left rear , my engine OM 642 , I remove it , disassymble it , clean it , it was not defected but very dirty , return it
if the pcv not working properly it will develop noise and affect the engine seals

 

The trans. must be removed and both seals must be replaced. Make sure the mechanic only uses M/B parts from a dealer.