Replaced oil filter housing gaskets, still have leaks
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 870
04 E55 AMG (totaled), 07 S550 4Matic, 14 E63S
Replaced oil filter housing gaskets, still have leaks
I replaced the oil filter housing gasket plus the two oil cooler plate gaskets. I also threw in a new pressure port gasket. However I am still getting some oil leaks in the front left of the engine bay. I see oil collecting at the left bottom radiator support, all along the anti-roll bar and there may be some oil getting flung by the serpentine belt/pulleys. I don't honestly see major leaks from the valve cover gaskets. Anything I should really focus on here? Is there some hose that runs up in the front left engine bay near the radiator that I should be looking at? I see no oil at all on the oil pan directly under the front main seal.
I will say both of my drain plugs are leaking but I don't think oil could go forward. And I will be replacing those washers on the next oil change. There is plenty on the oil pan cover but I THINK the front leak is something else. Not sure. I thought for sure the gaskets I replaced would have at least cured the front left engine bay leak....
I can try to get pics if it helps.
I will say both of my drain plugs are leaking but I don't think oil could go forward. And I will be replacing those washers on the next oil change. There is plenty on the oil pan cover but I THINK the front leak is something else. Not sure. I thought for sure the gaskets I replaced would have at least cured the front left engine bay leak....
I can try to get pics if it helps.
Last edited by kevm14; Apr 24, 2021 at 08:48 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 293
Likes: 20
From: Houston/Plano, TX
2005 E55, 2009 VW GLI
Off the top of my head, oil leak culprits on the driver's side to consider are your valve cover gaskets, oil cap seal, oil filter housing gaskets and line seals, power steering reservoir seal, power steering cap, power steering high pressure hose crush gasket, and high pressure hose joint fitting leaks.
Let us know what you find. Good luck!
Let us know what you find. Good luck!
I replaced the oil filter housing gasket plus the two oil cooler plate gaskets. I also threw in a new pressure port gasket. However I am still getting some oil leaks in the front left of the engine bay. I see oil collecting at the left bottom radiator support, all along the anti-roll bar and there may be some oil getting flung by the serpentine belt/pulleys. I don't honestly see major leaks from the valve cover gaskets. Anything I should really focus on here? Is there some hose that runs up in the front left engine bay near the radiator that I should be looking at? I see no oil at all on the oil pan directly under the front main seal.
I will say both of my drain plugs are leaking but I don't think oil could go forward. And I will be replacing those washers on the next oil change. There is plenty on the oil pan cover but I THINK the front leak is something else. Not sure. I thought for sure the gaskets I replaced would have at least cured the front left engine bay leak....
I can try to get pics if it helps.
I will say both of my drain plugs are leaking but I don't think oil could go forward. And I will be replacing those washers on the next oil change. There is plenty on the oil pan cover but I THINK the front leak is something else. Not sure. I thought for sure the gaskets I replaced would have at least cured the front left engine bay leak....
I can try to get pics if it helps.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 870
04 E55 AMG (totaled), 07 S550 4Matic, 14 E63S
Thanks. I will check to see if I think oil is leaking from the bottom of the filter housing. Or wipe it clean and drive some and check again. Don't want to pull it apart again unless oil really seems to be coming from there. I was super careful about the housing gasket alignment...
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 870
04 E55 AMG (totaled), 07 S550 4Matic, 14 E63S
I don't know that it's leaking. But there was a youtube video I watched where the guy said his oil cooler lines leaked but only over a certain RPM. Maybe I need to have someone rev the engine and check that area, too.
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 6,020
Likes: 532
From: Alexandria, VA
07 E63 AMG, 10 C63 AMG, 07 E63 Designo, 07 E350, 09 C300, 07 C230
I was at Benz Elite Automotive getting my car lowered. My tech had his E55 on the lift, he also had an oil leak that we traced back to his oil filter housing. 
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 870
04 E55 AMG (totaled), 07 S550 4Matic, 14 E63S
Well the good news for him is the job is very easy. He'll just have to pop for a $12 46mm socket on Amazon (or he already has one). Gaskets are under $50 for all 3. Hardest part of the job honestly is wrestling with that stupid 8 foot long serpentine belt. And I wonder if that was only necessary because I did the timing cover pressure test port gasket as part of the service.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 870
04 E55 AMG (totaled), 07 S550 4Matic, 14 E63S
I just had my son rev it to 3k and then 4k (I think the limiter is just under) while I looked in the front left area of the engine bay. I saw NOTHING abnormal. No spraying oil from failed cooler lines, nothing dripping. It seems like the leak may be intermittent...I'll keep my eye on it I guess.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 453
Likes: 50
From: East Coast, USA
Mercedes CLS 55 AMG
I just had my son rev it to 3k and then 4k (I think the limiter is just under) while I looked in the front left area of the engine bay. I saw NOTHING abnormal. No spraying oil from failed cooler lines, nothing dripping. It seems like the leak may be intermittent...I'll keep my eye on it I guess.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 870
04 E55 AMG (totaled), 07 S550 4Matic, 14 E63S
I was under it again for an oil change. I saw what seemed to be drippage from the front pan drain plug which may have been what was wetting the anti-roll bar? Used a new washer and torqued to spec (on both). At the rear it's a bit worse. Seems like a combo of maybe an oil pan leak (or maybe a very rear drivers side valve cover leak, couldn't confirm) and rear main. There was a pool of oil in the rear cover. Nice. I think the rear drain plug was also dripping but I don't think it's the main cause of the rear leaks.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 870
04 E55 AMG (totaled), 07 S550 4Matic, 14 E63S
I changed my oil from LiquiMoly 5W-40 to M1 Formula M 5W-40 (only including for extra info) and put about 100 miles on it, 75% highway. I contorted my hand and felt under the oil filter housing and it felt pretty dry to me. So maybe that's not still leaking.
