W221 Oil leak

[alexanderfoti]

Hi all

My 221 S65 has a largish oil leak.

I have done the rockers, and its still clean on the top of the engine, so not those.

Owing to the amount that is crammed underneath, I am finding it difficult to locate where the oil leak is. There is a lot of oil in between the sump and the gearbox and it seems to be washing down. It is 100% engine oil.

I suppose it can only be turbo's or rear main seal, unless there are other locations I should be looking?

 

[Steve@Avantgarde]

Any photos Alex?

 

[alexanderfoti]

Any photos Alex?

Will get it on the ramps and get some today/tomorrow. Its making a mess of my driveway

 

[alexanderfoti]

Done.

Under tray and nearside section of sump. This bit seems the worst. This was cleaned 2-300 miles ago.



Left turbo wastegate actuator:

That bracket with the oil on it appears to be the highest point of oil on this side.

 

[alexanderfoti]

You helped me answer my own question. Its leaking from the plate with 3 bolts in it. Appears to be next to the pipe that goes off to the oil cooler. Now I have to find out what its for on EPC.

 

[alexanderfoti]

OK so its the oil cooler thermostat that is bolted to the side of the block.



If I clean the oil off and start the engine, oil appears between the pressed metal plate, and the body of the housing (where the droplet is in the last picture of the car).

I think its going to be obvious that its probably the gasket to the block that is leaking, and no easy way of changing other than removing the engine?

 

[alexanderfoti]

Its definitely leaking between that cover with 3 bolts on it and the housing. I may be able to get to the bolts if I remove the passenger side engine mount and bracket. Of course, EPC does not list an O-ring for this part.

 

[LostKiwi]

You may be lucky and find the bolts are just loose...

 

[alexanderfoti]

You may be lucky and find the bolts are just loose...

Already checked that

 

[Botus]

can't see depth properly in the photo....

are you taking it from alongside the gearbox looking to wards front of car?

If so can you support engine, remove that engine mount.... then looks easy to do from beneath...


or if my bearings are way out.... how about once you pull the gearbox out to sort that issue the clutch / bands

 

[alexanderfoti]

can't see depth properly in the photo....

can you support engine, remove that engine mount.... then looks easy to do from beneath...

If I can get the mount off in situ, then yes access should be straight forward. However, I am not 100% sure on whether I can access all the torx bolts, especially that one near the vac pod.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Have had a further look today, Should be do-able, but one bolt seems to be difficult to access as the starter is in the way. Will mentally pepare myself....

 

[ajlsl600]

Have had a further look today, Should be do-able, but one bolt seems to be difficult to access as the starter is in the way. Will mentally pepare myself....

will mentally prepare myself, sounds like my everyday, i usually have to find a way to make the tooling as well. most stuff here std and or chinesse and as you know,these days very little std tooling will actually get a proper fix on whatever fixing the daft gits used to retain whatever you must move. sound familiar.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Hehe I know the feeling! Too much time has been spent making tools that I use once or twice for situations like this!

 

[alexanderfoti]

3 of 4 mount bolts removed, need a damn offset Torx spanner.!

 

[Botus]

3 of 4 mount bolts removed, need a damn offset Torx spanner.!

good luck !

if anywhere near the Starter disconnect the battery !!!

or at least ensure no watch or rings on and be very careful

 

[LostKiwi]

good luck !

if anywhere near the Starter disconnect the battery !!!

or at least ensure no watch or rings on and be very careful

Definitely this. I shorted a metal watch strap across a battery once - it got very hot very quickly.....(and was a sod to get off quickly!)

 

[alexanderfoti]

Thanks all. Disconnected already. You only make that mistake once

 

[ajlsl600]

we were driving around the coffee farm one day home from a friend ,while we waited for a security barrier to be lifted my daughter called my attetion to a guy sat on a branch about fifteen foot up a tree happly sawing thru the branch , whilst sat on the outside of the same branch, ..... my daughter was about 12 at the time and the guy in the tree was as happy as a clam, until the branch came down ,with him in it...

i often wonder if he only did that once and learnt,...

 

[Wighty]

we were driving around the coffee farm one day home from a friend ,while we waited for a security barrier to be lifted my daughter called my attetion to a guy sat on a branch about fifteen foot up a tree happly sawing thru the branch , whilst sat on the outside of the same branch, ..... my daughter was about 12 at the time and the guy in the tree was as happy as a clam, until the branch came down ,with him in it...

i often wonder if he only did that once and learnt,...

I bet Darwin could have written something about that guy .....oh wait he did !