Major oil leak

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No, the last service was June last year when we bought the car. Didn’t quite anticipate such a drama so early on. We’ve already had an issue with the front drivers side calliper seizing on
 

RhodieBill

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Hi. New to this forum so patience with lack of knowledge is appreciated. On Friday ‘check oil level’ popped up on my R Class 2007. Topped up the oil which was just a little low. On the way home from a 120 mile trip yesterday it flashed up again. We stopped at a local shop just before getting home and when we pulled off there was a huge puddle of oil. We’ve booked it in to be looked at this week but, any ideas as to the cause of this? There’s been no warning signs so a little worried! Thanks.

Hello Natasha.

I know it's stating the obvious, but have you checked the Oil Filler Cap?
Not too sure if you have a Diesel or a Petrol, but the Diesels can send loads of oil out of a badly fitted Oil Filler Cap.
 
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Hello Natasha.

I know it's stating the obvious, but have you checked the Oil Filler Cap?
Not too sure if you have a Diesel or a Petrol, but the Diesels can send loads of oil out of a badly fitted Oil Filler Cap.
I don’t think we have! It’s the 3l Diesel. I’ll get the husband on it later! Thanks for that.
 

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I don’t think we have! It’s the 3l Diesel. I’ll get the husband on it later! Thanks for that.

The reason I say this is because a friend of mine came down from London to visit and he got a warning the oil was low so he put a litre in at a garage on the way down.

As he arrived he said he had put a litre of oil in his diesel...... But I noticed that when he drove into my drive they was a trail of oil from behind his car. When we looked at the front of the car the was oil pooling under his car and running down the drive, (it's at a slight angle). Looking under the bonnet all we could see was oil all down the front of the engine! It looked like something major had blown....??? He has Mobilo so he arranged for the car to be picked up and taken to the Local Mercedes - this is a free service.

I had asked him if he had put the Oil Cap back properly and he said "yes".... I believed him as he is an engineer, so I didn't check it myself....

To cut to the chase it was a loose Oil Cap after all. Because of the oil on the belts they needed changing and the cleanup cost him over £400.00! He was provided with a free car in the meantime - a nice new A-Class as he had to get back to London for work the next day....

Didn't see any oil around the Cap because of all the Covers... But underneath was covered in oil apparently!

An expensive mistake...... The Cap didn't come off, was just not put on correctly.
 
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The reason I say this is because a friend of mine came down from London to visit and he got a warning the oil was low so he put a litre in at a garage on the way down.

As he arrived he said he had put a litre of oil in his diesel...... But I noticed that when he drove into my drive they was a trail of oil from behind his car. When we looked at the front of the car the was oil pooling under his car and running down the drive, (it's at a slight angle). Looking under the bonnet all we could see was oil all down the front of the engine! It looked like something major had blown....??? He has Mobilo so he arranged for the car to be picked up and taken to the Local Mercedes - this is a free service.

I had asked him if he had put the Oil Cap back properly and he said "yes".... I believed him as he is an engineer, so I didn't check it myself....

To cut to the chase it was a loose Oil Cap after all. Because of the oil on the belts they needed changing and the cleanup cost him over £400.00! He was provided with a free car in the meantime - a nice new A-Class as he had to get back to London for work the next day....

Didn't see any oil around the Cap because of all the Covers... But underneath was covered in oil apparently!

An expensive mistake...... The Cap didn't come off, was just not put on correctly.
So, just popped the bonnet and the engine, especially around the cap is saturated in oil.... couldn’t tell if the cap was on right or not. But, seems fitting for what you’ve said?
 

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Blobcat

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So, just popped the bonnet and the engine, especially around the cap is saturated in oil.... couldn’t tell if the cap was on right or not. But, seems fitting for what you’ve said?
Take it off and put it back on again, you can get them to fit not level (with only one side of the fitting clips engaged). Try it and see if you can lift one side of it.
 

RhodieBill

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Take it off and put it back on again, you can get them to fit not level (with only one side of the fitting clips engaged). Try it and see if you can lift one side of it.

I know strange to say, but hopefully that is what it is...... It does look squonk in the photo...???
 

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It's also worth replacing the rubber seal regularly, they can pass. Not as much as the OP's seems to have passed though.

There will still be lots of oil on the under trays to find its way out yet.
 
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Will give it a go in 5, thanks so much guys! It would seem fitting for the problem. You can see sprays of oil all around as if it’s spurted out the top!
 

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Will give it a go in 5, thanks so much guys! It would seem fitting for the problem. You can see sprays of oil all around as if it’s spurted out the top!
That's what happens if you're not careful...:rolleyes:
 
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The husband is in for it when he gets home :D if that is the problem, I’m forever grateful for your info everyone! And hopefully it’s not going to be as pricey as thought.
 

mioba

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Mercedes oil caps do fail, it did on my w124 after about 12 years but with not as much as bother as you have, get the oil level right, and refit the oil cap properly, buy a new one also, they wont break the bank. And get the other half to get his hands dirty and clean the engine bay!
 

RhodieBill

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The husband is in for it when he gets home :D if that is the problem, I’m forever grateful for your info everyone! And hopefully it’s not going to be as pricey as thought.

You're most welcome!

And tell "hubby" he needs to have a word with himself....lol. :D
 

Wighty

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The husband is in for it when he gets home :D if that is the problem, I’m forever grateful for your info everyone! And hopefully it’s not going to be as pricey as thought.
Get the engine cover off and clean it all with degreasant, a new engine cap £10-15 from MB .
 
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Got a cap on order, will pop out to get some degreaser tomorrow and oil also on order.
I owe you all a virtual pint if it’s this! Thanks again.
 

M80

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Personally I would warm the engine,
put a decent sized tray underneath and spray with white spirit. Prior to a wipe down with blue paper towels (plenty of them).
I use a garden spray type thingy and fill it with white spirit.

Remove the engine cover first.
 

RhodieBill

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