First oil leak in 5 years

[oigle]

2003 - ML270 update.

Have discovered an engine oil leak coming from high under the manifolding on the LH side of the engine - black diesel engine oil. Can't see where it is originating.
What is up there and how difficult is it to access and repair? From previous posts, I thought it may have something to do with the PCV system. Any help from the techies??

 

[colechelle]

not coming out the boost hose is it, thats the only thing i can think off on that side!!!!

 

[stumo]

Yeah as cole said, there isn't much on that side, other than the inlet manifold, and there is an oil cooler there too.

Mine has weeping "leaks" all down that side of the engine, no real dripping leaks though. On mine I think it is coming from the inlet manifold, and I assume it is accumulated residue from the PCV system, which enters just before the turbo inlet way over the other side.

You could pull off the big air inlet hose to the manifiold and just see how much oil is floating about in there, but other than that I think pulling the manifold off is a big job.

If it is a real dripping leak then clean it off, and try as best you can to pinpoint its source. If it is a weeping leak, then do what I did, and clean it all off, with the intention of tracing it the near future, but then completely forget about it, since it takes so long for the weep to reach the bottom of the engine where you can finally see it!

 

[oigle]

not coming out the boost hose is it, thats the only thing i can think off on that side!!!!

Nothing around the big hose. It is deeper in under the manifold.

 

[oigle]

Yeah as cole said, there isn't much on that side, other than the inlet manifold, and there is an oil cooler there too.

Mine has weeping "leaks" all down that side of the engine, no real dripping leaks though. On mine I think it is coming from the inlet manifold, and I assume it is accumulated residue from the PCV system, which enters just before the turbo inlet way over the other side.

You could pull off the big air inlet hose to the manifiold and just see how much oil is floating about in there, but other than that I think pulling the manifold off is a big job.

If it is a real dripping leak then clean it off, and try as best you can to pinpoint its source. If it is a weeping leak, then do what I did, and clean it all off, with the intention of tracing it the near future, but then completely forget about it, since it takes so long for the weep to reach the bottom of the engine where you can finally see it!

Like yours, it is a weep rather than a drip. Looking with a torch from the top, the side of the block is damp and there is a 1/4" pipe running vertically up the engine block towards the front that is quite wet - there are 2 pipes and the other one is dry. Perhaps these lead to the oil cooler you mention? They both feed in to hoses towards the rear of the block and go further out the back.
Guess I'm going to have to pull off the inner guards and get a better look at the area. I'm planning on replacing my rear suspension legs with Bilsteins shortly - ordered them today - so I'll wait until then. Save me getting all grotty twice

Thanks for your input, stumo and cochelle.

 

[stumo]

He oigle, I just wanted to check up on a couple of things here...

1. Did you get anywhere with the oil leak? I'm pretty sure those 2 pipes are from the transmission, not sure where they go up under the manifold there, maybe that is the transmission oil cooler that can be seen?

2. How did you get on with the rear Bilsteins? I have them on the front of mine and they are very good. My worn stock rears are really starting to get to me now though. You have tried a few different ones, so do you think the 'steins are any good back there?

 

[brandwooddixon]

Just a word to the wise. If the pipes have started to leak, it's probably worth looking at replacing them. Worse case scenario is that the pipe will break when you remove it.

 

[oigle]

He oigle, I just wanted to check up on a couple of things here...

1. Did you get anywhere with the oil leak? I'm pretty sure those 2 pipes are from the transmission, not sure where they go up under the manifold there, maybe that is the transmission oil cooler that can be seen?

2. How did you get on with the rear Bilsteins? I have them on the front of mine and they are very good. My worn stock rears are really starting to get to me now though. You have tried a few different ones, so do you think the 'steins are any good back there?

Held off answering this until I had used the Bilsteins for a while. They are certainly way better than the original KYB's fitted in Alabama. The rebound control is just about right. I think the bump control is a bit too strong. The bump stop rubbers provided are a bit too big too - in retrospect, I would cut them in half to provide just that bit more travel before "bottoming" on the bumpstops. Overall though, quite happy with the setup.

Re oil leak, it seems to have taken up. Not getting any worse anyway and oil seems to have "dried" on the block. No drips at all under the car or on to the undertray. Figure I might just forget it for a while and see if it recurs. Hope nothing blows out.