Hi,
Today I had the pleasure of having a test drive of a W140 S320 registered in 1996 with circa 63,000 miles. There were three issues that I noted and I wondered whether anyone could enlighten me? Thanks.
a) There was apparently a small oil leak that had been going on for some time. It seemed to originate from the top, front of the engine (perhaps around about the water pump area?). However, the oil had leaked down the nearside of the engine block which was covered in a sheen of oil, as was the upper side of the plastic engine cover (the one under the car that covers the sump). Also the front suspension crossmember under the car was covered in this sheen of oil. The leak had been going on for some time because there was a lot of road muck stuck to it. I also noted that from the dipstick that the oil level was overfilled.
So my questions are:
1) Could this oil be coming from a failing head gasket? The coolant did not seem to be contaminated.
2) Would overfilling this engine cause excess oil to be ejected from the top front area of the motor?
3) Are the 6 cylinder 320 prone to leaking oil?
4) Any other suggestions?
Bear in mind that I have a C180 and the front of that engine is slightly coated in oil from perhaps the water pump area. Strangely though, having changed the oil to Mobil 1 0W/40 (the thinnest oil that I have ever used), the leak has stopped!!! My C180 has 119,000 miles.
b) When I was under the S320 with the engine running, I could see the torque convertor spinning. Is this correct? Should there be a blanking plug over the hole? I know that the hole is there to allow acces to the drain plug in the convertor but surely this hole would be filled with a cover/plug? Should there be a protective cover over the gearbox?
c) There was some suspension knocking that was either sway bar or drop link.
Many thanks for your help.
Incidentally, I am very mechanically minded and have taken several engines apart along with various other car parts over the years so I have some idea of what goes on.
And I am not going into a purchase of a W140 with my eyes closed so please, no replies along the lines of "if you don't know what this car is then it isn't for me" if you see what I mean. Thank you.
Today I had the pleasure of having a test drive of a W140 S320 registered in 1996 with circa 63,000 miles. There were three issues that I noted and I wondered whether anyone could enlighten me? Thanks.
a) There was apparently a small oil leak that had been going on for some time. It seemed to originate from the top, front of the engine (perhaps around about the water pump area?). However, the oil had leaked down the nearside of the engine block which was covered in a sheen of oil, as was the upper side of the plastic engine cover (the one under the car that covers the sump). Also the front suspension crossmember under the car was covered in this sheen of oil. The leak had been going on for some time because there was a lot of road muck stuck to it. I also noted that from the dipstick that the oil level was overfilled.
So my questions are:
1) Could this oil be coming from a failing head gasket? The coolant did not seem to be contaminated.
2) Would overfilling this engine cause excess oil to be ejected from the top front area of the motor?
3) Are the 6 cylinder 320 prone to leaking oil?
4) Any other suggestions?
Bear in mind that I have a C180 and the front of that engine is slightly coated in oil from perhaps the water pump area. Strangely though, having changed the oil to Mobil 1 0W/40 (the thinnest oil that I have ever used), the leak has stopped!!! My C180 has 119,000 miles.
b) When I was under the S320 with the engine running, I could see the torque convertor spinning. Is this correct? Should there be a blanking plug over the hole? I know that the hole is there to allow acces to the drain plug in the convertor but surely this hole would be filled with a cover/plug? Should there be a protective cover over the gearbox?
c) There was some suspension knocking that was either sway bar or drop link.
Many thanks for your help.
Incidentally, I am very mechanically minded and have taken several engines apart along with various other car parts over the years so I have some idea of what goes on.
And I am not going into a purchase of a W140 with my eyes closed so please, no replies along the lines of "if you don't know what this car is then it isn't for me" if you see what I mean. Thank you.