Guys I need help identifying where the oil leak is coming from or anybody has experience this leaking. The oil is dripping from the bottom bolt of the a/c compressor, see attached pic. I've replaced the timing case cover gasket but that didn't stop the leaking. So the timing case cover is not the cause. Any help would be appreciated.
Guys I need help identifying where the oil leak is coming from or anybody has experience this leaking. The oil is dripping from the bottom bolt of the a/c compressor, see attached pic. I've replaced the timing case cover gasket but that didn't stop the leaking. So the timing case cover is not the cause. Any help would be appreciated.
I am not jumping under my truck to see it, but judging from the picture this is holding bolt for the compressor?
Meaning there should not be oil behind it?
I've been tracking oil leaks on my cars for years and they seldom appear where they actually leak. At high speed the air under the hood runs in strange patters, pushing oil into the places where it doesn't belong.
Before taking the engine apart, I would wash the oil very well and recheck it after short drive.
Check the oil neck, the black plastic extension trough wich you pour oil in the engine! Mine was leaking and after i replace it the oil leak disappear ! Take the cover off from the top of the engine four a day or two , clean and dry the oil neck very good and drive the car ! If this is leaking you will see it and for sure the oil will show in the area wich you pictured it ! It worth trying ! Good luck !
I don't think the oil is coming from the compressor. The engine oil actually getting lower every thousand miles by approximately a quarter of a quart.
The oil seems to be coming from the front of the engine but I can't see it because the belt tensioner and the harmonic balancer is in the way.
Talking about the harmonic balancer, I noticed that one side of the rubber insert is sticking out between 1/16 and 1/8 of an inch. This might be the cause of the leak due to vibration of the unbalance harmonic balancer and thus causing the seal to leak. This is my third balancer that this truck has gone through. I'm looking for an indie shop in san jose, ca area. If anyone has good experience with one, please let me know.
My '98 is leaking oil in the same location. I have not yet found out the source, but I was thinking it might be the valve cover. Let me know if you find out the source.
I am having the same leak on my 99 ML430, only the fluid appears to be reddish in color. When I checked the power steering reservoir, it was not down and also the fluid seemed to be light brown, not red. I am getting a little puddle every day so it's a decent leak.
Is there any way transmission fluid could be getting to the front of the engine compartment and end up dripping off the AC compressor bolt?
Took it to local dealer and they wanted over $2k to fix leaks and nothing sounded like it could be causing this. They said $800 to reseal the shifter paw and several hundred more to do the oil pan. This is definitely not the oil pan and way far forward for the shifter paw, I'm pretty sure. It seemed like a scam so I didn't have them do anything.
Oil spilt during filling seems to end up there. The dealer changed my oil when I picked up the car, and it ended up dripping from the same place.
I was doing some winterization work, so while I was in there I just sprayed down the whole side of the (cold) engine block with Brake Cleaner, scrubbed it off, and it hasn't come back.
There are transmission cooling lines going inside radiator. Hoses are clamped with simple clamps. I had to adjust one because of leak on those in the past.
I think the transmission cooling lines are on the passenger side of the engine (unless the lines I am seeing are something else. They run near the oil drain plug near the bottom of the oil pan). also, all the lines I find to the radiator are clean.
I decided to try the cover mentioned above. It was very dirty and oily, but things are pretty much dry above it. Had to remove the serpentine belt to get to it. Gasket sealant is curing now and I will give things a try tomorrow. Hopefully this will stop the bleeding.
Have you checked the power steering reservoir? The o-ring at the rear where it connects to the pump wears out and PS fluid runs down the front of the engine and drips out exactly where your oil is showing up. It usually does it worse when it's cold outside. Just a thought.
Have you checked the power steering reservoir? The o-ring at the rear where it connects to the pump wears out and PS fluid runs down the front of the engine and drips out exactly where your oil is showing up. It usually does it worse when it's cold outside. Just a thought.
I did check the PS pump. Thought that was it originally, but it remains full. Given the amount of oil, the level would definitely be down if it was power steering.
I am optimistic that this is from the cover on the front of the engine. I resealed it yesterday, but some oil spilled out when I removed the cover so I really won't know if this worked until all the junk has worked it's way down. I am going to try to degrease the area tomorrow, but it's pretty hard to get to the area so I'm not sure how successful I'll be. I am hoping that this issue is behind me.
I used gasket sealer and no, it didn't work. There is an o-ring under the cover that I if hard and I think is the problem. My local dealer didn't have it on hand so I will try again when it comes in. The leak did slow considerably with the weekend reseal job with the gasket compound so it's possible that I just did a poor job of it. It's pretty hard to get to it and see everything. Also hard to do that sort of stuff with two toddlers hanging on me.
I am sure this is where my leak is coming from though. I degreased the engine and can now clearly see that this is where the problem is originating.
When you say cover on the front of the engine, are you talking about the timing cover? This is a complex piece of cast aluminum that covers the timing chain and most of the front of the motor
The harmonic balancer would have to removed to get it off and reseal it. The front main seal underneath could also be leaking. Timing covers are often chewed up if/when the HB fails and if it is bad enough can even leak oil.
It's a small square cover just below the oil filter assembly, and above the a/c compressor. Maybe 1.75 inches by 1.25 inches and held on by 2 torx bolts. There is a square ring type gasket underneath the cover. It's easy to take off and fix, just have to remove the serpentine belt first.
I just finished resealing it again. My gasket job was very poor the first time. Lots of oil came out when I took the cover off so now I'll have to get all that cleaned up before I can start watching to see if the leak has stopped.
So I guess it's not the timing cover as it's not very big. I don't know what the purpose of the cover is as I can't see inside due to where it is.
I re-done mine two weeks ago with new gasket and I also use sealant. It seemed to stop the leaking. There are two types of gaskets; there is a new type that you need to use with the new style cover. I used the new style with the new cover without sealant and it still leaks. I bought the old style gasket for 1.80$ with sealant and the leak stops. I have the pictures for the new and old style gasket and cover that i can share but I'm not home this week. I post the pictures when I get home next week.
Hi NorCal_ML320, Johnhinesaz
I have the same leak at timing cover (old type).
I bought an old type gasket a dealer for $2 and plan to change them this weekend. Could you let me know what type “sealant/gasket sealant” you used? Plz give me some info so I can purchase the same one.
Do you guy know torque # for these boltings?
Many Thanks
Pictures would be great. Just out of curiosity, is the new style gasket a solid piece of rubber? That is what I bought because the dealer showed 2 part numbers, but only had one in stock so I bought it. When I got home, the part in there was a square ring gasket, but it was the exact same size. since it was only a few bucks, I actually cut the middle part out and used the remaining ring. No sealer. Hopefully this will work. If not, I'll open it up again and use gasket sealer.
There is no reason for this to not work as the surface it is sealing is just flat aluminum. Nothing complicated. Then again, this may be wishful thinking...
Pictures would be great. Just out of curiosity, is the new style gasket a solid piece of rubber? That is what I bought because the dealer showed 2 part numbers, but only had one in stock so I bought it. When I got home, the part in there was a square ring gasket, but it was the exact same size. since it was only a few bucks, I actually cut the middle part out and used the remaining ring. No sealer. Hopefully this will work. If not, I'll open it up again and use gasket sealer.
There is no reason for this to not work as the surface it is sealing is just flat aluminum. Nothing complicated. Then again, this may be wishful thinking...
Yes, the new style is the solid piece and it goes with the new style cover. The old style is a rectangular ring. The dealer told me that the old style was obseleted but I was able to find the old style online. When I replaced mind the first time, I didn't use the sealant and it continued to leak. The second time, I used the sealant and it seemed to stop the leak.
I just went for a quick drive and don't see any seeps so if it's leaking, it's not a huge leak. I'm sure I'll obsess about it for a few weeks and check every day. Hopefully this fixed it.
The parts guy at my local dealer was clearly not much help as he didn't mention anything about new or old part numbers or a new cover. I hope my modified part works.
I had a weird noise coming from AC compartment and went in for service. MB said that they changed the motor....didn't help. But a few days later I started seeing an oily leak and was wondering if this thread could be similar. I checked all my fluid levels and nothing has dropped. Do not know where this is coming from. But the fluid did seem the brownish/reddish color. I have a service appt this weekend.
I sealed the "timing case expansion cover" on the timing case using the late gasket with the center cut out ( to simulate the early style), and also some silicone sealer. I also found a 2nd leak from the driver's side baffle cover on top of the valve cover (below the oil fill tube). That cover was sealed with the Loctite sealer from the MB dealer... what a pain to clean off the old sealer! Any ways, it sealed 90% of the leak, with a very small amount oil still pooling onto the A/C compressor lower bolt. What's gathered there has not dripped off in a week, so it's a practical success.
At least on my truck with the exact same oil spot:
I removed my serp. belt tensioner (b/c it seized) and followed the oil. I feel it could be from spillage, the cooler mounted to the fill tube, or the plate you are speaking about. I cleaned with brake clean and tightened all bolts a hair. I will try to track any new oil after I get the truck back together. (Waiting for parts)
David
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