Vehicle: 1996 LHD German Imported W210 E420 Estate
Location: Midlands, UK
Posts: 87
W210 E420 Diff Oil
While changing my fuel filter and adjusting my parking/hand brake today, noticed a nasty leak from the differencial. The leak is the worst I have seen my from all the rear wheel drives car I've had (and thats a few). Appears to be coming from the propshaft side and the one driveshaft side but theres that much of it it's hard to tell! The diff has never whined or clonked and I've never had any reason to suspect anythings wrong with it. I don't fancy changing the diff seals myself as I struggle to get the car up in the air other than using my axle stands (no ramp access unfortunately). What sort of price from a Merc Indy or normal Indy should I be looking at? And would a normal non-Merc indy be up to the task or is it too specialist.
Vehicle: 2001 SLK 320(96K Miles), 2002 E320 Special Edition(113K Miles)
Location: South Bay Area,L.A., CA
Posts: 1,175
Probably the front (driveshaft) seal. Check the oil splatter pattern on the floor. If its the front seal, the splatter patter is across the width of the car.The leak may also flow back to the side shafts, but then normally don't cause a splatter pattern.If the side shaft is leaking, you would get a back-to front pattern.
Just remember, a little oil goes a long way. In the meanwhile, you check the oil level and fill up if low (Mobil 75w-90), while at the same time clean up the area and underside of the car. Then drive a few days and re-check.
The front seal can be done by a knowledgeable indy for about $350.
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Vehicle: 2001 SLK 320(96K Miles), 2002 E320 Special Edition(113K Miles)
Location: South Bay Area,L.A., CA
Posts: 1,175
The oil will flow front front to back due to the slipstream under the car. What you need to look for is the direction of the oil drop splatter under the body of the car. Also, if a sideshaft is leaking, it will not flow towards the front of the diff (unless you specialize in long distance high-speed reverses. ). Of course in the worst case, both the side shaft(s) and the front pinion oil seal may be leaking. The front pinion oil seal is more common.
But check the oil level ASAP or have it done to prevent damage to the diff while you track the leak down. A trick I have used in the past with some success is to clean the area very well and then sprinkle/rub it with baby powder. The powder gives a very quick indication of the leak, since the leak stands better out against the powder than the bare metal.
Vehicle: 1996 LHD German Imported W210 E420 Estate
Location: Midlands, UK
Posts: 87
I have decided I am going to clean up the diff then change the diff oil and keep an eye on it. I have some Mobil SAE 75w-90 GL4/GL5 Axle/Diff oil in a drum. WOuld this be suitable for my W210 '96 E420? Has my car got a limited slip differential and if so what oil would I need for that? Also whats the capacity and I take it the procedure will be the same as the one in the sticky DIY section for the G-Wagon.
Vehicle: 1996 LHD German Imported W210 E420 Estate
Location: Midlands, UK
Posts: 87
That's OK, much admit thought with the amount of BHP these things have got that it did have LSD! I'll shall attempt to change the oil tomorrow, refill upto the filler hole, utilise PTF tape on the plug threads and clean up the residue from the leak and keep an eye on it over a period of time, to see if it loses any more.
Vehicle: 1996 LHD German Imported W210 E420 Estate
Location: Midlands, UK
Posts: 87
Drained old Diff oil (it was very dirty and there was around 850ml drained before it was empty). Refilled utilising the method mentioned in the DIY sticky (the length of pipe, funnel gravity method)....takes forever but works well. I managed to find some Loctite Thread Sealer amongst in my tool cabinet so didn't need to use PTF tape on the drain/filler plug threads, refilled until the oil started to come out of the filler hole. Then cleaned up the diff and surrounding area using WD40 and plenty of elbow grease. Does anyone know the actual capacity of the differential?
). Of course in the worst case, both the side shaft(s) and the front pinion oil seal may be leaking. The front pinion oil seal is more common.
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