[R129 SL] '98 SL500 Oil Leak

[MBKindOfGuy]

Thanks for the response George.  

I thought about those o-rings too.  I've only done one oil change on this SL since we've owned it and don't recall if I used two o-rings or not.  I just can't remember, but I am generally pretty good about replacing all the parts like this during oil changes.  I too will lower the dust cover (also reduces road noise) and take a closer look.  The car was "dry" for about 6 months, and the leaking oil started to appear shortly after I did that oil change, so it could all be related.  I do check the level and it's perhaps 1/8" from the max mark on the dip-stick.  I don't know if I overfilled the sump during that change.  I did put in 8.5 quarts with a new filter.  

I use a topsider to suck out the old oil, but perhaps there was some left in the sump when I added the new oil.  I've used the topsider on several other MB's, though, and have tested many times to see if any oil remained after sucking it out the dipstick tube by pulling the drain plug.  Hadn't ever had even a single drop come out, but none of those oil changes were on an SL.  So this time I'll suck it out the dipstick tube, then remove the drain plug and see if any remains.  Will report back what I find, when I find the cause!

Regards,
Howard M. Ginsberg
1998 SL500, 59KMiles
1993 300E, 126KMiles
1988 300E, Sold at 165KMiles
1986 300E, Sold at 180KMiles


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: George Jenner 
  To: SL Mailing List 
  Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 7:48 PM
  Subject: Re: [R129 SL] '98 SL500 Oil Leak


  Howard, I too have been experiencing a small amount of oil leaking.  The leak I have seems to be coming from the oil filter cartridge housing cover which is located on the right side.  There are two O ring type seals on the cover and I changed these recently but I have not had a chance to remove the dust cover under the engine to clean it so I can see if the new O rings have helped.  When I got a new oil filter from MB there was a package with the O rings and new washers in the carton, but the last filter I got from NAPA did not have these with it so from now on I will get my new oil filters from MB.

  Hope you find that leak and let us know where it was - George Jenner  1996 SL500  80K
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: MBKindOfGuy 
    To: R129 List 
    Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2007 6:55 PM
    Subject: [R129 SL] '98 SL500 Oil Leak


    Good to be back on the R129 list.  

    I've noticed some oil leaking on our 129.  Will put the car up to take a very close look this weekend.  Did take a peek at the oil pan as best I could.  Looks like oil leaking on rear of pan seam or perhaps coming down from somewhere above to that area.  It's enough of a leak that I've got newspaper under the car and could see about 3 or 4 drops a day getting on it.

    Saw a website where someone had a leak around the oil level sensor electrical connection, but this seems to be dry on my car.

    Are the oil pan gaskets a common problem area on these cars, or are there other comments on common causes of oil leaks on this chassis/engine?

    Regards,
    Howard M. Ginsberg
    1998 SL500, 59KMiles
    1993 300E, 126KMiles
    1988 300E, Sold at 165KMiles
    1986 300E, Sold at 180KMiles
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