Is this an oil leak on my SLK 250 CDI?

[HairyRichard69]

Hello everyone,

I would really appreciate if someone could help with something that's been nagging me since checking...

I just checked the underside of my car and found a wet looking patch at the front.

I went over it with a tissue and it came back black in colour.

It wasn't saturated, but it had lots of black on the tissue (see pictures)

 

[pcthrillrider2]

it's engine oil someone missed the oil hole when filling or an oil leak

 

[HairyRichard69]

it's engine oil someone missed the oil hole when filling or an oil leak

I had the service done in late Jan incl engine oil change

I also had the transmission oil changed due to the mileage.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Looks like an oil leak to me........cus it looks like my undertray did!

 

[OneForTheRoad]

Get the under trays removed incase the oil has pooled . That way if your still getting oil drips on the drive overnight, you'll have a better idea of what's going on. Check the filler cap is on properly,it's a schoolgirl error that can soak an engine , check the oil filter housing isn't leaking also.

 

[HairyRichard69]

I will possibly get it checked out tomorrow or v.soon. I will also keep an eye out for pools or dark marks on the drive as well.

The dipstick looks OK from what I can see (see pic I took earlier)

 

[Petrol Pete]

Thats an oil leak , take the undertray off and have a good look around. Not much point in checking for oil loss at this small level via the dipstick it's not going to tell you much.

 

[sautah]

From experience I would take a look under the engine cover. If you can see oil pooling in the rocker cover you have a failed rocker cover gasket. Also the oil filter housing can leak. More tricky to see from above but if you look down you will see the oil / collected dirt below. I currently have the latter to get sorted and have had the former.

 

[HairyRichard69]

I have taken the tray off and got a few pics of where it looks like it's coming from. Please see pics.

What do you guys think?

 

[OneForTheRoad]

I have taken the tray off and got a few pics of where it looks like it's coming from. Please see pics.

What do you guys think?

Are you thinking it's the intercooler ??

My VW Passat would pool oil mist inside the intercooler hoses and radiator, until it would begin leaking .

 

[ALFAitalia]

I cant tell much from those pics.....normally its leaking from the highest oily point.....or near enough.

 

[MrGreedy]

Sufficiently prolific oil leak that I would want that addressed.

Oil all over the place makes it virtually impossible to pinpoint the location.

Give it a good clean and degrease, drive for a hour, and check it.

I personally couldn't be bothered with that myself, so I'd take it to the nearest randon garage that can fit me in quick and do the clean and the inspection. Probably doesn't need a Merc specialist to just identify the problem area.

 

[OneForTheRoad]

Prolific , yet his oil level on the dipstick is ok. Crankshaft vapours / blowback can cause the same mess tbf.
Keep us informed please op.

 

[HairyRichard69]

I've had the car looked at and it looks like the oil filter housing is causing the leak. Due to the age of the car and it being the original part, I suspect this thing crops up the older it gets.