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Need a Specialist in Manchester: Oil breather seal or Rear main seal.

C

cumblechook

Member
Joined
Jan 10, 2009
Messages
39
🙁. Puddle on drive way!

Apparently has been going for a long time and finally breached the undertray. My car service guys in Stockport say the leak is coming from the back of the engine.
I need to get it seen too.

E350 cdi 2011.
 
What car, which engine? If it's an OM642, most likely the oil cooler seals.
 
Hi cumblechook,

I've an oil leak on my recently purchased S350CDI with OM642 engine. As E55BOF says most likely oil cooler seals. I'll set out what I've been told so far as it may be helpful. I'm sure more experienced members will correct me if I'm wrong.

I first had the underpanels taken off and took them and the car to D Wynn in Trafford Park M17 1JS 0161 876 5556 to get everything cleaned off so I could see where the leak was coming from. They only take cash and can get very busy so worth calling to get booked in. They cleaned the underside, engine and panels for £25.

There was no leak visible on the engine but the join between engine and transmission (bell housing?) was moist, so the immediate thought was a gearbox out 😱 job to replace the main seal. I spoke to Stephen at Tameside Transmissions who said it was almost certainly the oil cooler seals as he's never known the main seal to fail on these engines. Apparently there's a hole at the front and rear which allows the oil from the leak to enter which means there's no leak visible from the engine.

The oil cooler is buried deep in the V of the engine so it's about a 12 hour job to replace. SPR in Stockport on their website quote £1200, probably plus VAT, to replace the seals. I then took the car to MasterTech Assist In Droylesden, virtually next door to Tameside Transmissions. They couldn't say for definite it was the oil cooler seals without a stripdown, but based on experience they were fairly confident. They quoted £817.30 for the fix - I've not asked yet whether VAT is included. Their labour rate is £55/hr + VAT. I can't give them a definite recommendation since I've not used them yet.

My local trusted mechanic said he'd research the issue and see if he knew anyone who could do it. I'll be seeing him today or tomorrow so will know more then.

There are videos on youtube if you want to see how much of the engine needs to be removed to get to the oil cooler - there's no way I'll be considering a DIY Job.......
 
Last edited:
ISTR the going rate at an indie was about £800 a couple of years ago; SPR seems a bit pricey. It's an easy job once you actually get at the cooler, but there's an awful lot of dismantling to do to get at it.
 
Rear main seal is usually quite easy to diagnose. Where the transmission meets the engine there is (usually) a black rubber cover on the bottom of the bell housing . This can be popped off and the area beneath the seal can be inpected for oil leaks.

My (M113 V8) had oil coming down the back of the engine , it turned out to be one of the plugs used to block the casting holes in the middle of the V that was leaking , took a while to find it.

Cheap part , but a fair bit of mechanic hours to get to it. It's a rare fault though . More likely to be oil cooler as stated.
 
BMole said:
Hi cumblechook,

I've an oil leak on my recently purchased S350CDI with OM642 engine. As E55BOF says most likely oil cooler seals. I'll set out what I've been told so far as it may be helpful. I'm sure more experienced members will correct me if I'm wrong.

I first had the underpanels taken off and took them and the car to D Wynn in Trafford Park M17 1JS 0161 876 5556 to get everything cleaned off so I could see where the leak was coming from. They only take cash and can get very busy so worth calling to get booked in. They cleaned the underside, engine and panels for £25.

There was no leak visible on the engine but the join between engine and transmission (bell housing?) was moist, so the immediate thought was a gearbox out 😱 job to replace the main seal. I spoke to Stephen at Tameside Transmissions who said it was almost certainly the oil cooler seals as he's never known the main seal to fail on these engines. Apparently there's a hole at the front and rear which allows the oil from the leak to enter which means there's no leak visible from the engine.

The oil cooler is buried deep in the V of the engine so it's about a 12 hour job to replace. SPR in Stockport on their website quote £1200, probably plus VAT, to replace the seals. I then took the car to MasterTech Assist In Droylesden, virtually next door to Tameside Transmissions. They couldn't say for definite it was the oil cooler seals without a stripdown, but based on experience they were fairly confident. They quoted £817.30 for the fix - I've not asked yet whether VAT is included. Their labour rate is £55/hr + VAT. I can't give them a definite recommendation since I've not used them yet.

My local trusted mechanic said he'd research the issue and see if he knew anyone who could do it. I'll be seeing him today or tomorrow so will know more then.

There are videos on youtube if you want to see how much of the engine needs to be removed to get to the oil cooler - there's no way I'll be considering a DIY Job.......
Click to expand...
Ok … thanks for your story …. It is almost completely likely to be the oil cooler in your case . Yes I got the car done at SPR, They are expensive but did a lot of other things including changing the oil cooler out. A lot was done and the service can not be faulted. As I was collecting mine off the ramp an identical car was going on to be inspected an both me and the mechanic both in fact saw the very same symptoms …. Good job done.

Here you will see what was changed out gaskets, oil cooler( not sure if this was necessary but hey ), a number of seals and some actuator of adjuster I forget. I should be worry free.
 

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Not had mine done yet - the parking brake actuator has gone so will be next.

Nick Webster in Poynton has quoted £800 to do the oil cooler seals, although I suspect this will be plus VAT.

And the two failed glowplugs has increased to three so that will follow the actuator.

I'll write up the enormous cost of buying my moneypit sometime - £3000 and counting.:eek:
 
This is the 4th thread I've read on this zzzz
 
My Fault... in my panic I originally posted once. No joy so I posted again and again.
I have tried to tie it all up and if moderator will delete all but one post this won't seem like a blatant advert for one manchester bases MB specialist
 
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