The perverse behavior of inanimate objects

[TheEngineer]

Day before yesterday I drove the car 5 miles and when I came home into the garage and when I checked the drip pan under the engine after standing for a few hours, I found engine oil, about a 1/2 teaspoon full. Looked to me like the cork seal between the steel oil pan and the aluminum (aluminium? because it speaks German?) was oozing oil. But maybe it comes from up above because leaks have a tendency to start high above and drip down. But today, I put 50 miles on the car and there is no drip! Please note: It does not drive me crazy, I did get there a very long time ago. What gives?

[Jonny B]

Perhaps just some residual that finally found its way to the ground?

[gimp]

Jonny
My car always leaks when it sits for a lengthy period.
But I found that if I travel a 100 miles or so the leaks all stop, at least for a month or so.
Frank

[Rallyus]

That is actually very normal.

All my cars leak if left standing for a while and then are driven.

Only after some longer distances are covered, the leaks stop.

This applies to transmissions also...

[Shvegel]

Front seal on the crankshaft Maybe?  not much else there.  The valve cover usually leaks at the back.  I imagine if the front seal is getting stiff it might take a set and leak a bit until the elastomer(official engineer term) warmed and softened enough to allow the garter spring to apply pressure around the crankshaft. I don't think there are any restrictions in our crankcase ventilation system but you might want to do a bit of research there as well.  Having been a foreman in a dealer shop I have seen more than one mechanic replace seals and gaskets only to find a clogged crankcase vent allowed the crankcase to pressurize and push oil out of the engine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lvr5ouCNdo

[TheEngineer]

As of today - no leaks! I can't believe it. Must be the elastomer. And today I checked cylinder head bolts and verified valve clearances. Because your instructions say: check the tech manual first and then ask questions, I did because I can not find the torque for the M6 allen head bolts in front of cylinder #1 and one of them is critical because it sits in a well filled with oil for the chain tensioner. I found the following notation: "these are 6mm allen and should be torqued to 2.5kpm (5.5 ft. lbs)." What should it be? 2.5 kpm or 5.5 lbsft? (maybe 2.5 x 7.2 = 18?)

[mbzse]

The four smaller dia bolts at the front of the engine head are M8, Allen head type; they are to be fastened with 25Nm torque (2.5 kpm)

[Benz Dr.]

Those small screws are difficult to reach after the head has been installed so I make sure I have them torqued down nicely during assembly.