Gasket between oilpan and crankcase??

[mulrik]

My car has been losing oil ever since I bought it. Not much initially, but the problem has increased lately. At first i thought it was the front oil seal, but I don't suspect that anymore, because around the "outside" of the crank it is very nice and clean. However, it seems that the oil is coming from the right-hand side and it is leaking from between the oilpan and the crankcase (or motor block if you like).
Now, is there suppose to be a gasket there cause I cannot find one in the catalouge or how is it prevented that oil comes out between the crankcase and the oilpan???

'67 250 SL Papyrus White 113043-10-000023

[n/a]

No gasket. Use a sealant.

Tom Hanson
Parts Manager
MBUSA Classic Center
Irvine CA

[rwmastel]

Don't all our cars have a two part oil pan, with a smaller square part up front bolted to the larger part that bolts to (and runs the length of) the engine block?  Is this true, or am I crazy?  If that's true, let's make sure we're all talking about the same spot leaking.  I say this because there is a gasket (I got one from Tom Hanson!) for the lower oil pan.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420

[Ben]

Yep you are both right. All these cars have an alloy casing bolted to the base of the engine block between which there is no gasket, just sealant.

Bolted to this is a smaller pan and there is a gasket at this joint.

Mulrik where is the leak exactly, when you say from the RHS you mean from somewhere under the manifold side ?  If so you should check the alternator mounting bracket bolts. These go right though the block and the threads should be coated with a sealer otherwise they can weep oil. Also above this area is the timing chain tensioner, you should ensure the bolts are tight here too. Oil can dribble its way down from virtually anywhere so you may need to clean up the area first !

Good luck !

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[Benz Dr.]

The early 127 engine that the 230SL is based on has a full oil pan with no sub pan. This seems to have been modified on the 230SL from start of production and it always used the sub pan. It's possible to replace the oil pump without removing the engine although I don't know why anyone would want to do this.
The 107 engined cars that replaced our 113's had full oil pans - a very stupid idea really. These engines have a way of eating chain rails which fall into the pan if nothing blows up first. Only way to remove the pan is to just about remove the engine. Nice work MB.

Daniel G Caron