Yes, this all makes a lot of sense right about now.

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-- 1983 300D, acquired 10/19/2005 at 215,000+ turbodiesel miles ... engine croaked almost immediately ... back on the road at 217,210 with a 144K turbo motor from a donor '85. ... May 2007, replaced radiator. ... Now (2/28/08) about 240K miles and dead due to battery?

An old method for finding leaks was to have a spray powder that they would put on the engine. This would allow them to see where the leak was coming from. The powder was discontinued, probably because depletion of the ozone layer. So its not available. But maybe another powder would work. I have considered doing to following to determine engine leaks. Clean the engine very well then spray the engine with a spray powder, deodorant or foot spray and then see where the oil comes form.

I have been chasing an oil leak for a while. Here are the following seals and units I have replaced.

Turbo oil drain orings and seals.

617 Turbo oil return line. Replacing seals

Oil separator seals and check valve.

617 engine, replacing the oil separator check valve in the upper oil pan.

The above post shows replacing the oil pan gasket.

The front crankshaft seal and all seals on the front of the block. I really think I had a front crank shaft seal leak. I did all the other seals since I was there.


Replacing the 300TD front crankshaft seal and other front of block oil leaks


The front crankshaft seal is difficult to determine since you can't see it "dripping". The engine fan will blow the oil back along the upper oil pan top. Causing it to seem to be a oil separator or turbo tube leak.
I now have only one small leak in the car. But no oil leaks.


Dave

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1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

Spoke too soon; still have the leaks.

BUT, clearly one of them is the lower oil pan gasket. The other is dripping down from the passenger/firewall area and I haven't nailed it down yet.

Both are somewhat slower with the oil level kept right instead of probably overfilled. And it took actually driving the car around for awhile and heating up the oil and getting it circulating to make them leak.

A new oil pan gasket should fix one of them, but how much success have you all had with stop-leak kinda stuff?

__________________
-- 1983 300D, acquired 10/19/2005 at 215,000+ turbodiesel miles ... engine croaked almost immediately ... back on the road at 217,210 with a 144K turbo motor from a donor '85. ... May 2007, replaced radiator. ... Now (2/28/08) about 240K miles and dead due to battery?

It is a great way to wreck your engine.
I am looking for the thread now.
I fear it may have been part of the oil filter thread that was deleted.

Yeah, my dad who has worked more than 40 years in the petroleum industry told me he'd never put it in his car. In theory it should only set up when it meets air, right? So it fills the gaps and then sets up? ... But he said he doesn't trust it to do just that, figuring instead it might set up just about any old place and shut you down.

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-- 1983 300D, acquired 10/19/2005 at 215,000+ turbodiesel miles ... engine croaked almost immediately ... back on the road at 217,210 with a 144K turbo motor from a donor '85. ... May 2007, replaced radiator. ... Now (2/28/08) about 240K miles and dead due to battery?

Watch this one for answers.

Engine oil stop-leak
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/136064-engine-oil-stop-leak.html#post1002466