My 1992 240 wagon has begun to leak a lot of oil and coolant the last month. I've searched and can't find the source of the oil. I'm finding problems and eliminating them as I go. The car has spent a lot of time lately in my garage getting some things refurbished. It has been on jack stands while I replaced the rear trailing arm bushings, so it has been sitting there for about a month. As I get things repaired, I'll drive the car for a few days and park it back in the garage. I've noticed a puddle of oil about the size of a frisbee that is accumulating on the concrete below the engine.

Within the last 3 months I've replaced the flame trap and checked the hoses.

Two weekends ago I installed a new water pump. The old pump was leaking coolant below the car. So part of the mess was the coolant leak, which is now fixed.

While searching for the leak I discoverd that the power steering pump was leaking fluid from the pulley shaft. So I pulled a pump from the junkyard and finished installing that last night.

I believe most of the leak is motor oil (black/brown...not redish or green), not from the transmission or power steering.

I've begun trying to clean things off to help in the detection of the leak(s).

I'm noticing that the passenger side of the engine seems to have the most oil and that there is oil dripping from the oil filter. Two weeks ago I installed a new Mann filter in case the filter was the cause. The new filter now has oil on it dripping down onto the motor mount. Same as before.

There appears to be some sort of sensor in the block near the alternator that is coated with lots of oil.

There also appears to be a threaded metal insert type of plug that is in the block near it (painted red like the block) that seems like it is oil covered.

The valve cover gasket seems mostly dry.

The half moon plug on the valve cover at the fire wall appears to be mostly dry.

There is lots of oil down on the bottom of the engine and streaming back to the transmission.

I popped the plastic louver vent things that are I believe on the transmission housing and looked up in there to see if there was a bunch of oil on the ring gear. It looked dry up inside there. I believe that if the rear main seal was leaking, there would have been lots of oil up behind those plastic louvers.

Not exactly sure where to go next. This weekend I plan to power wash and degrease the engine and underneath.

Suggestions are welcome. I have a feeling that the leak is from multiple areas, but it definitely seems most active near the oil filter and possibly that sensor and threaded plug.

I'll try to post some photos this evening after work.

Thanks,

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