I've replaced the front seals, the rear main seal, the oil pan gasket, have a clean flame trap, and cleaned the breather box.

but I still have a leak. It seems to come off of the oil pan, but only seems to occur after I've driven and parked. It doesn't continue, and in fact kind of peaks right after parking. It's not a huge flow, but it's noticeable.

A friend of mine suggested that if I took the hoses off the breather box/flame trap, and checking to see if there is any air coming or going.

So I did that, but there was no sign of air sucking in or blowing out.

What should the air be doing @ the junction of the flame trap and breather box?

I did clean my breather box months ago (during my transmission/clutch/oil pan operation). It was clogged a ton. I didn't know at the time that I could have afforded a new one, so I just cleaned it But maybe I didn't clean it as good as I thought I had. Could a dirty breather box, after all the other replacements, still leak in the manner I described?

As in the pressure is seeking the "weakest" point?

I'm not sure what else the leak could be.

The RMS was clean last time I looked, the oil pan doesn't show any signs of a leak, and the leak itself shows up further back than a leak from the front seal would imply (even defying gravity in the process).

Any ideas (or questions needed to clarify this cluster-frick of a post)?

There's only two ways I know to track a leak. You need to use dye and a UV lamp, or bite the bullet and clean your motor thoroughly. If you're fairly sure the previous leaks are not the source, consider it may be leaking from the head gasket. This is the case on two of our B230F cars, where the hg leaks oil on the exhaust side at cyl's 3 and 4, right above where the heater return pipe bolts to the block. First you have to absolve the cam cover gasket of any wrongdoing.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can.
That's almost $21.00 in dog money.
-Joe Weinstein

There is a slight oil issue at the back (which I put in the stopper from IPD), but the main leak seems to be on the drivers side of the car, in and around the area of the breather box and dip stick.

If you use UV dye it will leave a bright glowing yellow trail leading directly to the point of the leak eliminating the guesswork . Do yourself a favour and breakdown and get the dye kit. You can get the dye from napa , advance,snap on etc, you can get a cheap set of glasses and uv light for about $15 from most parts stores, although a stronger light source will work a little better.
--
-------Robert, '93 940t, '90 240 wagon, '84 240 diesel (she's sick) , '80 245 diesel, '86 740 GLE turbo diesel, '92 Ford F350 diesel dually

Are black lights "UV" lights? I have one of those already.

Does your 85 have a seal at the back of the valve cover? 240s have one that fits partly into the valve cover and partly into the head. Tends to leak with age. Check for oil down the back of the engine. This would slow down after the car sits for awhile.

Also, if its like a 240, check for airflow to the throttle body via the tube between the flame trap and the throttle body.

Hope this is of some help.

Mark

Although I'm not sure if it's answering your question, I did put on a rear cam seal retainer.

Thanks, I couldn't think of the name of the thing. Note that the retainer does not prevent leaking, it prevents a catastrophic blowout of the seal. I would still check for oil down the back of the engine. Wipe as clean a possible when cool and feel for it again after driving.

Hope you find it and it is not too difficult to repair.

Mark

Did you replace the oring on the bottom of the breather box?

Lot of folks miss there is one squashed flat under there and it needs to be changed

That could cause a PITA leak for sure.

Regards,

Paul

I distinctly remember replacing it, because I was flabbergasted at how flat it was.

I also remember tightening it down. If I look at it, there's no oil near it.

But there is oil near where the dipstick comes in. Maybe that's loose?

You can try remounting the dipstick tube. I seem to remember reading here that they can leak. If there's oil near the dipstick it also indicates that there is a possibility that either the breather or something in the flame trap is leaking. My 90 is leaking from the flame trap hose that connects to the breather (the hose is bad) and it throws oil all around the area near the dipstick, but the amount of the leak is insignificant..
--
95 855 GLT Sportwagon, 93 854 GLT (for sale), 90 244 DL 300k :)

Hello,


Did you use OEM seals?

Elring seals are notorious for leakage.


Goatman

My memory of what brand of ring I used is foggy, but I think I either got it from IPD (less likely) or from Napa Auto.