Oil leak — where is it coming from?
You see oil drops on the garage floor or smell burning oil after a drive.
M117 leaks classics: valve cover gaskets (both banks), front timing cover, oil cooler hoses, distributor shaft seals. Trace upward — oil flows down before dripping.
What the diagnosis checks
- Is the leak worst at the front of the engine, behind the radiator?
- Is there oil on the harmonic balancer or front of the timing cover?
- Oil pooled on top of the cylinder heads?
Possible causes it points to
- Front crankshaft seal
- Oil cooler hoses
- Valve cover gaskets (both banks)
- Distributor shaft seals
Parts for this job
Maintenance basics: oil, plugs, filtersLoading the step-by-step diagnosis…