OK we have owned three crossfires, still have two of them, the latest a roadster has developed a very strange oil leak - it appears to be coming from beneath the oil filter , directly out of the aluminium casing - any thoughts?

 

It DOES look like it's right on the casting seam. Warranty?

 

I agree with Max, looks like a casting defect ! To be sure, clean the area thoroghly with alcohol, take it down the road for a few miles (hiway speeds would be best) and check it again. It maybe such a minute leak that it won't show up for a couple of runs. If you take it to the dealer be sure you have your pics with you, I'm sure they'll try to wrangle out of replacing the casting.

Just my Dos Centavos !

 

Pin holes in the aluminum from air in the casting process? If you use a cleaner that cleans it completely, then watch the stain come back (if it does) should be a process that gives you the answer...

 

Good afternoon,

Well we checked and the garage changed the filter and assembly ( hoping that it would go away- it didn't) , to be fair they added a dye, and miniscule amounts showed up.. now here's the question..

Should we have them effect a repair - it will mean stripping the head down and rebuilding. My worry is that these precision ally heads and casings are very susceptable to over torqueing, not too mention the care needed to resit everything, will we end up with a repaired engine that is nothing like the current?

How bad could this pin hole become?

I've experienced an annnoying recurrent leak on the SRT - which took for ever to resolve.

 

Unless you get this work done by a qualified Mercedes or Chrysler wrench
you are taking a huge risk for a pinhole. Surely they can find a material that
will bond with the aluminum casting material that will give you a permanent
fix without such major surgery...just seems like overkill to me...

 

Appears your vehicle is still under warranty. What is your "In Service Date" and mileage on odometer. If casting is porous, will putting your finger in the dike solve the problem or just cause it to move? I don't believe Mercedes can help you with a warranty problem, so I would do some checking on the BEST rated dealership and fight for replacement. If it is a case of intergrannular corrosion, the only fix is to remove and replace. Dye check will show where the leakage is from, but NDI will show what's going on INSIDE the affected area. If the leak is not affecting the driveability of the car, preordering the part by the dealer would cut down on your downtime.
Just food for thought.

John P