VStech, I always look forward to your comments on my threads b/c you always come up with something thought provoking....

I did go out and check the tranny fluid...i looks ok...red and clear compared to the pictures I found on the internet of pink milkshake. Feels oily (not watery) and smells pretty good - not like new, but not bad or burnt. I changed it and the filter in June.

Sooo, I checked my rad cap, and the shim part looks good, but I noticed some little warped looking bits on the rubber part on the end that points down into the tank, VERY gently picked at it and the whole rubber piece came apart - also the rubber just disintegrated onto my fingers as I touched it, so it was clearly compromised....So maybe that's it.

I will start with the rad cap and go from there. Hopefully as Billybob says coolant was moving through the seal at lower pressures that it should...

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Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT