I have a 1987 300DT OM603 W124 diesel, and everytime i drive my car recently on these hot days and park it, i go outside to find that it has drained ALL of my radiator fluid. Do you guys know or have a clue to what this may be from?? thanks in advance

First I would put atleast a gallon of water in your trunk if you are going to keep driving. And keep a constant eye on the level. You don't want to over heat.

There are really only two options for where your water is going. It's either leaking or burning. Are there any drips below the car after is has sat? Might try pressurinzing the cooling system with an air compressor. This will force the system to leak and let you see what is leaking. Trace all the hoses, and check the water pump and housing.
The other option is your head gasket is leaking and allowing water into the cylinders, which burns the water and poof out the tail pipe it goes.

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it is just leaking from the front area underneath my car, dripping from where i dont know but not from the tail pipe, just dripping from somewhere. could it be that the thermostat is bad and this is the way that the car releases its heat, by letting go of the hot water?? The cap on the radiator fluid tank has been changed almost one year ago. any other suggestions?

There is an overflow tank behind the passenger side front wheel. Is the passenger side of your car wet? It could be coming from there. What temperature is the gauge at when you are losing the coolant? Does the car have the original radiator? Has the temperature gauge ever been into the red? Does it only happen after you turn it off?

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1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


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It sounds like maybe your water pump is leaking. The easiest way to find a leak is to pressurize the system with compressed air. You can pump air in through the reserviour lid. Then poke around with a light and see if you can find the leak. Like I said before check ALL the hose connections and the water pump and housing. You might get lucky and just find a loose hose clamp.

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yea it only happens when i turn off, the temperature runs round 100 degrees, the radiator is a new radiator, german BEHR and i am going to go right now to check the side to see if its wet. Would pictures of the spill help?? and what else should i check for. is it possible the thermostat is gone?

If you are constantly running at 100C something isn't right, usually a bad t-stat causes low temps I believe.

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