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#1
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Head Gasket or Cylinder Head?
Greetings,
Last night my thermostat in my 1987 300TDT climbed into the stratosphere. I had no coolant left. I filled it up, started it, and the coolant tank becomes pressurized instantly. The oil is black. I don't see any steam out the tail pipe. The temp varied between 95 - 105 getting home. The heat would come and go. I just hit 300K. Head gasket or Cracked Head? |
#2
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Sorry to hear about that.
Is there oil in the coolant tank? that would show it most likely a gasket or warped heads, these heads warp easily if overheated. It clearly needs to be torn down and send the head for pressure check and flatness check, if there are no visible signs of a crack. I started to say it might be a stuck thermostat but with the loss of coolant you are now at a point its not drivable for very far and a replacement head may be in order. BTDT, my last '87 300D was a $450 mechanic special (Lien sale) because the head cracked at 260K. I purchased a used head and had it resurfaced and new guides, etc. Replaced the rings too, I suggest you consider that at 300K there's going to be some wear on the rings. May as well have the bore checked too as long as the head is off the engine. Does this sound like a money pit in the makings?
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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting! Last edited by dieseldiehard; 08-21-2007 at 12:13 PM. |
#3
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I'm thinking of just putting up for sale. Hopefully I'll get the title from the state next month.
To be listed soon!! |
#4
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well, probably better to sell it before it is dissected and open to the elements. iF you want a really good running diesel, fix it up and it will run another 300K. You can find interior parts all over the place from gassers that get crashed.
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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting! |
#5
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shall we start the bidding for the car now?
post some pics opening bid 240.00
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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread "as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do! My drivers: 1987 190D 2.5Turbo 1987 190D 2.5Turbo 1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!! 1987 300TD 1987 300TD 1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere! |
#6
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You won't know until the heads off whats wrong.
Hows the rest of the car? Hate to say it but at 300k miles with a possible cracked head it sounds like a good parts car.
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1999 SL500 1969 280SE 2023 Ram 1500 2007 Tiara 3200 |
#7
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Aw just listen to the vultures already circling!
Hey, at the right price and a lot of TLC you can make an old car with a cracked head a good runner again. The '87 300D I bought for $450 is a daily driver now, it was owned by a CPA who lived up in Hillsborough, no kids so the interior wasn't trashed. If it was a trashed out car I would have walked away from it. It does need some paint, but it runs better than Greasybenz's '87
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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting! |
#8
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Pictures uploaded.
For 500 I would fix it. If I can get at least a "G note" I'll let it go. |
#9
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Your car would be a good guinea pig for one of the head gasket repair products. I would try that first before junking the car for $500. Or you can replace the head or head gasket. It could be either one or both. Instant pressure in the cooling system or major residual pressure is certainly a sign of trouble.
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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual) Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL |
#10
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If there's no rust, I"m interested. How's the suspension??
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All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to stand by and do nothing. Too many people tip toe through life, never attempting or doing anything great, hoping to make it safely to death... Bob Proctor '95 S320 LWB '87 300SDL '04 E500 wagon 4matic |
#11
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Replace the head -- also check for a coolant leak unrelated to the head. Once it got hot, the head went, but likely the initial coolant loss was unrelated.
Should have turned the low coolant light on first, though. Peter
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1972 220D ?? miles 1988 300E 200,012 1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles 1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000 1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs! |
#12
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DO you feel air coming out of the radiator cap?
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1990 300d 2.5 new to me. |
#13
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Listed in the For Sale Section
500 firm. Tow it away. Located in East Hampton, CT. Have title. Listed on hartford.craigslist with photos.
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