Help...my husband is Stranded in Texas and needs advice - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

arcticathlon · #1 06-23-2008, 08:27 PM

My husband was driving from Little Rock, Arkansas to Houston, Texas and his 1980 300D over heated about 100 miles from his destination. Here is what he described:

He was driving and watching the temperature gauge fluctuating between 95-100 degrees. When he stopped at a light, all of the sudden the temperature went up to 110-115. He pulled into a gas station one block later and found an air and water machine and started spraying the radiator with water to cool it down for about 5-10 minutes. The engine was so hot that when the water hit the engine, it began bubbling and boiling by each injector. The coolant was leaking from the top of the radiator cap and the coolant/water was collected around each of the injectors. So...the car is being towed to Houston so it will make it back tonight without having to drive thanks to AAA.

What do you guys think happened??? Did he damage the engine?
Is the head cracked or the head gasket blown?

Thanks again,
Dan's wife (Sarina)

JimmyL · #2 06-23-2008, 08:32 PM

Maybe some of the Houston guys can help out. Could be as easy as a bad thermostat. Doubtful it hurt the engine. Good for him for watching the gauge.
It was very hot here today, so I'm guessing Houston was also.......

POS · #3 06-23-2008, 08:35 PM

I can help him with a Houston mechanic - Hans at ******** Stuttgart at 2020 Antoine, (713) 956-0656. He's excellent, honest, and fast when he needs to be. Tell him Brian Schneider sent him!

kerry · #4 06-23-2008, 08:36 PM

You don't want to spray a hot engine with cold water. It can cause problems.
The coolant around the injectors could have been coolant from the radiator blown back onto the engine by the fan.
Those temperatures are not that extreme and should not cause a head gasket to fail just by themselves. I would have looked for the underlying cause such as bad fan clutch, slipping belt, low coolant, leaking radiator hose etc. Was the electric secondary fan running when the engine was overheating?
It would not be unusual for the temperature to climb if he had been driving at high speeds for an extended period of time on the interstate with the AC running and then coming to a quick stop at a red light. I would have turned off the AC and on the heater, raising the rpm's to increase airflow until the temperature came back to normal.

arcticathlon · #5 06-23-2008, 08:38 PM

The AC does not work in this car...he was just driving at about 65-70 on the highway but without AC.

H-townbenzoboy · #6 06-23-2008, 08:50 PM

PM Sent. I've also talked with him over the phone and given him the address of the indy I use.

arcticathlon · #7 06-24-2008, 12:40 AM

Well i made it to Houston, AAA towed me 100 miles for free and i made it to my destination (101 miles from where i broke down

). Thanks for those that called and gave advice over the forum.

Kerry the fan was not running when it was over heating and i was trying to use the AC. it is not very cold but it helped, buyt yes it was on. i forgot that i should turn on the heater to help it cool, i will remember next time though. I must confess that i did not check the radiator before i left, and it very well could have been low. this 300D does not have the overflow tank, and once it was super hot, i was not going to open it up and check (duh).

So tomorrow i will check the level of the radiator, i guess check for leaks with the engine running.

Is there anything else i should check before i accidentally break something else?

By the way i have another aux fan from my wrecked 300D i could use if the current one is dead.

MiamiCuban · #8 06-24-2008, 12:56 AM

Just my .02, I doubt you ruined the motor, they are cast iron and can tolerate some heat.

I think Kerry hit the nail on the head, the A/C only adds more thermal load to the cooling system and I would check the simple things first.

Pretty smart thinking to not remove the radiator cap. I know of two people who ended up in the hospital after doing just that. Both times, the cars weren't showing serious overheating on the gauge.

minimike1 · #9 06-24-2008, 01:03 AM

first thing to check is for a broken fan belt. Then fan clutch, stuck thermostadt. If you cool down an overheated engine, you can release the pressure on the rad cap, by unscrewing it 1 click. This will keep the system running coolant, but not pressurized and get you home. Do this only after the engine has cooled down by itself. Not by hosing it down to cool it. You should also check the mix of your antifreeze with a antifreeze gauge (about 6 bucks in an auto parts store).
Running the fan inside the car with the heat turned on will also help cool the rad fluid a bit.
Did you find out what the problem was?

arcticathlon · #10 06-27-2008, 01:01 AM

Well i am having Hans at ******** Stuttgart look at my 300d and he called today saying that the water pump was busted and leaking. it was good that i decided to tow the car 100 miles to Houston and then from there to his garage. the new pump price was a little higher than if i would have bought it, but right now i cant complain because i am not in a position where i could work on the car anyway. i don't have any of my tools or stuff moved yet, (don't even have a house lined up yet!!) and i need the car running by next week, because that is when my company stops giving me a rental car.

He also said that my compressor was shot, which i knew was true and he is giving me his estimate. I was planning on trying it myself, but since i dont have any of the required tools yet, i might just let him give his blessings on my 300D's entire AC system (R12 Wohoo).

Thanks for all the help from everyone though.

Cervan · #11 06-27-2008, 01:53 AM

Dont ever spray water onto a very hot engine, it might cause the head to warp by causing cool spots and hot spots. after an engine overheats you allways want to just let it sit until its warm to the touch then you can fill it with water.

devilish · #12 06-27-2008, 01:58 AM

Cervan I'd be more worried about getting an injection pump wet and having it seize on ya.

Cervan · #13 06-27-2008, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devilish

Cervan I'd be more worried about getting an injection pump wet and having it seize on ya.

Never heard that happen. but its a precaution you should take never the less.

arcticathlon · #14 06-27-2008, 10:13 AM

Cervan i did not douse the engine with cold water, i just sprayed it in the radiator to help cool it slowly. i did shut off the engine and just let it cool, and have not driven it since. There was some water that hit the engine, but it was not much considering that the gas station did not have a regular water hose. it was more like the ID of a straw, and i think would displace water slower than a kitchen sink. i just put my thumb on it and "sprayed" it into the radiator.

Never heard of the IP seizing either.

300SD81 · #15 06-27-2008, 10:20 AM

You guys got me a bit scared now.. Driving a new car all the way from Mesa to Atlanta next week... Through the HOT dessert.. definitely don't want to break down out there