87 300TDT.

I figured out how my radiator got punctured from the engine side.

A few weeks ago I was heading home on the expressway when my low coolant level light came on. Wasn't overheating so I continued home. Once I arrived in my driveway I popped the hood to find a bit of steam and coolant being thrown by the fan. When I turned off the engine a lot of coolant gushed out the bottom of the bumper.

A bit of quick diagnosing found the radiator leaking almost in the center. I inspected the ac condenser but could not find any damage. I called the dealer about 10 minutes before they closed to get a new radiator ordered,also ordered a water pump and lower hose, I already had a thermostat.

The radiator had to come from Germany and was back ordered there. Luckily my parts guy is good and he had a rush put on it. Still took a week and a half to get in.

I finally got the chance to start work on the cooling system Saturday. After pulling the radiator and starting on pulling the fan clutch I noticed something missing. The spring clip which holds the fan clutch fill plug in place was no longer to be found. I had spotted the fill plug by the number 2 injector during my initial inspection.

My theory is that the spring clip was tossed around by the fan. This caused the puncture and disappearance.

I have replaced the waterpump and thermostat and lower radiator hose while I'm waiting on a new fan clutch to finish installation. Should have the fan clutch tomorrow afternoon.

I'll post pictures as soon as I figure that out. Gives me something to do at work tomorrow.

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92 300D. 163K. Brown on Beige
87 300TDT. 213K. Black on Saddle.
85 190D. 183K. Red on Saddle
83 280SL. 165K. Champagne metallic
87 300TE. 240K KM. Parts for the 300TDT
87 300D. Thanks DieselPaul
84 190E.

Good one, and worth remembering .But what cou;ld you do to stop it going again? I to have this spring thingy on my fan clutch..I think it was bad luck for it to go in to the radiator.

The "spring thingy" is actually the clutch thermostat. Sort of essential to it's operation.

If the clutch loses its fluid, the thermostat tends to be loose/rattling, which might lead to wearing its way free? Just guessing. I have a clutch around here where it has no fluid, and the thermostat strip is loose.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Old rad was good? Extent of damage? Rather than tossing might be an easy repair for a rad shop to Plug off one core for example. Keeping it as a spare.

Years ago I was perhaps lucky but repaired a few rad cores from minor impact damage myself. If your car runs no cooler with the new rad I would at least keep the old one as scrap value is basically nothing.

Get the OM 606 plastic fan and clutch as a replacement.

606-200-01-22 clutch
606-200-01-23 fan

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

I used the 606 fan clutch. Went cheap and got a behr. Lots of made in Germany labels on the box and clutch. I'm reusing my 9 blade plastic fan.

I probably could have repaired the old radiator. Might still just in case. I will definitely keep it.

Fan clutch definitely leaked it's fluid a long time ago. Lots of gunk on it.

I will make a list of all the parts I used tomorrow and costs as a reference

Pictures to come once I figure out how to do that from this iPod.

__________________
92 300D. 163K. Brown on Beige
87 300TDT. 213K. Black on Saddle.
85 190D. 183K. Red on Saddle
83 280SL. 165K. Champagne metallic
87 300TE. 240K KM. Parts for the 300TDT
87 300D. Thanks DieselPaul
84 190E.

That metal spring is actually further locked in place by 2 dabs of RTV. Quite odd that it flew off.

btw - any fan clutch will be gunky and oily - the silicone oil in it will leak from the center - no remedy for that.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

My 603 motor fan clutch is probably ready for retirement. Original steel fan in place.

Do these fans cool any better than the stock steel fans? Or do they just take less energy to spin?

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1986 300SDL 440,xxx

They cost less to manufacture. Mercedes was cutting costs, going from a cast and machined aluminum fan to a molded plastic one was cheaper, period.

If your aluminum fan is not damaged, clean the crud and corrosion off so that it moves smoothly through the air, it is very well balanced and lightweight and a new clutch will spin it for another 250k miles +, just like the original one did.

If you save money by installing a new plastic fan and clutch, go that route, no reason to spend more to resurrect the aluminum one with an aluminum-fan clutch.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Just a few pictures of the damage.

First picture is of the radiator, could be fixed.
Second picture is the fan clutch.
Third picture is of what I found in cylinder 2 injector well.

Attached Thumbnails

     

__________________
92 300D. 163K. Brown on Beige
87 300TDT. 213K. Black on Saddle.
85 190D. 183K. Red on Saddle
83 280SL. 165K. Champagne metallic
87 300TE. 240K KM. Parts for the 300TDT
87 300D. Thanks DieselPaul
84 190E.

What is it?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

It's the needle from the fan clutch. Not sure how it ended up there.

__________________
92 300D. 163K. Brown on Beige
87 300TDT. 213K. Black on Saddle.
85 190D. 183K. Red on Saddle
83 280SL. 165K. Champagne metallic
87 300TE. 240K KM. Parts for the 300TDT
87 300D. Thanks DieselPaul
84 190E.