what kind of time involved... things to watch out for.... adn are there any diagrams on the web?

What year & model car (ML)???

ON M112/113 engines head gasket failure is VERY RARE!

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

that's interesting - i assumed i had a head gasket failure- it's a 2000 ml430-- i'm using water and it's going to the engine- the milkshake look to the oil- also running rough at times, too.when it's hot- but when it's cold- it runs great....i just had to replace the serpentine belt because it was covered in oil- they said it was a oil pump or somethingvery close to where you put oil in....and the power steering pump is close there too..

Most ML's have a oil/coolant heat exchanger (looks like a small radiator) in the area of the oil filter. They DO fail allow that coolant/oil mix.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

hey, you may be on to something because that little "radiator" is now leaking oil all over the serpentine belt- i had to replace the belt yesterday because it slid off..... so you're saying that little oil cooler could have something to do with the coolant leaking out too? if so- why is it blowing white smoke? it seems to be very similar to the symptoms of the blown head gasket.... i really need some help on this one- i think you may be on to something here..thanks..

Yes, that is a OIL to COOLANT heat exchanger & can allow coolant into the OIL...Don't wait!

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

i was the one that emailed you....

are you saying the coolant i've beeen putting in the reservior maybe leaking in the motor from the oil cooler???? because now i've also got a pretty big oil leak at that location to.... right where the seals are on the oil cooler...--- i had assumed it was a blown head gasket all this time....

so the oil cooler is responsibile for BOTH problems????

really appreciate your help...

One more time....YES

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

thanks.. sorry for the repeated question , but i had a shop foreman in houston tell me there was no way the coolant in the oil cooler could enter the combustion chamber... therefore couldn't create smoke out the tailpipe...