'86 190E 2.3 -Engine: Possible Head Gasket? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mediamagikgroup · #1 01-19-2006, 01:30 PM

Thanks for the input guys!!
and No. I am not 100% sure it is the head gasket. That is just my best guess, and that of my mechanic after explaining what is going on. I dont know exactly what you mean by "heater valve", because the heater system is not hooked up right now. It is bypassed. I can find no visible leaks anywhere. I have watched the overflow tank again and again at several different times during and after driving, and seen nothing. As far as the look of the oil or coolant, (I am not a mechanic), but my thinking was, if the coolant is leaking into the combustion chamber and being spit out the exaust on the exaust cycle, there would not be any oil in the coolant, correct?
As for the problem I have noticed with the hard starting in the morning (even worse if it sits a couple days), the mechanic said that may be due to the plugs being WET from the coolant. Anyway, yes you are correct, I am not positive it is the head gasket. Trust me, I hope it is not. LOL!

The only thing that makes me question the head gasket theroy at all is...after I pull in the garage and park it after driving, and I get out of the car, I can smell coolant near the engine compartment!! Don't see any wetness anywhere, but just smell it. and I am not sure, but I think if it was burning off in the engine, I would smell it near the exaust, not the engine compartment?

mctwin2kman · #2 01-19-2006, 04:38 PM

Well you can get a head gasket leak where it is just oil or coolant into the combustion chamber but eventually they all mix together. Best way to test is to pull a plug after the engine has been off a little while and check the plugs for wetness. Normally if you have coolant leaking in to the chamber, it will also boil the coolant as well. So you would see higher coolant temps as well as slight boiling in the coolant tank. And lots of pressure on that cap. But first you need to check your plugs. And as for coolant smell in the engine compartment, that is normally from a leak and not one into the chamber. Since it is all sealed from there out you should not smell it under the hood.

mediamagikgroup · #3 01-19-2006, 06:13 PM

Thanks MCTwin:

I will try the plug wetness check tomorrow!
I do know that prior to the heater core bursting, I used to hear a boiling sound in the dash area (core area)..and there is always pressure on the cap when I check it, even after a couple hours sitting..but I dont know if I would classify it as "alot" of pressure. In any event, I will check the plug for wetness next time after I run it, and see what I find. I guess maybe a couple hours after I shut it off should be long enough huh?

Thanks again.

mctwin2kman · #4 01-20-2006, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mediamagikgroup

Thanks MCTwin:

I will try the plug wetness check tomorrow!
I do know that prior to the heater core bursting, I used to hear a boiling sound in the dash area (core area)..and there is always pressure on the cap when I check it, even after a couple hours sitting..but I dont know if I would classify it as "alot" of pressure. In any event, I will check the plug for wetness next time after I run it, and see what I find. I guess maybe a couple hours after I shut it off should be long enough huh?

Thanks again.

It is a pressurized system so you should always have some pressure there. If there is some still there after hours that could be a good sign. Since if there was a leak into a chamber the coolant should go into the chamber when the engine is off. And thus drop the pressure in the coolant system. As for the gurgling in the dash, that was most likely the heater core. I heard that briefly just before mine burst and burned the crap out of my leg while I was driving on a three lane wide roadway! I was in the left most lane... Hurt like hell.

mediamagikgroup · #5 01-20-2006, 04:45 PM

Jamie

Wow..so I am not the only one that has a burn scar now from that car? LOL!
Did the same thing to me. I was stuck in freeway traffic when mine burst and ran down my leg. I had shorts on too, so got a decent size burn before I jumped out! yea, I think over the weekend I will spend some time looking around and see if I can find a leak anywhere under the hood. With the smell of coolant, and the pressure still being there for along time after shutdown, maybe I will be lucky and not have a head gasket problem after all.

Best,
Larry

mctwin2kman · #6 01-20-2006, 05:26 PM

Yeah that stuff is damn hot. I was coming home for lunch from work so I had pants on at least. But it just poured out of the vent above the gas and brake pedals. I had to cross three lanes and pull into a parking lot while gassing and braking with the left foot since my right leg was hurting. And do that without buring my other leg or letting the engine overheat. Luckily I was accross the street from a PepBoys and could get some hose, clamps and a screw driver and some Antifreeze. So I did not do any damage to the engine or head.

The HeadGasket I did took about 5 hours time. Pretty straight forward job even for a novice mechanic. It was the first head gasket I ever did alone, not to mention on a Benz. I had helped out and knew the basic procedures but had never had to do one all by my lonesome. I even did a fellow 190 owners for him on a Saturday. He kind of stood there and watched. Much easier the second time around.