|
|
|
#1
|
||||
|
||||
Leak in Radiator?
My 95 E320 seems to be leaking as I have to put 32 oz of water in the Radiator resevoir every other day. I crawl under the car and can't fnd the leak. Is this typically in the radiator rather than the hoses? Do any of the "stop radiator leak" products work? Is the radiator replacment a DIY or is it nasty with the fan housing in this model. I have replaced a 85 300SD radiator which was very staightforward. Thx, edge.
__________________
85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold 83 300D Manganese Brown 109K 97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold 98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold 95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold 93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold 95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold 94 E320 White 127K, sold 85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold 84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold 99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease) 00 Honda S2000 Red (lease) 86 Mercedes 300E (sold) 84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold) |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Have you checked for a blown headgasket?
PS Do not use stop leak as it only clogs. Radiator replacement is straightforward. You mite want to check overflow tank which is under right fender. go to autozone and borrow pressure tester which should help. Good luck Last edited by rdanz; 06-19-2006 at 12:58 PM. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
If the leak is small it will only leak under pressure, that means when the engine is hot. The water will evaporate and/or blown away which makes is nearly impossible to find the leak. The only way is to find a small leak is by using a pressurise tester when the engine is cold, not just cooled down, but really cold.
I would not replace the radiator if the car is not overheating and you are not sure if it is leaking. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
A quart of water every two days doesn't sound trivial
You should be able to find some residue; there are fluorescent dyes you can add to coolant to help trace the leak under black-light.
Check water pump near pulley, also check the hose connections. I don't know if your radiator has a plastic neck but if so, it can sometimes develop a crack under the hose clamp that leaks and can eventually fail (neck breaks off). |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold 83 300D Manganese Brown 109K 97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold 98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold 95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold 93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold 95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold 94 E320 White 127K, sold 85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold 84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold 99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease) 00 Honda S2000 Red (lease) 86 Mercedes 300E (sold) 84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold) |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Cheepest and easiest is the dye. Ask your local repair shop to add a drop or two to the coolant. It may take a day or two, but you'll definitely see where it's coming out because the dye remains even after the coolant evaporates. And you won't need a black light either.
Been there, done that on two different cars. Bob 94 e320 Wagon |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
if your head gasket is leaking into the combustion chamber you will see steam out the exhaust in the morning after sitting overnight, or puffing at idle after a good warm up.
if it is leaking into oil passages, you will find it in the crankcase, either as high level, or foamy residue. it could theoretically leak to the air and run down the side of the engine too, but i think that is rare. good luck tom w
__________________
[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. |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
|
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold 83 300D Manganese Brown 109K 97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold 98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold 95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold 93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold 95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold 94 E320 White 127K, sold 85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold 84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold 99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease) 00 Honda S2000 Red (lease) 86 Mercedes 300E (sold) 84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold) |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
You could verify this, if you're interested, by putting the overflow hose in a small container and see if it fills during vehicle operation. |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Interesting tip about the overflow. I never thought of that, although I just replace the cap regardless.
__________________
Auto Zentral Ltd. |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
I agree........just replace the cap and move on........ |
#13
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
__________________
85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold 83 300D Manganese Brown 109K 97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold 98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold 95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold 93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold 95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold 94 E320 White 127K, sold 85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold 84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold 99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease) 00 Honda S2000 Red (lease) 86 Mercedes 300E (sold) 84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold) Last edited by edge; 06-26-2006 at 09:03 PM. |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Don't celebrate too soon grasshopper. There should not be a vacuum in the system, because that is one of the jobs of the coolant cap. Can't call it a radiator cap anymore, because these days it is seldom found on the radiator. A coolant cap has many functions. First it keeps twigs and whatever out of the system. Secondly it keeps the proper pressure on the system to prevent boiling. Thirdly it keeps coolant from escaping from the recovery tank during cool down like Brian said. Lastly it keeps the system from going into a vacuum during the cool down process. How coolant escapes during the cool down process is another lesson. Hopefully you solved the problem. Keep us posted.
__________________
Auto Zentral Ltd. |
#15
|
||||
|
||||
I get a vacuum effect when I remove the coolant resevoir cap on my BMW. I assume I would get one on the Mercedes. The pressurized system prevents the coolant from boiling even at extremely high temperatures which allows the engine to cool.
__________________
85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold 83 300D Manganese Brown 109K 97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold 98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold 95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold 93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold 95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold 94 E320 White 127K, sold 85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold 84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold 99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease) 00 Honda S2000 Red (lease) 86 Mercedes 300E (sold) 84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold) |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|