Torn Head Gasket M104 Engine - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

crit1 · #1 10-08-2006, 05:28 PM

I had my leaking head gasket changed about 8-9 months ago and it is now leaking oil again ('95 C280 with 96k). I can see a tear in the gasket towards the rear of the engine. Is there some way to repair this from the outside or do I need to have the head gasket changed again?

forp · #2 10-09-2006, 02:12 AM

Shouldn't you finish the first thread before you start a new one about the same problem? What did the dealer say?

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/166420-head-gasket-poll-m104.html#post1294386

t walgamuth · #3 10-09-2006, 05:16 AM

i have never heard of anybody fixing one any way other than removing the head and renewing the gasket.

but it might be possible to take a needle and inject a small amount of epoxy in the tear. i would want to try to force the oil out of the area being injected though. and i am not sure exactly how to do this. there would also be a danger if too much epoxy was injected and it blocked oil flow inside.

has anybody tried something like this?

tom w

crit1 · #4 10-10-2006, 01:08 PM

Bringing the car tomorrow to the mechanic/dealer. Forp; sorry I'm not up to snuff on my forum thread protocols. Please feel free to never respond to one of my posts.

okc329 · #5 10-10-2006, 01:19 PM

If an M-B dealer made the repair and you have a problem less than a year later, insist that they redo the work at their cost. It would appear to be a bad replacement part or an incorrect installation.

syljua · #6 10-11-2006, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crit1

Forp; sorry I'm not up to snuff on my forum thread protocols. Please feel free to never respond to one of my posts.

Oh, you could have saved you that last sentence. I think Forp have a valid reason to ask, especially he answered you in the other thread.

syljua

crit1 · #7 10-11-2006, 05:13 PM

All right. Let's put the bitterness aside. I took the car into the shop where I purchased the car (who also had replaced the head gasket once). I was told that there is some kind of blockage in the intake manifold which is causing a build up of oil pressure. This pressure is then forcing air through the head gasket as well as other places. To be honest, there is oil all over the oil pan which is coming from the oil sensor and oil other places as well. I was told that the intake has to come off, be thoroughly cleaned, the two rubber intake hoses replaced, and the valve cover gasket replaced. All for a cost of $1200. Then, you have to hope that the head gasket was damaged (or other gaskets as well) or the car may continue to leak oil. I was also told to not run Mobil 1 synthetic in this engine (1995 C280) because it is too thin. Any helpful input would be greatly appreciated. Anyone else have this clogging of the intake causing oil leaks?

DustyRusty · #8 10-11-2006, 05:44 PM

I will start off by saying that I am no expert on these engines, but I do know that if a repair was done a few months ago, and that repair has failed, that the dealer is trying to make you responsible for the problem. I won't go as far as to saying that it wasn't installed properly, since I have no foundation for a statement like that, however, if there is a secondary problem that caused its failure, why didn't the dealer notice that problem the first time. I don't think that it is reasonable to need to replace head gaskets as often as you would change oil. If they did the gasket before you purchased the car and then again after your purchase, and now it is bad again, I would say that either they are not doing a good job at the repair or there is a systemic problem with the car that needs to be found before the gasket is replaced again. Unfortunately, you are at the mercy of the dealer that you have brought it to, but on the other hand, you can also take it to another dealership for a second opinion. If that opinion differs from the first, then you might have a claim. If it is the same and they say that something else failed causing the now blown head gasket problem, then you will just have to bite the bullet and spend the money to repair it. I would dig deeper into the history of the car to learn if this has been an ongoing problem and when it first started. Many times, present problems have a history and that is why the past owner sold/traded the vehicle. They were tired of paying to fix a perpetual problem.
As much as I hate going to the MB dealerships, sometimes they are the only ones with the experience to diagnosis and repair a problem such as this. Many times spending more is like spending less in the long run....

Hatterasguy · #9 10-11-2006, 08:09 PM

Find a new shop.

MB of North Haven, and MB of New London are both awsome dealers.

Ferdman · #10 10-12-2006, 03:09 AM

crit1, I can't believe a MB dealer's Service Department is telling you not to use Mobil 1 oil and the rest of the diagnosis. Are you actually taking your C280 to a MB dealer? If so, insist that they replace the head gasket again on their nickel and correct the other issues that they overlooked the last time you paid to have the head gasket replaced. If not, either go to a MB dealer or a reputable MB-trained independent shop and get the problem diagnosed accurately and repaired properly.

t walgamuth · #11 10-12-2006, 07:26 AM

it certainly sounds as if they should redo the head gasket.

and their statements about the intake causing it to blow sound very bogus to me.

ditto the comments about synthetic oil.

it might be time to go to small claims court.

good luck

tom w

crit1 · #12 10-12-2006, 10:14 AM

Thanks for everyone's input. I talked to my regular indy mechanic who I really trust and he told me that the other mechanic (where I purchased the car-not a MB dealer) is full of crap. He's very sure that the problem is the head gasket and not some intake blockage causing the oil to leak. He also told me that Mobil 1 synthetic is fine it that car. So, I decided to bite the bullet and have my regular mechanic redo the head gasket. My wife says 'No more' but I'm going ahead with the repair anyway. Hopefully, this isn't the beginning of a feud with the wife. She says get rid of it and buy a new Toyota or Honda. Why can't things be easy?

gmercoleza · #13 10-12-2006, 10:16 AM

Why don't you confront the original mechanic and have him redo his shoddy work?

crit1 · #14 10-12-2006, 11:06 AM

I'd love to confront the mechanic, but it won't do any good. He's obviously under the thumb of the owner. I've had enough of them. I've had way to much anxiety dealing with these people. My plan is to make a complaint about them with the Better Business Bureau as well as try to steer people away by letting owners know about their poor service on Mercedesshop.com (as well as other Mercedes owner's sites). I will do both of those once my regular indy mechanic replaces the head gasket and verifies with me that the intake manifold back pressure issue is truly bogus. I love the fact that both the owner and head mechanic at this place told me 'that they've seen this problem recently on a few other Mercedes.' Yah, right!!

gmercoleza · #15 10-12-2006, 11:42 AM

I see where you're coming from and can understand the potential anxiety that can come from even thinking about a confrontation. I respect that.

But for the record, you are making it harder on the next sucker, uh victim. Shady mechanics count on the majority of their customers caving in and moving on when the going gets tough. If they knew there were serious repercussions for shoddy workmanship, they'd seriously cut back on pulling their tricks. Personally, I have never been taken by a shady mechanic. They have tried on 2, maybe 3 occasions, but each time I taught them a lesson.