91 300E 3.0L head gasket problems???!!!!

[cool123]

I've seen many post on blown head gaskets. I take it is a common problem. I have all the signs. White steam at start up, but it does clear up. Pulled the plugs and have steam coming out of number 6. Doesn't seem to be losing much coolant, but maybe this is just the beginning.

Is this normally where they blow?

I can't imagine this problem coming from a leaky injector, it doesn't smell like fuel. Haven't seen much on problems with injectors and white smoke leads me to coolant.

This car is killing me. Just replaced the transmission because reverse went out. Now this.....I'm wondering if I should get the water pump and timing chain while doing the head gasket.

Car has 216,000 miles.

Advice from you 300E lovers would be welcome!!!!!!! Even though body and interior is great shape, it has become a money pit. Do I just need to get over the humps with the repairs?????

[J.HIDALGO]

I replace my injector seals after (by accident) discovered that if you spray carburator cleaner around the injectors, the RPM's will vary, if they are leaking. Are you sure you did not wash the engine with water lately...?
Also, NAPA sells a inexpensive fluorescent die you can add to the coolant. Just poor it in, drive around for a while, check with a black light. Good luck!

[cool123]

I'm surprised with all the people out there no one responeded with the answer I was looking for, now that I have the head off, you see that there is one water passage a little closer to number #6 cylinder and there was the leak! This job is not for backyard guys. If you don't want to take the front cover off, you have to make a little tool shaped like a U and drill a hole threw it for a M6 bolt.(basically making a mini puller) You have take out a dowel pin that holds the plastic chain guide in place. What a pain! Atleast they threaded the dowel pin, so you could pull it. I found they make a tool for this, but I wasn't about to wait for it. I did take time to clean the EGR pipe where it goes into the Intake. I'm thinking about making pictures and a DIY if anyone cares for it. I haven't seen one for the 103 yet. Not difficult, but the dowel pin in the chain guide presents you with buying a tool, or making one. you have to be careful not to crush that plastic when removing the dowel pin.

[wbain5280]

I have an oil leak out of the back of the head gasket on the passenger side on my 300SE with the M103. I'm going to have to pull the head and replace the gasket. I'll do the valve seals as well. I hope you took pictures of your work. BTW, I just saw the thread today.

[John Plut]

I'm gearing up to replace the head gasket on my '88 260e. It has a slow coolant leak that stops if I loosen the radiator cap but with the warm weather coming up I'm afraid of boiling over in traffic.

My Haynes manual recommends using a slide hammer to pull the pin from the chain guide rail. I'm sceptical that there won't be enough clearance in the front for that. Anyone have experience with that?

Also, Haynes recommends removing the head with the manifolds attached. It seems simpler to me to disconnect the manifolds and leave them in the engine compartment, but having never done the job, I may be wrong.