Help Probably Blown Head Gasket? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ALBERTO · #1 09-23-2007, 06:11 AM

Hy,
My CLK 430 has 230.000Km never ver heated max 103 C for a while in traffic jam, baut recently i noticed that i have to add soem water...........apparently NO LEAKS.
So i deconnectet the klittle hose that came from the radiator to the expansion tank, and put it in a glass fulled with water, i started the car and waited untill the thermiostat open and with my big surprise with the water i can see may very very little bubbles liek when water begin to boil but the temperature was not 100 C .
I suspect this eare gases on the cooling..........so one of my head gaseket is blown.
really not happy.........

Does anyone have alredy done this jon on a 113 why I am afrain about lose the timing, and I do not know if a can do the job Without demonted the CHAIN....
Help
I really apreciate your helps guys
Many thanks
Alberto

gmercoleza · #2 09-23-2007, 10:04 AM

Why are you positive you have a blown head gasket? Have you done compression or leakdown test? Do you see oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil? Is there performance loss or rough running? Is it overheating?

You need to look into this a little bit more before pulling ahead since it's a big job. There are many questions to be answered before you can be positive that the gasket is blown.

ALBERTO · #3 09-23-2007, 10:34 AM

thanks ,
No oil on tge cooling
No overjeating but temp rise very fast from 05 to 100 when in traffic jam...could be also viscous fan tired.......
No loss of performance
I am not equipped to do compressiontest

I waiting other reply for diagnostic
Thanks

gmercoleza · #4 09-23-2007, 04:19 PM

Quote:

No oil on tge cooling

What is tge cooling?

Quote:

could be also viscous fan tired

Why not test this first?

You really should get a compression gauge - not very expensive. I don't know where you are located, but around here a gauge can be had for approximately $15. A leakdown test is even better. If you are not equipped or able to diagnose properly, take the car to an experienced mechanic. Otherwise, you may be replacing the head gasket for nothing.

juribe2 · #5 09-24-2007, 12:44 PM

Hi Alberto,

Try not to panic. I don't think your head gasket is blowned. When the head or head gasket fails, you get oil and coolant mixed.

You could have a dificult to trace coolant leak. Coolant can leak from several places: hoses, radiator, water pump, exp. tank, heater system, etc.

Your glass experiment is not good because the system needs pressure to avoid coolant boiling. Boiling temperature depends on pressure.

If the car is overheating, start with the basics: new thermostat and new pressure cap. And try to locate the coolant leak. Maybe it's related to the heating core. Also see if the fan clutch is in good condition. When the engine is at working temprature and you turn the engine off, the fan should stop almost inmediately. If it keeps turning for some time, fan clutch is probably bad.

gmercoleza · #6 09-24-2007, 12:51 PM

You can also use a broom handle to test the fan clutch while the engine is running. Approach the blades slowly - if you can stop them with the broom handle, the fan clutch is shot.

TX76513 · #7 09-24-2007, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmercoleza

You can also use a broom handle to test the fan clutch while the engine is running. Approach the blades slowly - if you can stop them with the broom handle, the fan clutch is shot.

and if the fan clutch is good?

Just for readers who might not want to attempt that, do a simple test: Spin the fan as hard as you can on an engine that has not been started that day. If the fan rotates more than five times, you can bet the clutch is bad. You should feel some resistance and the fan may spin up to three times, depending on the ambient temperature. But even if it rotates three or fewer times the clutch could still be bad.

ALBERTO · #8 09-25-2007, 01:56 PM

Thanks ffor replay me,
So I also hope that heads gaskets are OK...........
Engine is not overheating and fun cluch seem to be ok while when the engine rech 96 C i can feel a big noise and after the temperature decrease to 92 C
I tried to find leaks but no way.....the only possible place is the heater core inside the car , becase i cheked all others components..
just to be sure i wuk like to buy an LEAK GAS TEST do you know a place to buy this online?
I did compression test with a home made manometer and it seems to be ok
i will manage to have a compression test from a freind soon.
Many thanks
Alberto

gmercoleza · #9 09-25-2007, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

and if the fan clutch is good?

Just for readers who might not want to attempt that, do a simple test: Spin the fan as hard as you can on an engine that has not been started that day. If the fan rotates more than five times, you can bet the clutch is bad. You should feel some resistance and the fan may spin up to three times, depending on the ambient temperature. But even if it rotates three or fewer times the clutch could still be bad.

If the fan clutch is good, no harm no foul - as I stated above, just approach it very slowly, say 1 inch per hour. The worst that can happen is you will have a LOUD rat-tat-tat sound and you might get a little scared. Obviously you don't want to just jam the broom handle in there...

I have seen fan clutches that rotated freely but were not faulty. Now I didn't sit there and count the number of rotations, but I'm sure they would have spun more than three times. For that matter, the clutch in my E320 currently has plenty of resistance when cold but is easily stopped by a broom handle with the engine running. I just did the test two weeks ago, and yes I am driving with the faulty clutch (I'll replace it eventually).

And what if Mike Tyson is the guy spinning the fan? Or Pee Wee Herman? Too many variables, if you ask me...

TX76513 · #10 09-25-2007, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmercoleza

If the fan clutch is good, no harm no foul - as I stated above, just approach it very slowly, say 1 inch per hour. The worst that can happen is you will have a LOUD rat-tat-tat sound and you might get a little scared. Obviously you don't want to just jam the broom handle in there...

I have seen fan clutches that rotated freely but were not faulty. Now I didn't sit there and count the number of rotations, but I'm sure they would have spun more than three times. For that matter, the clutch in my E320 currently has plenty of resistance when cold but is easily stopped by a broom handle with the engine running. I just did the test two weeks ago, and yes I am driving with the faulty clutch (I'll replace it eventually).

And what if Mike Tyson is the guy spinning the fan? Or Pee Wee Herman? Too many variables, if you ask me...

I only have two thoughts on that.

There are a lot of very novice people who stumble into the forum through search engines - your initial explanation might lead someone astray.

If I took my car to a mech who used that approach to test the fan clutch the car would be in R quickly.

My original comments were only to prevent someone from being injured

gmercoleza · #11 09-25-2007, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

I only have two thoughts on that.

There are a lot of very novice people who stumble into the forum through search engines - your initial explanation might lead someone astray.

If I took my car to a mech who used that approach to test the fan clutch the car would be in R quickly.

My original comments were only to prevent someone from being injured

Point taken, and you're right - we don't want anyone to go chopping their fingers off...