I kid....

No seriously... this one has us stumped. I and the Seller were investigating a small pool of nice fresh oil that we found under the car. A 94 E230 Wagon. And trying to find it we cleaned the whole area around the typical Head gasket leak area (and beyond and more) and we ran it hard. No sign of new oil. Then I left him to it for a week or more. His mechanic tried to get it to leak. He tried to get it to leak. We cannot get it to leak... We have a clean spot around that rear passenger side rear of motor and we cannot get it to show its leak. Anywhere.

This wagon has no history that we know of that we could check. He took the car in on trade. His shop did change the oil just before it was brought over to this shop for me to look at. I saw it first just an hour or two after it had arrived. And we clearly saw the fresh oil on the clean shop floor. And on the belly plastic shield (which we removed to investigate). Had it up and down on the lift. Degreased and washed it.

He and I don't know where to go from here. None of us can get it to leak oil. Price we are agreeing on depends on the fact of a leak or not.

I dunno... got any ideas of how to make a slightly leaking head gasket to show? If it was in my hands I would go far as putting in some dye. But the seller may not want to bother. If I buy it I am buying it on my own eyes and ears.

It is a very low mileage thing. 127K and pretty much mint car with no real other issues. New tires, everything works except the sunroof is slow coming back closed. The wiring harness looks good where I can pull back the covering in three or four places. Looks newish even. We are at $3400 right now so I doubt thats too bad. I would prefer to be at $2500 if I KNEW and could show the headgasket had caused that puddle.

I suppose it is possible that the other shop that changed the oil, dumped oil down on the pan and the trip blew it back off the pan and dripped on the floor. But I hate to conclude that and be wrong.

Any ideas?

__________________
1983 300D-Turbo - Deep Blue w Palomino MB Tex (total loss in fire 1/5/09 RIP)
1995 E320 W124 Polar White/Grey Mushroom MB Tex
2005 F150 Supercrew - Arizona Beige - Lear topper
1985 Piaggio Vespa T5 - Black and Chrome

www.cphilip.com