IIRC, most head gasket leaks on the 103/104 engines are at the rear. Most all of these engines develop a leak around the top timing chain cover at the front of the engine, just under the valve cover and it makes a real mess there. When the valve cover gasket leaks, it may run down between the plugs and down the side of the block. Had a trained MB mech. tell me I had a head gasket leak when he saw oil on the right side of the block. Very careful inspection revealed the leak to be from the valve cover. Easy and cheap fix. The valve cover gasket will also often leak at the back where there is a dip in the casting of the head. As said in a post above, the top timing chain cover can be re-sealed fairly easily. If you do the job, use the special sealant from MB. Costs about $12-13 a tube. It sets very fast so have the job all planned out before you apply the sealant. You will also need a new rubber gasket. Apply the sealant liberally. You can always trim the excess the next day after it fully cures. Did mine last year and it is still dry as a bone. Usually when the head gasket begins to leak, oil will get into the coolant, leaving small brown globules in the overflow tank. Most of the time the oil leaks into the coolant but it is possible for the coolant to leak into the oil and produce engine bearing damage.
01-29-2009, 09:02 PM
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