Catastrophic Failure?
 

Hello,

Just had my 88 190e 2.3 towed home. I was driving on highway about 60mph and started hearing a noise similar to the one the climate fan makes when it has bad bearings. A vibrating kind of sound. Then the car started bucking and trying to stall. Then poof, a huge smoke screen let out the back of my car, engulfing the highway. So I quickly made my way to the shoulder, the vehicle was stalled at this point so I was coasting. Once stopped I opened the hood to find oil all over the front left side of the engine compartment. The tow truck driver said it sounded like a blown head gasket. I need to go check it out now, a few questions though.

How do I find if its a blown head gasket? What do I look for?

If this ends up being the case is this a straight forward job, for a limited DIY'er?

Please any thoughts are greatly appreciated!!

Best Regards,

Josh

I've seen a neon that did the same thing. Oil was all over the engine compartment and the head gasket had to be replaced. But I never seen this on a benz. Make sure that nothing in the oil gallery on which the oil filter is mounted did not burst, there is a gasket there also. Besides that I don't think there is any other exposed oil pressure lines.

xp

After initial look I can see coolant resevoir is empty, inside oil filler cap there is lots of antifreeze. I suppose all the white smoke I saw was the antifreeze burning? Whats the average cost of a headgasket replacement at a non-dealer shop?

About $1500 if you freshen the head too. Don't bother just replacing the gasket for $1000 with a car that age. Do the seals and guides for sure...

ok, started pulling things apart, and came across two more not very encouraging observations.

1. #3 sparkplug looks like the piston rammed into it, it's all mangled up.

2. Upon removing thermostat housing I found a piece of metal about 1/4 inch in diameter. I suppose once I get the head off I should see the damage to the piston and hopefully where this metal peice came from. it looks like a sharred of piece of the block maybe.

Question,
if the piston was able to crush the spark plug, then this must mean the piston is coming up to high, so did the piston somehow break loose from whatever holds it down below the block?

Man this sucks, my shortlived time as a benz owner may soon be at an end....

From what you have said, you're going to find a lot of damage. It's unlikely that the piston broke loose, but it's possible. More likely that the head has come off the valve. Either way, the most cost effective repair is going to be a used engine from a reliable source.

I second neileg.
One of your valves has apparently come loose or broke, and fell into the combustion chamber. -Not good!
If that's in fact what happened, you are looking at a major engine repair.
You can save at bunch of $$ finding a good used engine instead of repairing the old one.

Freestyler

jrbnc

Here are some used engines for sale, probably alot cheaper than repairing yours.

1988
Engine
Mercedes 190 E RUNS GOOD 146K 020493 $900 Newville Auto Salvage, Inc. USA-WI(Edgerton) E-mail 1-866-884-3115
1988
Engine
Mercedes 190 201 Typ, gas, 2.3- 165-160LB COMP 3E8808 $850 Martin Imports USA-NC(Wendell) E-mail 1-800-569-9711
1987
Engine
Mercedes 190 E 2.3,BLUE,8-87,FLR-AO T 99B172 $850 Gagels Auto Parts USA-FL(Riverview) E-mail 1-800-537-5948
1987
Engine
Mercedes 190 *201 Typ, gas, 2.3, w/tmg sensr hole- 173K N029 $800.14 All Auto Parts Co. USA-CA(Fontana) E-mail 1-800-797-4595
1988
Engine
Mercedes 190 E NEEDS STARTED 010390 $800 Sunset Beach Auto Parts USA-IA(Des-Moines) E-mail 1-800-383-5201
1988
Engine
Mercedes 190 E 10-87,2.3,FAT,NICE RUNNER M30076 $750 Tompkinsville Auto Salvage USA-KY(Tompkinsville) E-mail 1-888-482-0016
1988
Engine
Mercedes 190 E RWD,2.3,AT 504543 $750 Hon's Automotive USA-GA(Cochran) E-mail 800-852-1526
1988
Engine
Mercedes 190 201 Typ, gas, 2.3- GOOD RUNNER 177K 495108 $600 Affordable Import Parts and Cars USA-OK(Vera) E-mail 1-800-295-6311
1988
Engine
Mercedes 190 -2.3 AT RUNS NICE NO/DIS 167,932 MILE 167K 7383 $550 All Foreign Auto Parts USA-PA(Pittsburgh) E-mail 1-412-782