1969 280SE Water in the Oil - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

dcotant · #1 08-20-2006, 04:10 PM

I am so close to having a car I am comfortable with I can almost taste it. Last problem, I am seeing water/antifreeze in my oil. Not seeing any oil in the radiator, but definitely seeing coolant when I lift the rocker cover, setting in little globs. Coolant is disappearing from the radiator et al, but not showing as a leak or steam anywhere.

Now it must be coming in somewhere where the coolant (pressure at what, 15 PSI) is less than the oil pressure ( @45 psi ), so must be directly into the oil pan or where the oil is returning to the sump.

Just replaced the head gasket when I did a job on the camshaft. On the old head gasket (yes had this problem b4 the camshaft problem) there was no sign of crossover, no traces showing bypass of coolant. Head looked good and flat (previous owner said the head had just be "done") but cannot say i went into a shop to do this.

Is there anywhere else on this mechanical fuel injected unit where coolant could be crossing over to oil?

I have read a number of posts recommending against using chemical treatment of coolant leak because of heater valve, what if the heater circuit was by passed during treatment?

Before I bought the car I believe it sat for a while, does that help?

Finally, would a cracked cylinder (below the compression area) do this?

Don't know if this engine is toast or what i should do to correct this problem.

Anyone got ideas, I am all ears.

Thanks

dcotant · #2 08-20-2006, 04:12 PM

When i said i did not go into a shop to do this, i meant i did not take the head to a shop to verify flatness.

D

nhdoc · #3 08-20-2006, 05:23 PM

You have a problem...now, since you know you have a problem you should get to the bottom of it. I would suspect the head gasket since you say it was just replaced...did you follow the correct torque/sequence when you tightened the bolts? Coolant can get into the crankcase from either a crack in the block or head or a bad gasket...since you just did the gasket I would start looking there.

You don't want to run on contaminated oil or risk hydrolocking the engine if the head gasket is bad so you should find the source of the leak and fix it asap.

#4 08-20-2006, 06:35 PM

I saw a wierd situation once. A 1970 280SE had a 1966 250SE long block, and it kept having head gasket issues until someone checked the engine id number and realized they were using the wrong headgasket for the motor that was in the car. Make sure the headgasket you used belongs to the engine in your car, not the model and year of your car. I once bought a 1977 Alfa Romeo and had the same problem until I figured out it had a 1966 Alfa motor(they all look the same). Good luck.

Arthur Dalton · #5 08-20-2006, 08:09 PM

M130 engines had two different head gaskets .. square hole and Oval hole .. they are not interchangeable and the water jacket holes do not line up on 2 ports. If the wrong on is installed , you will have water in the oil.

http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=1M30LAGSC1VM17S55R&year=1969&make=MB&model=280-SE-001&category=A&part=Cylinder+Head+Gasket+Set&appEngines=_any

Arthur Dalton · #6 08-20-2006, 09:20 PM

< >>

.. and what do you think happens when the coolant is up to temp and the engine is turned off????

t walgamuth · #7 08-21-2006, 05:46 AM

how did you determine that the head was flat?

tom w

ctaylor738 · #8 08-21-2006, 01:17 PM

Try re-torquing the head bolts - believe that it's supposed to be done after a running-in period on the M130.

Arthur Dalton · #9 08-21-2006, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctaylor738

Try re-torquing the head bolts - believe that it's supposed to be done after a running-in period on the M130.

Yes .. and make sure you take the water tank pressure cap off before retorque . Each head bolt has to be loosened one at a time before retorque.

dcotant · #10 08-22-2006, 10:47 AM

Thanks for all the good advice. I actually am aware of the two different head gaskets, and in fact, the first one shipped was the wrong one, which i noticed just by looking at it through the cellophane.

Yes i followed the torque sequence and instructions 100%.

I just re-torqued the head this last weekend, loosening and re-tightening one at a time as suggested. Will see if this helps.

Most sage advice was from Arthur: ".. and what do you think happens when the coolant is up to temp and the engine is turned off????" I had not considered the fact that perhaps the coolant was seeping in after the engine was turned off.

Arthur Dalton · #11 08-22-2006, 02:00 PM

<< sage advice >>

Very good...........