Thank you for the replies. I am not ready to condemn the head or the motor yet! As stated, while idling the engine temps dropped below 100C and when I tried to add water and get the hose back on, the car started and ran until the hose blew off and I shut it down. Also, there was still coolant in the block/head because I left more of it on the parking lot after the hose blew off!

Just checked things again and I have no coolant in oil, no oil in coolant - got the hose on again as best I could and started it up. Started great with no smoke out the tailpipe and ran fine (just for a minute or two as I didn't want to blow antifreeze all over the place again - so I didn't let it heat up). Now, I realize that this is not a definitive 'test', but I think it is enough to replace the radiator and thermostat and HOPE for the best. I know I could still be looking at a head gasket replacement down the road...

As a side note, this head gasket was replaced by the dealer many years ago - car had maybe 10-15K miles on it. I don't know why, and I don't know if that matters...car currently has 82,000 miles.

ryan

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RG Newell

1984 300D
1972 250
1986 560SL
1991 300CE