Gentlemen

My brother's '89 350SDL is leaking oil into the coolant after the head was resurfaced by a top-notch machine shop and the head was installed by a certified MB mechanic--still runs great but with the same symptoms as before the rebuild. No coolant in the crankcase--but more oil in the overflow tank than is normal after work like this.

Is there an oil-cooler on this car that shares a surface with the radiator or cooling system?

I've browsed through the threads but would appreciate your comments--many thanks


Tim Kraakevik
kraakevik@voyager.net
Four 114's, Four M110's

Has to be a '90 or '91, no '87 350SDL. Just a technicality.

Oil in the coolant pretty much has to come from the head or the headgasket. Could be a cracked block, I haven't heard of one but if it was abused I suppose it is possible.

What head casting is it (YY of 603 XXX YY ZZ)? If it cracked it might not be apparent, but it usually will then get carbon/exhaust in the coolant, not oil (leak is usually between the combustion chamber and coolant or exhaust valve and coolant).

If the head was done improperly, it is possible for it to leak. Might be the wrong headgasket (old style non-turbo?), torn gasket, improperly surfaced/warped head, other.

The oil cooler does not have coolant around it, and the radiator has no oil cooler in it.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

It's not an 89 either, which is what he said he had

I agree with your other conclusions, however, so "x2". No interchange between oil and water cooling whatsoever.

here's a dumb question though. Did anybody actually drain the old oily goo OUT of the expansion tank after the repair was done? There's no possibility you're seeing residual contamination from before the repair, are you?

__________________


~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

If the head was not flat do you have any ideal how far it was out? I mention this as you are only allowed to remove a very modest amount without using special head gaskets if available on most mercedes diesel engines.

I agree with the previous poster that there may be old oil residue still accumulating in the coolant circuit jug if the system was not flushed out properly. So first I would flush and clean the system out and keep an eye on it.

It could be atf.unlikely to be fuel as those tubes are soldered together, so mixing is extremely unlikely.

__________________
James Marriott
2003 Buick Regal
1983 300D (228k, frau Auto)
1996 Suburban K2500 (192k, 6.5 turbo diesel/4WD towmaster 10,000)
www.engineeringworks.biz
1987 300SDL junker 170k
1982 300SD junker, 265k

Actually it could be an 89 as I know they made a handful of them for that year. Not sure of the accuracy of this page but it looks like they made 18 for that year. Perhaps they were all press demonstrators?

http://home.concepts.nl/~vlimmere/index2.HTM

Either way this would be the very first time that i've actually come across an 89. (It's like seeing the Loch Ness Monster!)

__________________
1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

Sorry to claim ignorance on 350s, but what type of oil cooler did these have? Is it fluid to fluid or air to fluid?

__________________
Thanks,
Mark in NC

"Spark plugs?...We don't need no stinking spark plugs!"
1985 300SD "Der Silberne Schlitten" 420,000 mi


Wish these were diesel:
2003 Ford Club Wagon 130,000 mi

Air to fluid for engine oil.

Fluid to fluid for transmission fluid.

__________________


~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

Fluid/air ahead of the LF wheel.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Are you sure it was oil?

Was the citric acid flush and shout rinse per MB and shown at diesel giant site performed to get the oil residues out?

are we sure it is not ATF? It shares the radiator with the coolant...

__________________
Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

We're pretty sure it's oil--and there's too much volume for residual stuff floating around--but I'll look into the ATF idea.

Gentlemen--thank you all for your comments. If we figure out the root cause I'll post it here.

For those of you with 114's, 115's or M110's please e-mail me for an updated listing of parts for sale--I have 1973 and 1976 280 sedans I'm parting out.

Again, many thanks


Tim Kraakevik
kraakevik@voyager.net
630 474-9164