07 GL320 CDI Massive Coolant Leak - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

sfsegui · #16 10-11-2022, 06:12 PM

Pretty sure not coming out of exhaust, so hopefully not head or head gasket. Drove it to pick up my girls from school, ran ok, only left a little puddle in driveway, this will be last time driven till this issue is fixed.

sfsegui · #17 10-11-2022, 06:28 PM

Getting ready to submit order for parts:
-oil cooler seal kit from FCP Euro
-seals and gaskets to take care of oil leak from intake tube to turbo inlet
-water pump (preventative, no mention of being replaced in service records)
-thermostat (preventative, peace of mind)
-cabin air filter
-left and right engine air filter

I already have all the tools necessary to do this I believe (with the exception of the Baum tool which I am hoping to borrow from jaybob).

Any other items that fall into the category of “while I am in there?” Was thinking about breather hose, fuel filter maybe??

I am approaching this job as if I am changing the oil cooler seals, but obviously looking for the coolant leak. If I find it before removing 80% of what is needed to do oil cooler seals, fantastic. If not, I will go ahead and change oil cooler seals even though they were done by previous owner.

Also bought a head strap for my iPhone from Amazon today which I am hoping is more comfortable than my GoPro setup so I can video all my steps to have a record of it and reference when needed.

Tomorrow is setup day (print all relevant pages, lay down cardboard on garage floor, all tools on cart, put GL on ramps, etc.).

If time permits (it never does) I may begin removing parts tomorrow.

Again, thanks to all who have voiced their suggestions and opinions and if there is something I am overlooking, please let me know.

sfsegui · #18 10-15-2022, 11:47 PM

Finally got started looking for my coolant leak. Still waiting on all parts to come in, but jaybob was super helpful and let me borrow a few tools and his WIS discs. Hopefully will be close to getting to the oil cooler and the cause of my coolant leak sometime tomorrow. I am taking my time, taking lots of pics/video, and keeping everything as organized and neat as possible.

I did run into something that will need to be addressed. Not sure if this is the exhaust manifold?? The pic with the yellow circle around it. I don’t have any codes, but I do believe was riding a little sluggish, especially at takeoff. Also, it looks like this explains some of how oily/sooty it was on this side of the engine. The 3rd picture with my red magnet is for reference where this “crack” is. Other 2 pics are of what I have removed and what the engine looks like now.

View post on imgur.com

Any ideas on how this crack happened or solutions to fix it are always welcome and appreciated.

Murkybenz · #19 10-16-2022, 03:24 AM

I think it’s a heat shield for the exhaust manifold.. can’t be sure but my Jeep with the 642 does not have shields fitted and the cast manifolds are easily visible so I presume that’s all it can be.
Have a read through this thread below on a Jeep forum , I post as Dougdarri on it and posted some info on tearing down the 642 to do oil cooler seals, do remember there are odd differences like probably the coolant metal pipes running around engine block near exhaust manifolds but the rest will be the same.
https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/mercedes-crd-oil-cooler-leak-survivors-question-for-you.4460120/

87tdwagen · #20 10-16-2022, 09:10 AM

I believe that is a crack in the actual exhaust manifold as evidenced by the soot traces below the crack. I believe the manifolds are stainless steel themselves and do not have heat shields. It's the same manifold that Murky/Doug replaced and has shown in the video in the Jeep thread. My OM642, like Murkys is in a Jeep but looks like what he shows and what your picture shows.

I would suggest replacing that manifold, or removing it and having an exhaust shop weld it shut. Do the rattle test as Murky/Doug demonstrates, if it is rattling, you may want to just replace it. There is a lot of good info in the above referenced thread.

I also found this video to be very helpful in showing the sequence of item removal and is a great reference. See what comes next, pause, go do, come back to video and resume. Not many details, but given the compact stacked nature of these engines, proper sequence is key to efficiency

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDDPajzdlrU

sfsegui · #21 10-16-2022, 03:34 PM

Well, I was hoping to get to the exhaust manifolds today, but after struggling with the first bolt on rear of turbo (WIS calls it exhaust collector pipe) due to lack of room, I decided just to go ahead and remove the wipers and water diverters below the windshield. WIS simply says remove bolts and lift arms off…….yea right. These wiper arms are seized on. Hopefully the cheap-o HF puller will work to get these things off. Sprayed them down with PB Blaster that will hopefully loosen them up.

Going to pick up puller. Just one more delay. I am hoping to finish by early 2023.

sfsegui · #22 10-16-2022, 04:46 PM

Was fuming that I had to go to HF for a tool, then I thought why not try one of my small gear pullers? Success!! Just small enough and the 3 arms popped free. Removed them and the cowl. Does let a lot more light in, but not as much room as I was hoping for. Would rather not mess with the wiper mechanism/transmission as I heard it is a bear to realign, not sure.

Should I remove or will this make for another headache during reassembly?

The top pic is after removal of wiper arms and cowl, bottom is before.

Murkybenz · #23 10-16-2022, 05:31 PM

You have plenty of room, even with the cowl still in place you are spoilt for access, the Jeep om642 cannot have the cowl removed , you cannot even see the 6 bolts on the two pipes out the back of turbo it all has too be done by feel !!.
When I refitted the exhausts up to turbo the kit I had supplied nuts and bolts which were so much easier to deal with , just standard everyday 1/2 thread nuts and bolts …. So much easier..

jay_bob · #24 10-16-2022, 06:52 PM

Remember the bottom bolt on the turbo outlet flange does NOT have to be totally removed, the elbow piece is slotted on the bottom. The top 2 do have to come all the way out but not the bottom one.

sfsegui · #25 10-23-2022, 08:12 PM

Was unable to do any work on the GL last week (out of town for work) until Saturday. Spent a few more hours on disassembly and was able to get the turbo removed. Best thing was when I returned home from work on Friday, my Etorx ratcheting wrenches had just been delivered. This made removing the turbo, EGR pipe so much easier than using sockets. Will keep updating till I find the coolant leak.

sfsegui · #26 10-30-2022, 08:01 PM

Progress…..slowly but surely making my way to oil cooler. Haven’t uncovered coolant leak, but looks like there were/are several oil leaks. These will be taken care of upon reassembly I believe with all the new gaskets/seals, etc.

Got engine harness, fuel rail removed today. Hopefully will be able to work on it more this week than last week.

jay_bob · #27 10-31-2022, 08:01 AM

You’re almost there! 19 bolts, and the manifolds come out, and you’ll be staring at the oil cooler.

sfsegui · #28 11-13-2022, 06:52 PM

Slow and steady. Very slow. Was in Wisconsin all week for work, but finally had a chance to work on the GL again this evening. OIL COOLER REMOVED!!!

It almost looks like the seal that was installed a few months before I purchased vehicle wasn’t seated properly in oil cooler. Haven’t seen any other glaring spots that coolant has been leaking from. I am really hoping this is it. Will be digging into, cleaning everything this week hopefully.

Taking the week of Thanksgiving off from work and I am shooting for a completion date of 11/26/22.

jay_bob · #29 11-14-2022, 07:37 AM

Wow that looks nasty under that oil cooler.

I concur, the seal was not perfectly seated when the cooler was placed. Or it wasn’t torqued properly on installation.

A little concerned you may have had mixing of oil and coolant. If you drained the oil and coolant first, how clean did they look?

I am going to have to fix my other son’s car (the E320) over the Christmas holiday as well, he’s experiencing high oil consumption and it’s definitely leaking (not burning) oil. Got the parts in hand already.

One other piece of good news, they now have the updated brake boosters in stock, so if your booster is bad, they should be able to address it quickly (not 5 months like I had to wait).

sfsegui · #30 11-14-2022, 05:40 PM

Thanks for the info jaybob. The oil and coolant when drained looked fine, nothing to make me think there was any oil in coolant or vice versa. Considering the amount of almost rounded fasteners I ran across and most of the fasteners being torqued down to much I believe- I think you are correct and the leak is/was coming from the bottom of the oil cooler.

As soon as I put everything back together, 1st stop will be a dealership to have brake booster recall done. Well that will be second stop, 1st stop will be returning the tools, CDs, etc you loaned me.