Hi

Read a lot on the forum about this problem. This is my first post divided into 2 parts:

1/ Had coolant dripping from under the car at the AC condenser drain hole/pipe. Isolated the problem to the heater system and blocked the 2 pipes feeding this system off. Now it can either be the core itself or the heater bypass valve as I picked up from the postings. Q: Is there a easy way to test which one is the problem?

2/ There is a brown sludge in the water expansion tank. Repair shop told me that oil is leaking from the oil cooler pipes into the radiator. I read on this forum that the problem might be the head gasket. There's no sign of any water in the oil. Q: How do you determine which one is the problem?

Thanks in advance.

Great forum!

The brown sludge is caused by a blown headgasket, either past or present. If you haven't owned the car very long and it was like this when you bought it, probably was done in the past but no one replaced the 2 tanks, there is one in the fender that should be replaced as well as the one with the pressure cap.

Gilly

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Thanks for the info. Where, which fender is the other tank located and how do you get to it?

Elecmech

Unless I'm mistaken, it's in the right fender behind the wheel, you'd need to remove the fender liner to get to it. If I'm right, the small hose under the pressure cap leads to it. It's possible this was only on the 6 cylinder 190E though (2.6).
Gilly

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Click here to see the items I have up for auction at EBay

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I have looked everywhere for any pipe going in the direction of the fenders but could not locate it, if someone can confirm that this arrangement was only used on the 6 cyl models that would explain it!

Also if someone can tell me, if the heater bypass valve is faulty, will it leak fluid at the same drain pipe as when the heater core itself is at fault? I want to be sure before undertaking the massive job of removing the dash to get to the core. (Already ordered the WS CD just incase!)

Thanks, Elecmech

OK First there is only one Coolant Expansion tank on a 2.3 190E. Second the Heater Valve is located on the passenger side under the cover that is under the wiper arm. Take that cover off to expose the fan enclosure and the heater valve is right there on the passenger side. Third if it is the core, you can check by taking the glove box out to see the one side and removing the lower panel on the drivers side and the knee bolster to see the other side of that. Look for coolant around the plastic endtanks and if you see it then it is the core. I had mine explode and burn the crap out of my ankles just about a month ago. Have to remove the dash to get it out and new one in. Took me 5.5 hours to do mine by myself and it was the first time I ever removed the dash. There is actually a thread at 190revolution.net's forum about how to remove the dash in a 190E.

Edit: No the heater valve should not leak into that drain. I hate to say it but it is most likely your core. Part was $90 online and as I stated above took 5.5 to R&R the core as well as check all vacuum connections in the dash and of course play around a bit in there.

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~Jamie
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2003 Pewter C230K SC C1, C4, C5, C7, heated seats, CD Changer, and 6 Speed. ContiExtremes on the C7's.

1986 190E 2.3 Black, Auto, Mods to come soon.....

Yes, I am afraid that it is the core

Thanks for all the help guys!