My 300e has begun to leak coolant. It appears that it is coming from the highest metal fitting on the left hand side (when looking at it) of the radiator. Is this the tranny coolant pipe?

How would I fix this? I found little when I searched. Is there an o-ring inside this fitting, or is it straight metal to metal? Do I have to buy the whole replacement pipe to fix this, or worse, maybe a new radiator?

Thank you for your time.

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headrivenoise... listen.

In this pic, the fitting that I believe is leaking is being removed. anyone know what I can do about this? Is this uncommon? It seems like the more common leak on this side of the radiator is the lower, third fitting, under the second tranny cooling line. should I check this, too?

thanks for your time.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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headrivenoise... listen.

Personally, if this was my original radiator on my 87 300E, I would replace the radiator, no questions asked. I have heard of so many (and one personally) that seem to last about 100,000 miles or 10 years and then crack at the upper left main hose neck. The replacements have a reinforced neck.

The fitting you are indicating on the right side is for the transmission fluid hose. Is there a crack there? What is leaking? Coolant or Tranny fluid?

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Steve

1992 300CE Sportline Sophie
1990 300E Emma - in the family
1979 240D Josephine - sold, but not forgotten
2004 Pacifica AWD

http://web.mac.com/dakota/Mercedes/Home.html

The radiator has a sticker on it that says "nissens", and made in sweden. Is this the oem radiator for my car?

Definetely coolant leaking. It forms in small puddles on the bottom tray. Where would I look for tranny fluid in this area? On rare occasions, I smell burning tranny fluid, but this could be from anything.

No visible crack on the fitting, just a line of coolant running from it down to the other tranny cooling line.

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headrivenoise... listen.

Time to start pricing radiator...just in case.

crazy me , I tried the "fix the plastic tank + aluminum tabs route on a W126"

Aluminum after many expansions and contractions (the tabs that hold the
PLASTIC tanks onto the aluminum radiator core) suffer from crystalization.

And, what German engineer was smoking What, when He (I know no woman
would come up with such a Detroit idea) decided to machine plastic for
metal A.T.F. fittings?????????????????????????????????????????????????

[I bought an aftermarket old stlye COPPER radiator for the W126!]

wait a minute... is the tranny cooled by sending Tranny fluid up to the radiator, or by sending coolant back to tranny? I seriously don't know (damn newbie). Could this be tranny fluid leaking out then? Thanks.

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headrivenoise... listen.