I just purchased a 1991 300e and realized there is oil in the coolant. I had the radiator flushed and put new coolant but 2 weeeks later, it was brown again. Is this engine oil or transmission oil? My mechanic says its a head job that is required to correct this problem. Could this be true as it is a very costly procedure? Thanks for the help

Sounds like your head gasket has gone bad. Not too uncommon on the M103 engines. Sounds normal if there is oil in the coolant, and coolant in the oil.

I think the whole job is done for somewhere between $800 and $1000.

Another indicator of a bad head gasket are oil leaks. They usually occur at the rear of the block, but can leak at the front too. This can indicate it to, but I think the coolant in oil and vice-versa is the best way to tell.

Also, be sure to do a search on Head Gasket, there will be a wealth of info.

Good luck!

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2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

Yes, I also think, your head gasket is gone, as it ddevelop leak, the high pressure during the ignition, will boost the engine into your water jacket, so, water will mix with oil.

you can try the compression test and see whether the pressure of each cylinder is the same or not, if not, or incrediblly low, than it is more likely is the head gasket.

you can also try to measure the pressure of your cooling system, it will normally about less than 1 bar to 1.5 bar.

For my own point of view, I think, you better solve it out as soon as you can, unless as it turn to be more serious, the high pressure of your engine will damage your cooling system components, such as the radiator, heater matrix....

I have actually try that before, the high pressure bomb my heater matrix, and steam coming out from my air vent!
but not the Mercerdes.

Hope this can help you!!

Your head gasket is leaking MOTOR oil into the coolant and does that probably at a return line of the motoroil system.
I had the same problem with my 300SL-24 (104 engine) and just finished putting the head back on.

Gary, you are talking about a head gasket leak that blows compression air from the cylinders in the coolant system/water lines of the head...that is a different leak and can cause more damage as an oil leak.

greetingz,

__________________
1990 300SL-24
1993 C250D with a minor 600+k kilometer
www.MBenzNL.com(the Netherlands)

If you going to replace the head gasket, depending how many miles your car has, I would look into getting a head job done at the same time. You may save some $$ at the end specially if you plan to keep the car for a while...
Either way, good luck!

__________________
J.H.
'86 300E

Oh yes, MBenz you sre right, the reason I think that is the leak is from the head gasket because my other car, (an Opel) have this problem before, and of course, the damage is more serious! it bomb my heater matrix and some rubber hose.

Check a few things...like your oil dipstick...is it foamy and discolored? (best to do right after an oil change when your oil is clean). If not, then check your trans fluid dipstick for discoloration. I just had the same problem with my 1991 300e (177k) and came to the conclusion that my trans cooler in the radiator developed a small leak, therefore leaking trans fluid into the radiator system. I was told by an MB service manager that this is not an uncommon problem. He explained that if your motor oil dipstick is clean then it's the trans cooler. In a bad head gasket situation, I understand that there would most likely be cross contamination...oil in coolant and coolant in oil.

I flushed several times with a radiator flush additive and then replaced my radiator (easy to DIY). I then replaced hoses as needed and refilled with new coolant. A snap!!

Hi,

i have just experienced the same problem with my 190e that i purchased a week ago.
When viewing to buy the car i checked the oil filler cap and dip stick but there was no signs of "foam" which made me beleive the engine was fine as it also started and drove excellently.
Unfortunately i didn't check the expansion tank as if i had i would have seen the foamy crap floating on top of the water.
The long and the short of it being that i have had to have a new head gasket fitted at a cost of £500. Gutted.

The moral of the story being "buyer be ware"

good luck and i hope you get it sorted.

Gaz

Sometimes it's hard to tell from just the dipstick alone. Drain your oil completely into a glass or plastic see-through container. Wait overnight and check it in the morning. If there is coolant in it, it will separate from the oil and will "float" to the top. You won't miss it if there's water or coolant in there. You can also do this with a non see-through container, but it's harder.

__________________
08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

There are head gaskets that leak and head gaskets that are blown.

Checking the oil on the dip stick can mean nothing at all, depending on the severity of the situation.

Drain the oil. If it looks like a milk shake, you have a blown gasket. If not, you could still have a slight leak.

Slight leaks eventually turn into blown head gaskets.

Motor oil is brown. Clean Dexron is cranberry red.

But I'm about to get a mint 1986 300E with this same issue. The care seems new, New paint and many new parts. The car is $600. Its driven all the time.

This situation with the oil in the water is the only thing. Is this a definite head gasket situation?

Any one in the NYC metro area know the going rate for this job?

The thread is more than six years old so the price will be less than 400$.

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Master Computer Engineer, A+, Network+, MCP/MCSA/MCSE 4/2k/2k3 - Messaging, MCTS, MCITP, MCT, Brainbench, ICDL and starting Ph.D

380SE 1984 <------- Totaled by flipping accident
300SE 1988 <------- Sold
Volvo S70 2000 <---- 4 family
Opel Omega 2002 <-- 4 family
560SEC 1989 <------ Sold
560SEL 1990 <------ Sold
560SEL 1991 <------ 4 my mother
560SEL 1989 <------ Sold
600SEL 1992 <------ Current

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZkhazenzcc

You guys in Kuwait can get a head gasket replaced for less than $400?

__________________
2012 E350
2006 Callaway SC560

Old thread, but MB head gasket problems are going to be around for many years!

I just went through the same problem with my '93 2.3 190E. I did the head job myself and spent about $600. This includes all new radiator/heater hoses, head gasket kit, a couple of temp. sensors, valve job and head resurfacing at machine shop, vacuum hoses from air cleaner to idle control valve, and anything else that looked damaged or suspect that would cause problems down the road. I spent several hours flushing the cooling system and engine block before adding coolant and distilled water.

You do not want to re-use any hoses that have been contaminated with oil...they will not hold up under pressure. Even the expansion tank pressure cap rubber was destroyed by the oil contamination. If you are going to have this job done, be sure to inspect the estimate for all of the needed parts and material to do the job correctly.

I could have just replaced the head gasket and intake gasket and replaced the bypass hose that blew, but I would not feel right doing the job half-ass.

__________________

1993 190E 2.3
2001 SLK230
1971 LS5 (454) Corvette Convertible

ill second this thread as an update to pricing

getting your head pressured tested, and valve job is roughly 290.00.. and a new gasket set will run in the range of 140.00 .. not a hard task at all to do it yourself