1993 300se OIL IN RADIATOR - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

harasteh · #1 09-29-2002, 11:49 PM

I HAVE NOTICED TRACE OF OIL IN WATER RESV. THE TEMP. IN NORMAL CONDITION REACHES 90 AND COULD GO UP TO 100C.
CAR HAS POWER. THERE ARE NOT ANY TRACE OF WATER IN ENGINE OIL. I THINK I AM DUE FOR NEW HEAD GASKET BUT THE CAR HAS ONLY 70,000. MIL ON IT. COULD IT BE SOMETHING ELSE.
VALVE OR..... ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

Mike Richards · #2 09-30-2002, 12:02 AM

Clayton:

If it's just a trace, you might want to drain and flush your entire cooling system. Drain radiator, engine block, forward and back flush with a hose. I've even read of people using dish washing soap to degrease engines with, but one does this after the repair.

This is what I'd do before spending $$$$ on a head gasket. Then again, this could be the early stage of a leaking head gasket?

There's been alot of talk here about oil-in-the-water. You might want to SEARCH around here for more ideas.

fasthair · #3 09-30-2002, 12:30 AM

Hard to tell you for sure since we don't know what motor or car for that matter. I'll guess it's a 103 or 104 motor since they are the ones that like to leak oil into the coolant. Prime mileage for a head gasket. Check the right rear of the head at the block to see if it leaking oil there. Oil cooler is another possibility if this one has one. Don't put this off,it will only ruin the hoses and be harder to clean the cooling system after repair. I use Castrol Super Clean 50/50 with water, warm the engine up and flush it a couple of times. CSC doesn't foam as bad as dish soap and is easier to flush out.

fasthair

harasteh · #4 09-30-2002, 12:47 AM

THIS IS 6 CYL. 3.2 1993 300 SE.
I HAD THE ENGINE FLUSHED AND NOTICED THIS. I GUESS I NEED TO FLUSH THIS WITH SOAP AS YOU NOTED. BUT IS THERE OTHER SOLUTION THAN HEAD GASKET . OR THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT COULD CAUSE THIS. THE ENGINE RUNS FINE IN ALL SPEEDS.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER SEALS THAT COULD LEAK OIL INTO COOLING SYSTEM? NOT VERY FAMILIAR WITH MB SYSTEM.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR THOUGHTS.

engatwork · #5 09-30-2002, 06:40 AM

Head gasket time. You can flush it and refill with coolant but it will come back. I would suggest keeping an eye on it and plan to have the head gasket changed soon.

adrianruk · #6 09-30-2002, 07:19 AM

Worth just checking your transmission fluid - there is a heat exchanger in your radiator which can leak internally, hence cross contamination of coolant and trans oil.
Most likely head gasket though. Hope so for your sake - it's cheaper than a rebuilt trans!
Adrian

harasteh · #7 10-06-2002, 06:37 PM

how can you tell if it is radiator or engine leaking. I am afraid if I do pressure check on the radiator , it would push water into trans. if is the case. Would the color oil in the radiator be different or?

adrianruk · #8 10-06-2002, 07:02 PM

Have you checked your trans fluid on the dipstick? If the oil was clear then it is not likely to be the heat exchanger in the radiator. As I understand it due to differential pressures you will always get 2-way contamination. If you want to be sure disconnect the trans fluid pipes at the radiator when you do a pressure test. Clean the connections before disconnecting, cap the pipes and ensure you do not contaminate the fluid. Any leakage should show at the radiator. Obviously dont run the engine with the pipes disconnected and remember to top up any trans fluid loss.
In my case the oil in the coolant was brownish though, strangely, the transmission fluid when drained was colourless, just emulsified.
My money is still on the head gasket though.
Good luck
Adrian

jetA · #9 03-15-2003, 03:58 PM

It is a head gasket. Just had the exact same scenario with my 1993 300se. It started as a little blow off in the right front tire well and in no time wound up with oily coolant everywhere. Just get it done.

gavinbr · #10 06-21-2007, 08:36 PM

Hello,

I believe that this model with the 103 engine has a water cooled oil exchanger.
In other words the water is fed from the radiator into a cooler sitting on your filter housing. Actually, I think its in the window washer circuit? If you have heated hot water for your window washers. My 300ce does?

I noticed this when I was going through the DVD shop manual. I was thinking thats a good idea, how do I get one on my w124/103, which is like an pottery oven in the summer. Anybody want to glaze some pottery?

Consequently you may want to check this 1st.

brian

mbdoc · #11 06-22-2007, 08:08 AM

There is service bulletin on the heat exchanger that is located in the oil filter housing. THAT would be the starting point instead of the head gasket.