![]() |
|
|
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
450SL internal water leak ?
I posted this in the SL forum but since these motors are used in different models maybe somebody here can shed some light on this mystery.
I recently bought a '80 450SL and it's getting water in the oil. Compression is 180# +/- 3# across the board. No plugs are showing any water contamination. When the engine reaches operating temps there is a good jet of steam coming out the breather hose on the rt vc. There is also "cheese" on the filler cap (none on the rockers) and a little "cheese" and condensation on the dip stick just above the oil level. It looks like the water pump may have been replaced in the recent past. The resevoir level will drop about an inch in 20mi of driving. The car has not overheated since I've owned it. I was thinking that maybe there was a failure of a water passage seal between the block and timing cover but the steam makes me really suspect something involving head/block combustion or exhaust areas. Can these motors pop a head gasket in such a way as to cause this without blowing into the cylinder ? The cooling system is not being over pressurized. I don't mind pulling the motor to do whatever repairs are nescessary but I sure could use some help troubleshooting this so I can focus on the right area. Thanks for any help or opinions ![]() |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
The o-rings at the front cover are the most likely casue.
__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES) ASE Master Technician Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times) 44 years foreign automotive repair 27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer) MB technical information Specialist (15 years) 190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold) 1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold) Retired Moderator |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Thanks, that's my gut feeling too. I read up in the manual about removing the timing cover and ran across a confusing bit of instructions. The chapter starts out like it can be done with the motor in the car (albeit tight) but then it says to "remove the oil pump" .
Now in the section about removing the oil pump it says to remove the oil pan. But you can't remove the pan unless you remove the motor or drop the subframe ????? What am I missing here ? |
![]() |
Bookmarks |
|
|