1993 190e 2.3L coolant question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

240diowa · #1 11-07-2011, 02:18 PM

recently bought a 1993 190e with the 2.3L engine. Went to change the coolant and it was brown like muddy water. flushed the system and put new coolant in. there is some residue in the overflow tank but no longer brown. I'm assuming I have a blown head gasket (or maybe had one in the past??) which is pushing oil into the coolant. I do not see any coolant in the oil. My question is when the engine is running the oil pressure should be higher than the coolant pressure therefore pushing oil into the coolant. When I shut the engine off and the oil pressure drops to zero wouldn't the coolant (which is still under pressure) migrate into the oil?

engine has excellent compression

benhogan · #2 11-07-2011, 03:10 PM

Brown muddy and gritty water you say????

I had the same exact problem...this guy is the culprit!

The previous owner put this in the coolant and it did not play well with it. It took about 5 cycles to completely get the grit out. From what I read, it is harmless. Hard to believe with all that grit though.

benhogan · #3 11-07-2011, 03:12 PM

here's my original link

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/292496-redline-water-wetter-=-potential-coolant-mud.html

it's not a blown head gasket or a cracked head.

240diowa · #4 11-07-2011, 03:45 PM

When I drained the brown stuff out some got on the concrete, I washed it off with water and it left a nice sheen like oil would so I suspected oil. There is also a slimy residue floating on the water in the overflow tank. Is this the additive? Maybe I need to flush it a couple times. I did notice a small coolant leak down by the transmission so I suspect a heater valve connection or a bad heater core although I have no leakage in the cabin or any smell of anti-freeze in the car.

I have seem many posts about oil in the coolant but no coolant in the oil and not sure how this is possible......

benhogan · #5 11-07-2011, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240diowa

When I drained the brown stuff out some got on the concrete, I washed it off with water and it left a nice sheen like oil would so I suspected oil. There is also a slimy residue floating on the water in the overflow tank. Is this the additive? ...

yup.

i had to flush mine about 5 times before it came out clear.

benhogan · #6 11-07-2011, 03:56 PM

some pics

240diowa · #7 11-07-2011, 04:22 PM

I'll do some more flushing, fix the coolant leak and see what happens. really don't want to put in a head gasket although this looks about as easy as they get on a Mercedes.

My coolant was muddy brown and you could not see through it at all, looked like somebody added river water with a little extra mud to go with it. The pictures of yours seems much clearer than mine.

240diowa · #8 11-08-2011, 08:57 AM

The car has been sitting for a few days, I will slowly unscrew the engine oil drain plug and see if any water droplets come out. If not then I'm going to assume I don't have a head gasket problem. One thing though. I have heard that oil can mix with the coolant via the timing chain cover gasket? Not sure if coolant would go in to the oil via this gasket though. Not much info on this.

pawoSD · #9 11-08-2011, 12:43 PM

Those colors would lead me to believe it has a head gasket issue. Send in an oil sample and have it analyzed, that will tell all. And its cheaper than wasting another round of oil/coolant.

240diowa · #10 11-08-2011, 03:12 PM

Where does one send an oil sample to for analysis? I'm located in Central Iowa

pawoSD · #11 11-08-2011, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240diowa

Where does one send an oil sample to for analysis? I'm located in Central Iowa

Blackstone Labs

240diowa · #12 11-09-2011, 10:12 AM

some other things I noticed, compared to my e320 (inline 6) the 4 cyl inline 4 in my 190e has a lot pressure when I remove the oil fill cap with the engine running (sprays the oil out). I'm thinking this may be the nature of a 4 cyl motor. I have good compression so thinking I'm not having blowby issues. Maybe exhaust valve guides but I would think my exhaust valve seats would be worn such that good compression would not be attainable. I have over 150 psi in each cylinder.