engine worth saving?
 

I have a really nice low mileage 91 190e with a 2.3 8 valve with 92000 miles. The engine was overheated due to a water pump failure. When it overheated I was going 70 down the freeway and it started spark knocking.

The car would not restart after it cooled down. I knew I was going to have the head gasket before this happened due to finding oil in the coolant.

When I removed the head I found the exhaust valve, guide and the head itself had actually melted as can be seen in the picture.

I see no damage to the cylinder walls or the pistons. If I can locate a used head would it be worth saving this engine? I was told since I overheated it and ruined the head if I do fix it that it may burn oil due to the rings being overheated.

If it overheated that severely, I would definitely be worried about the rings. Best just to get a new motor.

BTW, where's the picture you mentioned? I'd be interested in seeing it :).

Not worth it. Find another motor like it or put a diesel in there. That's what I did. I might have the only 1993 190d 2.2 out there as far as I know. :D

Find another engine.Or have it totally rebuilt.

Just a little more info. When it overheated it never did peg the gauge. It went up just a bit higher than 3/4 on the temp gauge. I was in a really BAD place to try and pull over with no shoulder so I just kept going. It started running really rough and detonating but I just put my foot into it to get to a safe place to pull over. When I did it died. I let it cool down completely and it wouldnt restart. I dont think I got the block hot enough to destroy the rings but I cant be sure without being able to do a compression test or take the pistons out. I really hope I can save this engine. Its a cleaaan car with 92k miles. It never lost oil so im not too concerned about the bottom end. Im on my phone at work and having trouble posting pics. If you look at ny past threads u can see the pics there.


Years ago I blew a coolant hose and pegged the gauge on an 83 buick skylark. I cracked the head but put a junkyard head on and that car went over 100k before I got rid of it. Are the rings that likely to be toasted?

Pics can be seen here: imgur: the simple image sharer

Here's one of the pics:

http://i.imgur.com/slyyN8v.jpg

I would be worried that the block itself might be damaged, but that's just me thinking... if the block itself is proven to be OK, you could resleeve the cylinders, rering the pistons, and rebuild the head. I wonder whether the junk on your pistons is OK or if that would have to be ground off.

Of course, if you do all the work yourself, it will take a good while, and if you farm it out, it will be more expensive than a low-miles used engine.

Are you mistaking the water drops in the pic for splattered liquid metal? The cylinders actually look pretty clean and the cross hatching is still visible in the cylinder walls. The block is straight. In the pics I hadnt yet drained the coolant or oil. Theres virtually no carbon buildup on the head nor in the cylinders.

Hehe :o. So it's water.

If you can find & install a good used head, then maybe it's worth a shot. At the very worst, you'll just have to pull the head and try to sell it again...

When water starts falling out of the engine, the temp gauge is no longer accurate. It takes water running across the sensor to make the gauge move.

The piston tops are way too clean for normal operation, this motor got very hot burning off carbon. When overheated, piston ring tension will fall then oil consumption will rise. And piston skirts will collapse increasing piston to wall clearance.

Try car-part.com for used engines, it is a nation wide inventory salvage yard search.

The head gasket was changed by the previous owner before I bought the car and I believe thats why there isnt any carbon buildup as its been cleaned in the last 10k miles. He didnt reinstall the washers on the head when he put it back together and 2 of the head bolts werent torqued down very tight. I may just seek another whole car to use for parts if I cant find a head for under 400 bucks to at least give it a shot. This car is way too clean to give up on