Mysterious Front-End 'liquid'
 

Unfortunately, my newly acquired 59K mile 450 SEL (Euro) got smacked in the front this week.

I've had it in the garage for 2 days waiting for the body shop to pick it up. You're damn right - I'm fixing this thing. Appears largely cosmetic.

The only thing I've noticed has been a small (maybe 2-3 drops per day) of a greasy lube-like confection under the extreme front end of the car. Description: does not smell; has the consistency of vaseline - and is clear (but thick). Very thickish.

Any ideas what this could be? Fan lube? Anything?? Is certainly not coolant, trans fluid, or oil. That's for sure.

Just want to make sure that when the car is up and running again, I don't burn out any non-lubes items. Thanks for any insights.

The only thing I can think of, and this would be consistent with a front-end smack, would be refrigerant oil leaking out of the condensor in front of the radiator. But this refrigerant oil isn't normally that thick, about like motor oil. But there is no smell to it or usually any distictive color. If there were damage to the condensor towards the bottom of the core, you could possibly just leak some refrigerant oil, untill it's gone, then the freon gas would start escaping

Gilly

Is there, by any chance, some sort of goop in the bumper itself? I.E., is there a shock-absorber type mechanism to absorb energy from a crash, which might have some lube in it?

C280 Coolant Temp High at Idle
 

1995 C280. New water pump, viscous fan clutch about 20K ago. At idle coolant temp climbs slowly to mark above 80C on guage. With the climate control on it climbs somewhat higher, over the mark above 80C. Temp is fine when car is moving. NOTE: It is doing this even at ambient temps of 60F. To me it seems like an airflow problem. Question: Does the auxiliary fan come on at elevated coolant temps, or is the viscous fan clutch totally responsible for additional air flow in this case? The aux fan does come on intermittently, but it seems to be in response to air conditioning compressor high side pressure. If there is a switch to control the aux fan, where is it and at what temp should it activate? Is there a relay? I wish M/B would publish a manual!!!

Soory. My mistake. I clicked the wrong button.

A WAG. . . .
 

the liquid in the VFC!

VFC = viscous fan clutch

JimF: what is the "VFC"?

Also: Gilly: this 'liquid' was very thick and greasy - almost like vaseline in its consistency. Could it have been some bumper lube of sorts? But these are the thin euro bumpers, so unlikely.

Seemed (although small amount) to originate near the bottom of the radiator area on a kind of crossbare, but again - this was a clear, vaseline style, non-smelling thing. Goopy, in a sense.

TXBill: Thanks, I think you're right. Must be the VFC.

In your opinion, if so, how involved and costly a repair am I looking at?

Hey, cincuenton. . .
 

remember where you heard the correct answer first!!

Thanks, JimF. But if it is maybe the VFC, how litle $$ can I get away with?

Try a junk yard . . .
 

for a 'used' part.

New from Mercedes can be a little pricey: for example for my car, list is $530.00! (ridiculous!)

At the bottom of my page, check the PartTrackers network for a used part. Pretty good service and prices.

Just skimmed your posts, but won't insurance cover the cost of the VFC?