OIL IN MY COOLANT OF MY 1992 300E 112,000MI.

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fxmalone@aol.com - 08 Dec 2006 06:33 GMT

SAW A WHITE MIST COMING FROM MY CAR AS I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. WENT
STRAIGHT TO MY MECHANIC, MY MECHANIC OPEN THE CAP AND FOUND SOME OIL IN
THE COOLANT. HE SAID IT WAS NOT MUCH. SAID THE CAR WAS AT A STAGE WHERE
THESE THINGS HAPPEN. CAR DOES NOT OVERHEAT.
HE PUT IN A SEALANT...WORKS FINE....NO SMOKE OR MIST.
I'M KIND OF A PUREST AND DRIVING AROUND WITH ANY OIL IN MY
WATER/ANTIFREEZE MAKES ME WONDER.
IS THE ADDAGE "DON'T MESS WITH OLD CARS !" VALID? LET 'EM BE?
FRANK

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Peter W Peternouschek - 08 Dec 2006 07:23 GMT

Sounds like a head gasket is failing judging from the white mist(steam) you
described that came from the car. The sealant will probably hold for a while
and delay the inevitable major repair.
Good Luck
Peter

> SAW A WHITE MIST COMING FROM MY CAR AS I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. WENT
> STRAIGHT TO MY MECHANIC, MY MECHANIC OPEN THE CAP AND FOUND SOME OIL IN
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> IS THE ADDAGE "DON'T MESS WITH OLD CARS !" VALID? LET 'EM BE?
> FRANK

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gw - 08 Dec 2006 15:44 GMT

Maybe the Caps Lock on your keyboard has something to do with it? :)

Anyway, if your mechanic dismissed oil in the coolant as
inconsequential, he is wrong.

The head gasket is damaged...and will only get worse. Better get it
fixed before greater damage is done to the engine.

gamini

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weelliott@gmail.com - 08 Dec 2006 21:04 GMT

I think it is great that he is trying to save you money. However, I
agree with Gamini that it will be a bad failure when it goes. head
gasket failure can mean having to mill the head back to flatness if it
gets too hot and warps. Diesel heads sometimes don't take too kindly to
this. I can't remember exctly why, but I think it has to do with how
close the coolant passages are to the bottom of the head. I would
really suggest having the head gasket done before it does you in first.

Just my two cents.

Good luck,
Bill

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Guenter Scholz - 09 Dec 2006 00:26 GMT

>I think it is great that he is trying to save you money. However, I
>agree with Gamini that it will be a bad failure when it goes. head
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>Good luck,
>Bill

Well I realize it's best to fix things. But sometimes it depends on other
factors. Just to put some perspective on this. I had the same problem with
my daughters cavalier, put some gasket sealer in the coolant..... 2 years
ago with no further problem. It might give out tomorrow, or last another
2 years - who knwos

cheers, guenter

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Tiger - 08 Dec 2006 21:44 GMT

As with all others, that is a sign of head gasket failure. You can do two
types of tests... one is CO detection... if you detect CO in coolant, you
got a head gasket problem. Another is more crude... pressurize the cooling
system... if pressure keeps going down without any external leak, then you
got a head gasket problem.

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fxmalone@aol.com - 08 Dec 2006 23:26 GMT

Thanks for the help.
So I end up with a head gasket problem with both tests!?

> As with all others, that is a sign of head gasket failure. You can do two
> types of tests... one is CO detection... if you detect CO in coolant, you
> got a head gasket problem. Another is more crude... pressurize the cooling
> system... if pressure keeps going down without any external leak, then you
> got a head gasket problem.

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Tiger - 09 Dec 2006 04:38 GMT

Yep, but both can tell you no also... If no CO and no pressure leak.... then
head gasket is OK.

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T.G. Lambach - 09 Dec 2006 18:30 GMT

Any coolant in the engine oil?

Also, consider that the transmission fluid is pumped through the bottom
radiator tank to be cooled and that loop could be leaking - transmission
fluid into the coolant.

So be sure of the oil source before tearing into anything.

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