EBdub

This is going to hurt $! ... a little bit. Oil in my coolant reservoir - diagnosis is pretty clear from these forums and asking around - here's my question. If it is clearly a head gasket replacement, how much should I expect to pay (a range) Does/Has anyone had this done in the Seattle area - if so, can you provide any references? Thanks much.

electric blue

It could run upwards of over 1000 dollars, depending on where you take it. Just make sure that the shop you choose knows your car and takes your head to a good machine shop. Demand that they tell you who their gonna use for the machine work. Their could and probably will be some additional expenses related to this job, be prepared.

EBdub

Thanks for responding - about the machine work? Should that be routine or a consideration after close inspection?

E320Star

Tkae to a foreign car mechanic that has AAA recommended rating. It will be done perfect and alot cheaper. Here in KC, It will cost you around $350.

MTI

Machining the head might not be necessary if it was just a gasket failure, which is common.

mctwin2kman

Just started noticing oil in my coolant bottle today as well. Ordered the head gasket set 10 minutes after noticing it. Gonna do it myself, just need to go get an M12 socket for the head bolts. Also checking this weekend to see what else I need. Will pull valve cover and check it out. Funny wife is off work so after I spotted it at lunch I con'ed her into letting me drive the C back!!!!

EBdub

Really mctwin2kman! You're a DIY'r? That's interesting, I'd like to know how it goes because I was thinking that, without a garage, this would be a pretty messy job - maybe not? Please keep me/us posted.

mctwin2kman

I used to work in the shop when my family owned a dealership when I was younger. Helped on a lot of head gasket jobs and engine and tranny changes. Father in law and I did a head job on a Chevy Blazer last year as well. But yeah I have a two stall garage that I will do it in. I will get the head off this weekend and when the gasket set gets here on Monday I will re-assemble everything. Hopefully it will run! I have extreme confidence as I have the maint CD which of course tells you step by step how to do it. As well as I have searched three diferent forums and read all the stories so I have a good idea of how it will go. The M102 does not look to hard to do.

mctwin2kman

Took the engine apart on Sunday and the gasket arrived on Monday at aroudn 2pm and I had it all back together and running by 5:30! Took longer to get it apart but it was well worth it. Gutted the Pre-Cats while I had the exhaust header off. They had a white soot in them and looked very clogged. My mixture was way lean when I was done so I re-adjusted. Assume that was from there being better air flow not both past the O2 sensor and of course past the open Pre-Cats. Will post tomorrow after a highway drive on my way home from work.

EBdub

As I continue to search around for a competent, thorough MB mechanic in the Seattle area, I also continue to drive around my troubled 2.6. It runs pretty well but if I don't take care of this leaking head gasket what's going to happen? I know what's going to happen, the oil will get into every little pore, clog the radiator and burst the hoses ... and eventually the coolant will start to mix with the oil and I'll be cooked (what's keeping that from happening currently) Is that a correct assessment?


How did the road test come out mctwin2kman? How many times did you flush out the system?

mctwin2kman

Still having some sort of fuel issue. Put new injectors on and it did not help much. Have to put on a new fuel filter today!

I only flushed once and am running it now for a few weeks then will flush again. I did not have much oil in my coolant bottle so I did not do multiple flushes. I caught mine the day it happened and did not drive it or run it until I fixed it. Which conveniently was two days later and was on a weekend. So I did not need to drive around as I used the other car for weekends.

mctwin2kman

Clogged cat was the problem. Actually between the cat and the manifold. All fixed now and runs great. Except that I need two bolts a hair longer to get the downpipes fully back on the manifold. Just can't push hard enough without a lift so a hair longer bolts will do the trick. Runs better than it did when I got it.

MaciekPL87

Head gasket job is awaiting me really soon. I was loosing coolant before but I though it was because of a leaky reservoir cap but when I changed the water pump, and also put on a new cap, today, 20 days later I got the low coolant light, so I know I have to do it as quick as possible not to fry my pistons. I also had a crap load of gummy yellow, cream stuff in the coolant, so I think that was oil. The front and back of head and block are also wet. Compression checked out okay with two cylinders at 175 and one at 150psi.

I will tackle it myself. Pretty straightforward I'd say. I did one rebuild in my life which was an XS650 Yamaha.

My question: what else should I do/change out. I have on my shopping list the head gasket set, valve cover gasket, and valve stem seals. I will have the head done by a machine shop that I know real well.

Thanks

Maciej

mctwin2kman

Well depending on mileage you could do the timing chain! Myself instead of a new chain I just did the chain guides in the head, plastic $3-6 part! Also did my timing chain tensioner but that was months and months ago. Did the chain guide because I broke mine when I took the head off, or it was already broken and I just did not notice. To get these off you will need a slide hammer to get the pins out. Which is easy with the head slightly off the engine. The radiator is in the way to do it with the head mounted. I did mine with it off and then again while on the engine, since I replaced that after the fact. Used the piece from the slide hammer that screwed into the pin and two pry bars.

MaciekPL87

Thanks for the information. Currently I have 107k on the odometer, I don't burn any oil but I don't know if I should hone the cylinders and change the piston rings, that's gonna be a bear on a car I'm guessing going to the bottom end is not a job for me.

I should probably do the timing chain as you said.

Thanks for the info, it will probably be more challenging on a 6-cylinder... we'll see, I'll start ordering things and start taking things apart next week. I talked to my mechanic, he said to move the headers out of the way, move the manifolds, loosen the chain tensioner and go from the top.

Maciej
92 190E 2.6

johnbkendall

I also had leaky head, heard these heads are solid. should I just change the gasket and slap back on or take head off and send to machine shop.Then put back on 1988 190e 2.3 not 16 valve only 8 valve (93,000 miles) also having trouble with getting guild rail pins out. going to order tool 605 589 00 33 00 to help pull pins.

Username_93

Is it safe driving with a leaking head gasket?

josepsalas

I have 190E 2.3 8V AT 1992

MY wife was driving it back home, when she notice white smoke coming out of the tail pipe, just 1/2 mile from the house... I just check the car It might run on idle speed good for while, but if I hit gas just a little bit the white smoke will come out ,,, also find a couple of drops of water coming out,,,, and start running very rough,,,,, Head gasket ?????? 95%,,, never run it hot , no water in the oil ,,, I haven't check the reservoir ,,, still hot ,,,

but I also think it could be the the vacuum valve from the at transmision ,,, any advice ,,,

if it is the head ,,, I might try the blue devil that just a couple moths ago fix my truck ,,,, a Nissan D21 ...

I love MB but I don't think I got the money to paid a mechanic ,,, and I don't have a lot of experience to fix it my self ,,,, so I give a try to Blue devil ,,, if everything come out to be the head gasket

josepsalas

I just check no oil in the coolant reservoir ,, and started back up ..... it did the same ,,, a big cloud white cloud of smoke and it will not quit ,,,,, it just to much smoke,, smell funny so I cant tell if it is coolant or at fluid ,,,,,

but I was thinking it could be water in the gas ??? I'm at 3/4 of the tank ,,,, I just cant believe my MB have a head gasket ,,,, any ideas ??

josepsalas

Guys I just check my car again ,,, and I think I found the problem ....I crank the car ,,,, and check the atf after a couple of minutes and guess what,,, It was low,,, and I just change the atf about 10 000 milles ,, and I remember how I left it ,,, so I need to find the vacuum valve in the transmission and how change it