Overheated, compression loss, worried sick
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 42
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From: N. California
1994 C280, 2002 E320
Overheated, compression loss, worried sick
My '94 C280 developed a clogged radiator about a week ago. I'm sure it had been brewing for a while, but our recent warm weather brought it to light. When driving, the temperature started to steadily increase right up to 120, but never went into the red. The hose side of the radiator would be really hot, and the other side would be only moderately warm. No brainer.
I scheduled a new radiator replacement this Wednesday. I had been driving the car to work, about a 30 mile trip, and keeping a close eye on the temp guage. Last Friday, the temp went up and stopped right at 120, but after about 15 minutes the engine started to loose power. I pulled over and the engine got really hot and blew a radiator hose when I shut it off. Now, it has uneven compression, lots of air and bubbles pumping into the radiator reserve tank, and some small ***** of oil floating around in the reserve tank as well.
My mechanic tells me (hasn't actually seen the car yet) that overheating usually blows the head gasket. I just had the head rebuilt about a year ago, and I'm worried that, being aluminum, the heat may have cracked it. Does anyone have any experience with severe overheating with this engine? Does the head gasket usually blow, or does the head usually crack? I really like the car, but I'm just worried about investing (yet again) more than the blue book value on this car to get it fixed.
Thank you for any advice.
I scheduled a new radiator replacement this Wednesday. I had been driving the car to work, about a 30 mile trip, and keeping a close eye on the temp guage. Last Friday, the temp went up and stopped right at 120, but after about 15 minutes the engine started to loose power. I pulled over and the engine got really hot and blew a radiator hose when I shut it off. Now, it has uneven compression, lots of air and bubbles pumping into the radiator reserve tank, and some small ***** of oil floating around in the reserve tank as well.
My mechanic tells me (hasn't actually seen the car yet) that overheating usually blows the head gasket. I just had the head rebuilt about a year ago, and I'm worried that, being aluminum, the heat may have cracked it. Does anyone have any experience with severe overheating with this engine? Does the head gasket usually blow, or does the head usually crack? I really like the car, but I'm just worried about investing (yet again) more than the blue book value on this car to get it fixed.
Thank you for any advice.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,719
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From: Scottsdale, Arizonai
'85 190E 2.3-16 '99 C280 '11 GLK350
I doubt that the head is cracked, more likely a gasket that's gone. Safest thing to do is have the mating surfaces checked for true when the new gasket is put on.
280, c280, car, compression, conpresion, engine, engines, enigine, heating, loss, mercedes, overheat, overheated, overheating, rebuilding, worried
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