ruzhkata

so I popped the hood the other day and saw that there's some oil around the engine so I think my head gaskets are leaking. I want to change that myself so what tools will I need? has anyone done it before? I have changed head gaskets on a daewoo, but this looks way more complicated.
Well waiting for your answers guys. Oh and also while at it, how about a driving belt change?

benz rider

don't do this job yourself unless you know what you're doing., find a good indie and get it done right. I had mine done for $1,375 which include the head gasket, a new overfill tank, hoses and radiator flush. labor included too.
don't forget to tell your indie to plug the seep hole so it'll never leak again. if you don't plug it, it will leak again down the road.


good luck

ruzhkata

1375?? that's expensive man, Whenever I get such a number, I usually do it myself no matter if I have done it or not lol. Anyone here has done it themselves or perhaps that are a mechanic and knows how to do it, will be nice to send me guide or step by step on doing it!

OzC36

I have done this job myself...

...and let me say that $1375 is cheap!

benz rider

I crunched the numbers for a long time before I had the job done and almost all other MB shops wanted upwards of $1,600+tax and that didn't include a brand new overflow tank which was only $50 extra but still. no matter what it's gonna take your mechanic a whole day to do the job so figure about:

8-10hours @$80 labor = $640(mine took 8 hours) no way around that
head gasket kit = $66
valve stems and seals kit = $25
valve cover gasket set = $20
manifold gaskets = $20
cylinder head bolts = $42 (14 total)
overflow tank = $50
misc.hoses/clamps = $50
new plugs = $14
oil change/filter = $85
plugged the seep hole - FREE
12pack of cold Bud for a job well done= $12

plus tax everything (give or take a part) came up to $1,375 out the door.


I watched every penny from labor to parts so there is no way I didn't get a good deal if other shops wanted to charge my over $1.600 for the same stuff. and probably with less care for my car.

c3212571

You sure the head gasket is leaking? Usually valve cover gasket leak and run down or the square timing cover leaks?

ruzhkata

i'll take pictures later on tonight and i will show ya, i'm guessing it's a head gasket.

benz rider

take a flashlight and put it on the left side of the engine(facing the car), if you see a trail of oil coming from the head gasket and it's turning yellow from antifreeze and oil mix. that's it. also, check your overflow tank, if oil pools are in there, the head gasket is about to take a dump

ruzhkata

actually it is but on both sides.
has anyone done it on their own? Like if you have a step by step guide or have seen it in any of the forums?

benz rider

search the forum keyword "head gasket w202" should be a few links of people who did their own. google it on the web too.

ruzhkata

so i went to a buddy of mine to check it out and he said that it's valve cover and seals. so it wouldn't be such an expensive job, just time consuming. thanks for the help guys

carfreak1234

I had a head gasket leak that was spitting oil onto my exhaust, causing white smoke to plume up. We did the job 2 times, to no avail, eventually giving up and swapping engines/trannys with my parts car. My 95 C280 hasn't been the same since, mushier in the gas pedal and heavy/chunky shifting around 3rd gear. Good thing you didn't have the same problem!