texfsu99

I truly appreciate any input here.
I started having a "low coolant" alert last week. I didn't see anything at that point and topped it off with a 50/50 coolant, went on about my business, and didn't think much of it. But today the alert shows up again and I see this horrible looking leak coming from what I believe is the header. (I do not claim to know ANYTHING about engines. If I'm wrong please tell me and it will be appreciated.) There's really no other symptoms to speak of. If i was being picky there's a little bit of a rough idle occasionally, but other than that it runs smooth. Does anybody know what this might be and if possible repair costs? Its a 2002 C240.

ND2020

Are you positive it is coming out of the valve cover there? Looks like it's everywhere (sprayed). Can you get some pictures a little further back?

SunnyRayToronto

As per Boom_Vang's posts check Breather Pipe Socket (between Radiator Hose & Breather Pipe),... right above the header on right passenger side of engine near top:
Mercedes-Benz Part# 003-997-06-89 $7.60 CDN
Attention all M271 engines, Maintenance item
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ance-item.html

texfsu99

Thanks for the heads up on the fix. I certainly hope that's the problem and i'll do this asap. ND i will post another picture for you today. I really appreciate you both taking the time to respond to my dilemma.

texfsu99

After a little investigation I believe the fix suggested isn't for this engine. I have a small v6 and the fix is for the m271 which is a 4 cylinder in the c230. Am I wrong? The pictures definitely don't seem to match up with what I see under the hood. I'm including 1 picture from further back and one showing a little further back in the engine. Its looks pretty clean from the side as everything seems to be accumulating on the front side of the engine block. Thanks again for your help.

ND2020

So when the car is running, can you actually see where it is leaking? The water pump sits behind all of those pulleys is why I ask. Mine failed months back and sprayed coolant all over the front of the motor. If it's the pump they run around 100 bucks and is a fairly easy swap, but I'm not sure if its the pump or if it's actually coming out of the valve cover.

kah1010

Just a wild guess, but you might have gasket leak between the water pump and block (just underneath where the stains are in the picture). If the pump bearing seal is leaking I would guess you would find coolant all over front of the engine.

K

Samuel l dubose

I bought a 2005 E-Class E500 about a week ago from a police man. He stated the few problems he knew of and cranked the car ran smooth even after sitting up for a while. And only for a 1,000 dollars. He said it would run for about fifteen minutes and shut off, so I tracked down that problem crankshaft position sensor. Seen a leak under the car but didn’t pay it much mind cause it looked like the normal a/c drip, but I was wrong! I did a bypass on the washer fluid reservoir heater and found out about another leak that was puzzling! If the heater core is gone bad it will leak into the passenger side, but I had antifreeze running in the driver side of the car and outside the car coming out by the driver back tire. So I did a bypass on the heater duo valve to cause it’s high 90’s in Mississippi and right now the heat isn’t needed. After doing that it still was leaking so I bought the water pump and it was rusty so it was needed. No leaks in the front that I can see far as the radiator or the hoses connected to the water pump and reservoir! But behind the alternator air conditioner still gets cold as the North Pole. When the leak began to run the temperature hand still was sitting on 80 or halfway motor not running funny or nothing leaking right above the manifold on passenger side. Small stream of antifreeze running down the side of the motor dropping off the oil pan

lucky3r

Where is your coolant sensor located? It might be leaking there. Sometimes like mine the rubber gasket gets hard and does not seal anymore. My car is 2007 E350, location of sensor is at driver side near the Crankshaft position sensor.