C-Class (W203) 2001-2007, C160, C180, C200, C220, C230, C240, C270, C280, C300, C320, C230K, C350, Coupe

Oil in Coolant Tank.

Old Jun 30, 2012 | 02:56 PM
  #1  
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2007 S-550, 2001 E-430 & 1997 E-420
Oil in Coolant Tank.

I have 2003 C-230 coupe with 141000 miles. I discovered that I have oil in my coolant tank.

I don't know if it is engine oil or ATF. How do I know if it is ATF and it is due to Valeo Radiator issue.

I try to find if it is Valeo Radiator or Behr, but I could not find the marking or label on Radiator.

Please can some one tell me where I need to look for label or marking for Valeo or Behr Radiator. Is marking on top of Radiator or bottom or driver side or passenger side.

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Old Jun 30, 2012 | 09:05 PM
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
See splinter's thread in DIY stickies on radiator identification.

Thats not good!. If you are sure no one poured oil into the wrong place:

Get a test kit to check for combustion by-products in the coolant. This will tell you if you have a blown head gasket.

Take a sample of transmission fluid & have it checked for glycol.

Good luck!
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Old Jul 1, 2012 | 12:43 AM
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From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada, eh!
2003 C230 Sports Coupe, Paprika Metallic Red, Auto, Pano, Leather
Any bluish-white smoke coming out the exhaust pipe,..... if so, blown head gasket.

Wipe your oily finger on white paper,.... transmission oil usually have a bit of a reddish tint to it,... ok, not the most scientific method.
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Old Jul 1, 2012 | 09:34 PM
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Our tranny oil looks more like yellow green after it's been in a while.
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Old Jul 1, 2012 | 11:19 PM
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From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada, eh!
2003 C230 Sports Coupe, Paprika Metallic Red, Auto, Pano, Leather
When I did my partial transmission change at 60K km (39K miles), my old ATF came out dark brown-black with a bit of reddish tint (noticeable with looking at the edge or shallow drops). See photo,..... hmmm,... am I the only one with a craving for pig blood soup (its and Asian thing!)

New ATF (Fuch Titan 4134) was clear reddish colour.
Attached Thumbnails Oil in Coolant Tank.-img_2477.jpg  
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Old Jul 2, 2012 | 12:40 PM
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2004.5 C 230
That sounds Bad,
Good luck
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Old Jul 2, 2012 | 01:10 PM
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
In ROW outside NA the Genuine fluid is not dyed red & is a greenish/straw colour.

C230 Sport C is right - sometimes the red fluid ends up looking like this.

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