New engine or fix bad headgasket??
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From: Bolingbrook Illinois
1999 C43 Amg
New engine or fix bad headgasket??
I have some white smoke coming from the exhaust and radiator fluid from reservoir goes down in two days. There are no external leaks at all.
Mechanic says it will cost $2,200 for both heads, including having them milled checked etc...
Would it be better to put in a C55 engine? Where can I find one? I searched but didn't get much.
Thanks in advance.
Mechanic says it will cost $2,200 for both heads, including having them milled checked etc...
Would it be better to put in a C55 engine? Where can I find one? I searched but didn't get much.
Thanks in advance.
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From: Sydney, Australia
190D 2.5 (x2), 190E 2.6, W202 C240,W202 C43 (C55), W210 E55, W212 E250CDI
I've never seen a M112/M113 blow a head gasket. The most common failure to loose coolant is through the oil cooler. Dont just jump at doing the heads yet, have a good look for external leaks or if there is coolant in the oil. Do a compression and leak test for each cylinder first. Checkout the W210 AMG forum for a similar issue posted a few months ago.
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From: Bolingbrook Illinois
1999 C43 Amg
I've never seen a M112/M113 blow a head gasket. The most common failure to loose coolant is through the oil cooler. Dont just jump at doing the heads yet, have a good look for external leaks or if there is coolant in the oil. Do a compression and leak test for each cylinder first. Checkout the W210 AMG forum for a similar issue posted a few months ago.
Leak/pressure test and mechanic used that blue fluid that changes color if somethings wrong. It passed, pressure held and blue color stayed blue.
No external leaks at all. Checked everything including heater core.
The oil and trans oil had no signs of coolent. Everything checked out good.
There is some white smoke coming out from the tail pipe.
But it doesnt have a sweet smell to it. It smells more like the car is running rich or something in those lines?
How can i check if there is a leak in my oil cooler? Im going to check out the thread you mentiioned, thanks for that.
Btw, the car runs great, no shakes nothing. But im loosing coolant from the top of the resovoir to bottom in a 30-50 minute drive. The faster i drive it the faster the coolent goes down.
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Thats what i keep reading. Heres what has been done so far.
Leak/pressure test and mechanic used that blue fluid that changes color if somethings wrong. It passed, pressure held and blue color stayed blue.
No external leaks at all. Checked everything including heater core.
The oil and trans oil had no signs of coolent. Everything checked out good.
There is some white smoke coming out from the tail pipe.
But it doesnt have a sweet smell to it. It smells more like the car is running rich or something in those lines?
How can i check if there is a leak in my oil cooler? Im going to check out the thread you mentiioned, thanks for that.
Btw, the car runs great, no shakes nothing. But im loosing coolant from the top of the resovoir to bottom in a 30-50 minute drive. The faster i drive it the faster the coolent goes down.
Leak/pressure test and mechanic used that blue fluid that changes color if somethings wrong. It passed, pressure held and blue color stayed blue.
No external leaks at all. Checked everything including heater core.
The oil and trans oil had no signs of coolent. Everything checked out good.
There is some white smoke coming out from the tail pipe.
But it doesnt have a sweet smell to it. It smells more like the car is running rich or something in those lines?
How can i check if there is a leak in my oil cooler? Im going to check out the thread you mentiioned, thanks for that.
Btw, the car runs great, no shakes nothing. But im loosing coolant from the top of the resovoir to bottom in a 30-50 minute drive. The faster i drive it the faster the coolent goes down.
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From: Bolingbrook Illinois
1999 C43 Amg
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What about an oil analysis? It may not help, but then again it's inexpensive and provides a wealth of information on the engines condition. For the price I always find it useful. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
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From: Bolingbrook Illinois
1999 C43 Amg
Today i no longer have the white smoke coming out of my tail pipe. AND the coolant is not going down as fast??? So weird!
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From: Bolingbrook Illinois
1999 C43 Amg
I have never heard of that. Will look into it. Thanks
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2003 CL55
Do a leakdown test, before you make any expensive choices.
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E63 Biturbo, UPD Cold Air induction kit, UPD performance crank pulley and UPD adjustable rear suspension with ride height adjustment.
CL55 UPD Cold Air Boost kit, UPD 3000 stall converter, UPD 77mm SC clutched pulley and beltwrap kit, Custom long tubes, UPD crank pulley , UPD suspension kit, UPD SC pulley, Aux. HE, Trunk tank w/rule 2000 pump, Mezeire pump, UPD 5pc idler set, Aluminum rotor hats.
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instagram @ultimate_pd
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Thread Starter
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From: Bolingbrook Illinois
1999 C43 Amg
Btw. I had coolant in the resavoir about 3inches high from the bottom. I drove the car a little hard for about 30 minutes. And about an inch of coolant was lost. I than removed the cap and immediately the coolant raised up to about 2inches high. Is this normal?
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From: Sydney, Australia
190D 2.5 (x2), 190E 2.6, W202 C240,W202 C43 (C55), W210 E55, W212 E250CDI
I've found that the C43 doesn't like the coolant sitting at the top of the bottle due the the large coolant capacity and minimal room for expansion. Mine seems to keep the coolant about 1/2" below the black section of the bottle, any higher and it spits it out the cap when it gets hot.
I would be changing the radiator cap regardless, they are very cheap and if they don't hold the full 15psi then the coolant level will drop without a visible leak.
Once it gets low in the bottle does it continue to drop if you dont top it up? if it doesn't keep dropping then it may just be a weak cap and/or being slightly over full.
I would be changing the radiator cap regardless, they are very cheap and if they don't hold the full 15psi then the coolant level will drop without a visible leak.
Once it gets low in the bottle does it continue to drop if you dont top it up? if it doesn't keep dropping then it may just be a weak cap and/or being slightly over full.
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From: CH = Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
I had a similar problem at the beginning of c43 ownership. Water would blow out of the expansion tank overflow pipe when driving hard in the mountains. Changed the cap and bingo no more and never a problem again 
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From: A.D., U.A.E
2000 (W202 C200) & 2000 (W202 C55)
ZAYED,,
Last edited by cm60k; Feb 23, 2012 at 06:11 PM.
Thread Starter
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From: Bolingbrook Illinois
1999 C43 Amg
Sounds good guys i will replace the cap. Where did you guys buy it?
Ausmbtech, i usually fill the resavoir to the top when its low. I will let it sit 1/2 next time to see if it will stay there.
Thanks guys!
Ausmbtech, i usually fill the resavoir to the top when its low. I will let it sit 1/2 next time to see if it will stay there.
Thanks guys!
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From: CH = Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
I got it through the dealer. Cheap and available These engines like to work with a certain pressure and don't forget as it is an AMG, it deserves only the best, so I wouldn't go for cheaper imitations
These engines like to work with a certain pressure and don't forget as it is an AMG, it deserves only the best, so I wouldn't go for cheaper imitations
