is that oil?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: queens,ny
91' 300ce
is that oil?
hope someone can help my mechanics opinion is that since the oil filler cap doesnot show any signs of water or brownish bubbles a sign of water in engine no overheating no white smoke out of tail car runs and drives exellent oil dipstic is clean no sign of water in block is that the lines inside the radiator is cracked contaminating coolant fluid with oil my question is how did what looks like motor oil to me get into coolant resevior he says its trans fluid not oil fluid to me appears to be brownish grey and greasy like oil any other opinions thanks!
Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 184
Likes: 1
From: Montreal, Canada
260E , 1989 (for now)
I guess you mean there is no water in the engine oil, but there is oil in the coolant reservoir?
If this is what you mean, there are 2 possibilities.
1) a leaking transmission oil cooler in your radiator.
2) (Most likely) a blown engine head gasket leaking oil into the coolant passages.
If this is what you mean, there are 2 possibilities.
1) a leaking transmission oil cooler in your radiator.
2) (Most likely) a blown engine head gasket leaking oil into the coolant passages.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 285
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From: Richmond, Va.
1991 300E
I THINK, but am not sure, that the reason you often get oil in the coolant as oppossed to the opposite, is that the the oil runs at a higher pressure than the coolant and therefore forces itself into the lower pressure coolant channel and doesn't allow coolant to flow into the oil channel. That's fine with me though since oil in coolant is a much less hazardous problem than coolant in your internal engine. Thoughts anyone?
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1
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Oil in coolant reservoir
I too had oil in my coolant reservoir. (1992 300 E w/ 95,000 miles). This is not a good thing. Not only did it mean I had a blown headgasket but also the oil destroyed the hoses and they ALL had to be changed. I hope you are a mechanic. Runs great now but was a costly repair.
Mark
Mark
