Coolant Leak Problem and one small thing
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 509
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta, GA and Richmond, VA
1991 300E
Coolant Leak Problem and one small thing
Hey y'all, it's been a while for me 
. Classes were a ***** and baseball has been a lot of work recently. So anywho,
I've developed a coolant leak somewhere under/on the side of my engine block. It's still just a steady drip - and I just noticed it when I was checking my steering components tonight and turned the car on and off to rotate the wheels for a better angle several times. The leak continues to drip for several minutes and then stops.
According to the search I did, the possible culprits are:
-the radiator/radiator neck, which doesn't seem to apply here at all, as the leak is on the opposite side of the engine bay
-some random coolant hose, which is possible
-the water pump, but this is unlikely as I had this replaced less than a year ago
-heater valve failure - which based on the location of the leak, seems the most likely to me.
Any thoughts or suggestions, guys?
I don't have a car lift so I can only get so close to the possible source of the leak.
Also, completely
, but one general question: how often should one replace one's cap/rotor/distributor/spark plug wires/spark plugs?
I've had my car for pushing 2 and a half years and I haven't touched any of the ignition components. I've noticed questionable performance and I naturally assumed it was just about that time for a tune-up.
. Classes were a ***** and baseball has been a lot of work recently. So anywho,I've developed a coolant leak somewhere under/on the side of my engine block. It's still just a steady drip - and I just noticed it when I was checking my steering components tonight and turned the car on and off to rotate the wheels for a better angle several times. The leak continues to drip for several minutes and then stops.
According to the search I did, the possible culprits are:
-the radiator/radiator neck, which doesn't seem to apply here at all, as the leak is on the opposite side of the engine bay
-some random coolant hose, which is possible
-the water pump, but this is unlikely as I had this replaced less than a year ago
-heater valve failure - which based on the location of the leak, seems the most likely to me.
Any thoughts or suggestions, guys?
I don't have a car lift so I can only get so close to the possible source of the leak. Also, completely
, but one general question: how often should one replace one's cap/rotor/distributor/spark plug wires/spark plugs? I've had my car for pushing 2 and a half years and I haven't touched any of the ignition components. I've noticed questionable performance and I naturally assumed it was just about that time for a tune-up.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 844
Likes: 1
From: Orland Park, Illinois
1994 E320 (current)
Hey y'all, it's been a while for me . Classes were a ***** and baseball has been a lot of work recently. So anywho,
I've developed a coolant leak somewhere under/on the side of my engine block. It's still just a steady drip - and I just noticed it when I was checking my steering components tonight and turned the car on and off to rotate the wheels for a better angle several times. The leak continues to drip for several minutes and then stops.
According to the search I did, the possible culprits are:
-the radiator/radiator neck, which doesn't seem to apply here at all, as the leak is on the opposite side of the engine bay
-some random coolant hose, which is possible
-the water pump, but this is unlikely as I had this replaced less than a year ago
-heater valve failure - which based on the location of the leak, seems the most likely to me.
Any thoughts or suggestions, guys? I don't have a car lift so I can only get so close to the possible source of the leak.
Also, completely, but one general question: how often should one replace one's cap/rotor/distributor/spark plug wires/spark plugs?
I've had my car for pushing 2 and a half years and I haven't touched any of the ignition components. I've noticed questionable performance and I naturally assumed it was just about that time for a tune-up.
. Classes were a ***** and baseball has been a lot of work recently. So anywho,I've developed a coolant leak somewhere under/on the side of my engine block. It's still just a steady drip - and I just noticed it when I was checking my steering components tonight and turned the car on and off to rotate the wheels for a better angle several times. The leak continues to drip for several minutes and then stops.
According to the search I did, the possible culprits are:
-the radiator/radiator neck, which doesn't seem to apply here at all, as the leak is on the opposite side of the engine bay
-some random coolant hose, which is possible
-the water pump, but this is unlikely as I had this replaced less than a year ago
-heater valve failure - which based on the location of the leak, seems the most likely to me.
Any thoughts or suggestions, guys?
I don't have a car lift so I can only get so close to the possible source of the leak. Also, completely
, but one general question: how often should one replace one's cap/rotor/distributor/spark plug wires/spark plugs? I've had my car for pushing 2 and a half years and I haven't touched any of the ignition components. I've noticed questionable performance and I naturally assumed it was just about that time for a tune-up.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 509
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta, GA and Richmond, VA
1991 300E
nope, it's coming from the rear of the bay near the firewall - looks like it's coming from somewhere under the exhaust manifolds from the two cylinders closest to the rear of the bay. Not sure if that's cylinders 5/6 or 1/2.
Seems to be coming from directly above the transmission, but that could just be my viewpoint looking down from above as I don't have anyway to jack up the car enough to look from under.
Seems to be coming from directly above the transmission, but that could just be my viewpoint looking down from above as I don't have anyway to jack up the car enough to look from under.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 509
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta, GA and Richmond, VA
1991 300E
the head gasket would be pretty much the worst possible case scenario, i believe. hopefully not, though i suppose that based on the location that would be plausible, or even likely. sigh.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 844
Likes: 1
From: Orland Park, Illinois
1994 E320 (current)
The gasket is susceptible to leaks to the outside in the passenger side front and back where the head has tabs of sorts for the water jacket and oil ports. If that is the issue you might have a stronger smell just after putting the engine under high rpms and or load. Take a closer look there to see if it may be the problem.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 509
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta, GA and Richmond, VA
1991 300E
What should it smell like if that is the case?
Anybody tried Steel Seal or similar head gasket sealants? If the leak isn't major or it isn't the head gasket and is the freeze plug, would this be worth trying?
www.steelseal.com
Anybody tried Steel Seal or similar head gasket sealants? If the leak isn't major or it isn't the head gasket and is the freeze plug, would this be worth trying?
www.steelseal.com
Last edited by rooney2006; Dec 20, 2008 at 03:24 PM.
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Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 696
Likes: 4
From: Motor City
95 E320 Cabriolet, 108K
It'll be up to you to ultimately find the source for the coolant leak. If it's coming from the coolant overflow, then the cooling system is either overfilled or there is unusually high pressure in the cooling system -- usually a symptom of a blown head gasket.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 509
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta, GA and Richmond, VA
1991 300E
well, yeah, of course i'll have to get it checked out and taken care of haha. i just didn't know that was approximately where the piece of the cooling system that handled overflow was located. it's possible that i've overfilled the coolant though. i'm really not sure. i'll get it looked at asap though. thanks man.
Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 151
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta, Ga
'16 E350 ‘07 S550 ‘21 GLE580
On the M104 W124 the coolent overflow goes into a second tank that hides behind the passenger side wheel well wall. If the M103 is set up the same way the excessive coolant would first have to fill that second tank before running onto the ground in that area. See the attached pics, in the first pic the hose between the two tanks is missing. The other odd looking tank is the vacuum reservoir.
It does sound like it might be the head gasket, fingers crossed.
It does sound like it might be the head gasket, fingers crossed.
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 696
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From: Motor City
95 E320 Cabriolet, 108K
One method I use to find coolant leaks is to pressurize the system with shop air. You'll have to get creative to set this up. Don't use more than 20 psi. Once it starts dripping, follow the leak to the highest point.
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 696
Likes: 4
From: Motor City
95 E320 Cabriolet, 108K
Checking for a blown head gasket depends on the leak path. If there is overpressure in the cooling system, the leak path is combustion gases into the cooling system, as is suspected for rooney's case. If it's coolant into the oil, then you get the mayonnaise you described. There are other symptoms. Not all blown head gaskets show the same symptoms.
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Long Beach, Ca
lots of cars
nope, it's coming from the rear of the bay near the firewall - looks like it's coming from somewhere under the exhaust manifolds from the two cylinders closest to the rear of the bay. Not sure if that's cylinders 5/6 or 1/2.
Seems to be coming from directly above the transmission, but that could just be my viewpoint looking down from above as I don't have anyway to jack up the car enough to look from under.
__________________
Seems to be coming from directly above the transmission, but that could just be my viewpoint looking down from above as I don't have anyway to jack up the car enough to look from under.
__________________
Well, one more idea that happened to me.... Have you checked the hose on the rear of the engine that goes from the block to the heater core? Sometimes it likes to crack and leak from the bottom and leave a little trail of coolant that will go all the way back to the transmission. Hope that's the problem because you can cut it and put it back and that's it. Or you can also buy a new one.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 509
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta, GA and Richmond, VA
1991 300E
great. turns out it is indeed the head gasket. my mechanic was not amused that i'd waited so long to bring the car in. his shop specializes in bmw club racing, so they do some seriously high-quality work and outsource to a machine shop that does equally good work.
He said I should get the various manifolds ported and polished while I have the head off to replace the gasket. He said with labor that it would run somewhere between 2 and 3 K with the head work. I'm doubting I'm going to go through with it, I'll probably add some sort of gasket sealant to the coolant system and drive it until the engine has had enough.
He said I should get the various manifolds ported and polished while I have the head off to replace the gasket. He said with labor that it would run somewhere between 2 and 3 K with the head work. I'm doubting I'm going to go through with it, I'll probably add some sort of gasket sealant to the coolant system and drive it until the engine has had enough.
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 696
Likes: 4
From: Motor City
95 E320 Cabriolet, 108K
It sounds like you're losing the love for your car. Because I'm a DIYer, I'm not a big fan of mechanic-in-a-can products and prefer to fix cars properly. But they do have their use in cases where you're dealing with hospice issues.
You don't have to get the manifolds ported and polished. This is usually reserved for the DIYer or if you have money to throw at performance upgrades. Replacing the gasket and refreshing the head should run less, around $1 to 2K.
You don't have to get the manifolds ported and polished. This is usually reserved for the DIYer or if you have money to throw at performance upgrades. Replacing the gasket and refreshing the head should run less, around $1 to 2K.
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Joined: Mar 2005
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Youngtimer
yeah, for real, i don't trust those products.. are you in GA or VA right now? make some calls and get some prices man, there are tons of benz mechanics around ...
