E-Class (W124) 1984-1995: E 260, E 300, E 320, E 420, E 500 (Includes CE, T, TD models)

oil and coolant leak with PICS

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Old Aug 26, 2009 | 08:43 PM
  #1  
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1994 e320 sedan
oil and coolant leak with PICS

Hi,

I have several questions about my problem.

1. I tried to bleed the cooling system so I opend the coolant cap, uncrew the bleed bolt on top of thermostat housing, and started the car.
When I started the car, it took several seconds to start the car and whole car shook really bad while doing it. Is this normal?

2. I found coolnat leak here. What is the name of the hose and what is the part number?
oil and coolant leak with PICS-p1020812.jpg

I also found oil leak under the car. I don't know what are these parts. Any advices?
This is right below the power steering pump
oil and coolant leak with PICS-p1020811.jpg

oil and coolant leak with PICS-p1020810.jpg
oil and coolant leak with PICS-p1020814.jpg
The top one is passenger side of oil pan.

I also noticed oil drips on the front swaybar.
oil and coolant leak with PICS-p1020813.jpg

While I was under the car, oil didn't drip or form after I wiped the area. I guess it's a slow leak, but I want to know about it.
Thank you.

Last edited by gorillajin; Aug 26, 2009 at 08:47 PM.
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Old Aug 26, 2009 | 09:07 PM
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1994 E420
Looks like you need an oil pan gasket
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Old Aug 26, 2009 | 09:10 PM
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1994 e320 sedan
Thank you for the input.
Is oil pan gasket going bad common issue on w124?
Can you tell me what hoses are they? both of them connected to the radiator.
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Old Aug 26, 2009 | 09:22 PM
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1994 E420
On any old car an oil pan gasket has the chance of being a problem. Just gotta take care of them thats all.

Those lines that you are talking about are transmission cooler lines. I dont think those are leaking though. I think the oil is dripping down and decieving you into thinking that they are leaking.
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Old Aug 26, 2009 | 09:34 PM
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Originally Posted by JSe420
Those lines that you are talking about are transmission cooler lines. I dont think those are leaking though. I think the oil is dripping down and decieving you into thinking that they are leaking.
+1 on that.

The first picture you posted of the back of the radiator is the return line from the radiator to your engine. If it is leaking, it is likely a broken inlet for the hose. The plastic on these becomes very brittle over the years, and WILL crack eventually. You can slow the process by making sure the clamp that holds the hose to the inlet is as close to the base as possible, and making sure to use distilled water to prevent rust corrosion.

But alas, you will need a new radiator in the not too distant future. I would say that if you have a local junkyard and you happen to see a good one, nab it and swap it in even if it's still holding up. Decent ones are not hard to come by, until you absolutely need it.
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Old Aug 26, 2009 | 10:34 PM
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Thank you so much for all the advices.

Rivcal4life, thank you for the detail information. I touched the hose and I could feel plastic thing inside of the hose.
So are you saying that I can't just replace the hose? I have to replace the whole radiator?
If I just replace the hose, do I have to drain the coolant? I just flushed coolant system...I hope I don't have to drain it again.

One more thing that I noticed...the coolant leak only happens when I open the coolant cap when engine is warm. When I opened it, the coolant level went up.
Any ideas?
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Old Aug 26, 2009 | 10:46 PM
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1993 E300 2.8l
Gravity always forces an oil leak down, trace it up to the highest point of the leak and inspect. Judging by pictures it may be higher, kinda hard to tell... My 2 cents

Last edited by E3002.8; Aug 26, 2009 at 10:48 PM.
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Old Aug 26, 2009 | 10:58 PM
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Originally Posted by E3002.8
Gravity always forces an oil leak down, trace it up to the highest point of the leak and inspect. Judging by pictures it may be higher, kinda hard to tell... My 2 cents
It's not valve cover gasket because when I bought this car it was leaking like crazy. Oil all 6 spark plugs, wires, etc so I changed it 1 week ago and no leak around that area...

I was checking where it's from, but I couldn't trace it....maybe next time, I will just stay under the car and watch it....
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Old Aug 27, 2009 | 01:14 AM
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Originally Posted by gorillajin
It's not valve cover gasket because when I bought this car it was leaking like crazy. Oil all 6 spark plugs, wires, etc so I changed it 1 week ago and no leak around that area...

I was checking where it's from, but I couldn't trace it....maybe next time, I will just stay under the car and watch it....
I'm not too familiar with M104....but do they have the same front timing cover leak as the M103's?

As for the first pic, you can just replace that hose. Maybe first just try pulling it off completely, cleaning it up and retightening it. If its cracked though, ditch it.
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Old Aug 27, 2009 | 05:28 AM
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85 euro w124 300d non turbo black on black......coming soon hx35 turbo intercooler
First I would Wash Ur engine really well then look for leaks. Get simple green spray the engine really well then pressure wash it off let the simple green soak for 3 minutes. Leave engine running. Then find all leaks
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Old Aug 27, 2009 | 07:59 AM
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1993 E300 2.8l
you can always purchase a dye additive for the oil. run the vehicle for a bit then use a black light and search for the dye (bright yellow or green)
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Old Aug 27, 2009 | 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by epowers777
First I would Wash Ur engine really well then look for leaks. Get simple green spray the engine really well then pressure wash it off let the simple green soak for 3 minutes. Leave engine running. Then find all leaks
Do I have to cover anything with plastic wrap? I feel uncomfortable to pressure wash the engine bay.
Thank you for your suggestion.
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Old Aug 27, 2009 | 11:29 AM
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Originally Posted by E3002.8
you can always purchase a dye additive for the oil. run the vehicle for a bit then use a black light and search for the dye (bright yellow or green)
I guess I can buy dye additive at any auto parts store, but where can I get a black light?
I have been searching for this and I found a smiliar thread, and it was timing chain guide seal leaking. I hope it's not my case. I guess you are right ps2cho. m104 engine also has timing chain area oil leak problem. Do you guys check oil level and add oil when it goes low?

Last edited by gorillajin; Aug 27, 2009 at 11:36 AM.
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Old Aug 27, 2009 | 11:39 AM
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Of course add oil! You do not want to run low on oil in ANY engine....its about the worst thing you can do. You'll start to get engine knock if you run it low on oil. If its leaking and you are losing a lot of oil, I'd make it your #1 priority to fix. Just make sure you are carrying a bottle of oil in your trunk at all times. Soon as that light comes on, you better throw in a quart.

Originally Posted by gorillajin
Do I have to cover anything with plastic wrap? I feel uncomfortable to pressure wash the engine bay.
Thank you for your suggestion.
Nah, on these engines just keep the air flap and spark plug's covered and don't spray anywhere near the battery or fuse box and you'll be fine. I recommend going to Walmart and buying their brand engine degreaser. You can get a can for $1.50 IIRC...its dirt cheap and works great. Just spray all over and let it sit for 10 minutes before hosing off.

Last edited by ps2cho; Aug 27, 2009 at 11:41 AM.
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Old Aug 27, 2009 | 12:33 PM
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lots of cars
I have the same problem on my car....for the coolant leak you just need to buy new clamps for it...the oil leak is probably the front timing cover...i need to put a qt every 3k miles....
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Old Aug 27, 2009 | 07:47 PM
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It would be nice if it was just a clamp or the hose itself, but so far every leak with these radiators (and those of most other cars Ive owned) has proven to be broken mounting points for the houses. The plastic inlets and outlets get brittle and break on almost every car at some point.
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Old Aug 27, 2009 | 08:06 PM
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Originally Posted by rivcal4life
It would be nice if it was just a clamp or the hose itself, but so far every leak with these radiators (and those of most other cars Ive owned) has proven to be broken mounting points for the houses. The plastic inlets and outlets get brittle and break on almost every car at some point.
Where can I order these plastic inlet outlet parts?
Thanks.

YNVDIZW124, I guess it is timing chain cover leak. I will check the oil level and see how much I need to add every oil change. I just have owned this car for 2 weeks and it's been sitting in my garage to be fixed. I heard that leaky timing cover seal needs to be fixed with HG, correct?

Last edited by gorillajin; Aug 27, 2009 at 08:09 PM.
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Old Aug 27, 2009 | 08:15 PM
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You can't order just the inlets. At least not anywhere that I know of. If would be worth looking for though if the body of your radiator is still good.

If you look at the photo closely, you'll notice where the metal ends, and the plastic begins. The metal is clamped around the plastic reservoir every couple inches or so. I suppose if you find a decent plastic reservoir at the junkyard or online, you could bend back the metal tabs and swap it out with yours, but you may end it with a bigger leak than you have now, and will have ruined a potential replacement in the process.
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Old Aug 27, 2009 | 08:59 PM
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Thank you for the good info rivcal4life.
I still don't get the inlet thing. So if the plastic thing is broken, how can I fix it? There is no part to order, then...
I guess I have to take out the hose and see it myself. Am I going to loose lot of coolant by doing it?
The leak seems only happen when I open the coolant reservoir cap when the engine is warm or little hot. Usually nothing leaks there.....isn't it strange??
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Old Aug 27, 2009 | 09:27 PM
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Basically the inlet is just what the hose clamps to. You can undo the top one fairly easily just to get an idea of what Im talking about.
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Old Dec 18, 2009 | 01:56 PM
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Originally Posted by rivcal4life
Basically the inlet is just what the hose clamps to. You can undo the top one fairly easily just to get an idea of what Im talking about.
hi mates i have got problem with my E 300 Td, i bought it 2 years ago and since i have it i had no problems at all but one day i just drived in the town and once when i set out, the car jump and then when i stoped on the trafic light just before to stop completely the car jumped again but this time like somebody "kick me " behind me, and i was thinking that the gearbox is finished, anyway bought botle of ATF for automatic gearbox ( right for my car ) and add about 700 ml and the car was beter, but few days after i saw that the coolant change the colour and just want to ask if there any conection beetwen gearbox and coolant system. thans verry much and sorry about my English ( and i am sure that is not engine oil because it is very clear and the level is allright)

Last edited by todor-ivanov; Dec 18, 2009 at 02:03 PM.
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Old Dec 18, 2009 | 03:22 PM
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Yes, your transmission cooler is in the radiator. Engine coolant cools the transmission fluid. Ck trans fluid level again to see if it has dropped. The only fix for this is a new radiator.
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Old Dec 18, 2009 | 04:44 PM
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Todor:

I believe I may be having the same issue as you. I flushed my coolant system two days ago and noticed a lot of brown gunky material in there that had formed a gelatin like substance under the radiator cap. After flushing for about 10 minutes the water began running clear, but, when I'd wait about 2 minutes then I'd start to see some of this redish brown substance slowly trickle out the hose. At some point the brown color fluid became so insignificant I just said to hell with it and finished flushing and replenishing radiator fluid. I notice my transmission fluid is quite low actually. I'm planning to replace the transmission pan gasket, drain torque converter and trans, replenish, replace trans mount, and trans oil seal on Monday. Was thinking about trying to figure out what the deal with that brown gunk in my radiator reserve was then. Anyone have any ideas? At first I thought maybe a blown head gasket? But then theirs no smoke coming out from under my hood and no billows of white smoke. I have noticed that theirs a bit of blueish white smoke coming from my exhaust that smells very rich with fuel. Anything to with a failed Air Mass Meter by chance? Oh, and I'm doing a valve cover gasket change Monday as well, as I have an inside and outside leak.
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Old Dec 18, 2009 | 05:53 PM
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To both of you, I would say it is most likely an internal radiator leak between your coolant and ATF chambers. I believe this is the only place those two particular fluids could ever come in contact with eachother...
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