1991 350SD overheat problem. Help! I'm roasted!
04-04-2012, 11:42 PM
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1991 350 SD diesel turbo
1991 350SD overheat problem. Help! I'm roasted!
Changed head gasket last March by a reputable mechanic (not MB mechanic because MB dealer wants to charge me $15,000 to fix it since coolant got into the engine) Noticed that after he changed the head gasket, the temperature stayed at 90-100, brought it back to the garage they could find any problem. Then winter came, everything seems fine. This year Summer came early, once I drove over half an hour, the temperature went up to 120 and I have to turn the blower on to let the temperature go down. The mechanic tried to flush the radiator, change the fan clutch and thermostat, nothing help. He threw the white towel on my car. Now I have to turn the heater on, open my moon roof and windows when I am driving. I am thinking of going to another mechanic, should I tell him what the other mechanic had done to my car or just let him check the whole cooling system again?
I love my 350SD, I am the second owner. The car has 168,000 miles on it. After I have the overheating problem, then I started to read more about MB, I think I'd bought a lemon. Should I just sell it as junk or try to fix it? Anyone out there can help me? Or recommend me to a reliable and reasonable MB mechanic in Tristate area? Thanks. Meanwhile I can just "smile" & wave to strangers who looked at my car with admiration.
I love my 350SD, I am the second owner. The car has 168,000 miles on it. After I have the overheating problem, then I started to read more about MB, I think I'd bought a lemon. Should I just sell it as junk or try to fix it? Anyone out there can help me? Or recommend me to a reliable and reasonable MB mechanic in Tristate area? Thanks. Meanwhile I can just "smile" & wave to strangers who looked at my car with admiration.
04-08-2012, 08:08 AM
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1991 350 SD diesel turbo
After reading all messages posted, I decided to take the matter in my own hands. I asked the mechanic to change the radiator. Now everything is back to normal. Temperature stays below 90. Thanks everyone for posting your solutions.
04-10-2012, 07:49 AM
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1991 350SDL, 2006 E320CDI, 1999 F250 7.3L Crew Cab 4X4
Smile,
Don't overlook the electric fans in the front. They cost me a head gsasket on my 350SDL. They would trun briefly and then stop. You could bump them with your hand and they would spin and stop.
Don't overlook the electric fans in the front. They cost me a head gsasket on my 350SDL. They would trun briefly and then stop. You could bump them with your hand and they would spin and stop.
04-10-2012, 09:24 PM
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1991 350 SD diesel turbo
MPH350SDL,
Last year the head gasket broke and coolant went into the engine. It was fixed......i think!!!!
Do I need to change the fan too? I'd changed the clutch of the fan.
Last year the head gasket broke and coolant went into the engine. It was fixed......i think!!!!
Do I need to change the fan too? I'd changed the clutch of the fan.
04-10-2012, 10:46 PM
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1991 350 SD diesel turbo
MPH350SDL,
Last year the head gasket broke and coolant went into the engine. It was fixed......i think!!!!
Do I need to change the fan too? I'd changed the clutch of the fan.
Last year the head gasket broke and coolant went into the engine. It was fixed......i think!!!!
Do I need to change the fan too? I'd changed the clutch of the fan.
04-12-2012, 07:34 AM
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1991 350SDL, 2006 E320CDI, 1999 F250 7.3L Crew Cab 4X4
Just check the electric fans and make sure they are operating properly. The sign of a worn or bad fan will be it will activate and then stop turning quickly after activation. If you bump the hub with your hand after it stops turning and then it starts to turn, you have a bad fan. There are procedures to check the electrical operation/climate control fuctions of fan activation as well.
08-30-2012, 07:15 PM
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1991 350 SD diesel turbo
1991 350SD leak coolant
My problem is still here. Coolant starts to leak into the engine again. A qualified MB mechanic opened the head and found out problem is the block. It will be too expensive to take the block out, take it to a machine shop to level it ( I believe the mechanic said because of overheat, the sixth one is dented,the machine shop will wield something on it then shave it to the same level). 
I really don't understand how the machine shop do but I do understand that the block and the head must be level and smooth in order to put the gasket between, then the coolant will not spill out everywhere. See, now you know I am a woman driver.
So please help me out. If this way to fix it is too expensive. Can I just buy an engine to replace this engine. I saw some junk yards have lots of engine for sale, can I buy one? If I cannot get the same one (1991 350SD) what others can I buy, I meant, what other engine van be used by this car. Thanks for your help.
I really don't understand how the machine shop do but I do understand that the block and the head must be level and smooth in order to put the gasket between, then the coolant will not spill out everywhere. See, now you know I am a woman driver. So please help me out. If this way to fix it is too expensive. Can I just buy an engine to replace this engine. I saw some junk yards have lots of engine for sale, can I buy one? If I cannot get the same one (1991 350SD) what others can I buy, I meant, what other engine van be used by this car. Thanks for your help.
