oil in coolant m104 engine
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 48
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2002 CLK
You wont be solving anything with an additive. While it is possible that a head gasket is out it is more likely that the radiator trans cooler is leaking.
#1--determine if it is trans fluid or engine oil in the coolant. It can be difficult to tell. trans fluid=rad cooler Oil=head gasket
#1--determine if it is trans fluid or engine oil in the coolant. It can be difficult to tell. trans fluid=rad cooler Oil=head gasket
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
merc s320 w140
thing that baffles me is the oil level hasnt dropped and had the trans oil checked and all is fine. i am asking myself (hoping) could a previous owner put oil in the expansion tank in error.
I had the coolant replaced and it was clean. just the expansion tank is a little gunky
I had the coolant replaced and it was clean. just the expansion tank is a little gunky
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6
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1988 & 89 300SE (W126)
What is the mileage of your vehicle? Most M104 engines require head gasket replacement about every 70,000 to 100,000 miles. You do not have to do a complete head rebuild to fix this problem. The parts are affordable but the job is a little labor intensive. Take a look at the link below for a great step by step DIY article on replacing the head gasket.
http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/M104HeadGasket
http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/M104HeadGasket
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
merc s320 w140
m104 head gasket
my car is a 1998 with only 64,000 miles with full history. i asked mercedes head office directly was there a design flaw with the gaskets and if i was to buy new oem gasket from the dealer was it it a modified version of the original installed in my car. they said there was no known faults with their gaskets and any modifications are confidential to the public. I told them my mb dealer said it was a common problem. they could not comment on what was said to me as they wasnt party to the conversation. suprise suprise. i cant justify spending shed loads on the car is its worth is now a bag of toffees. I said to mercedes they should reduce parts and labour servicing costs as the car gets older to carry on past the 3 year reduction they offer until they are competitive with independant service garages. heres dreaming!
