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So my highway trip ended in a cloud of steam on the side of the road. The over flow is still full of coolant but the top hose is empty. Fluid dripping from the lower passenger side. Came home on the flatbed.
I am hoping it is just a hose (haven't really looked too closely as was tired when I got home).
Is this something that can be repaired from underneath using just ramps (and by someone with limited mechanical experience)? Car temperature gauge went to hot before the steam poured out (was right after I turned on the heat).
If it isn't just a hose/clamp problem what would other suspects be? Stuck thermometer? Car heater exchange system?
Any experience or speculation is welcomed.
I put it on the ramps but couldn't see much from underneath as didn't want to remove the cover protecting it from below.. Looked down from top and reached down and the hoses same in place in and in decent condition. Poured some water through and it came out way further back on the engine that the radiator/hoses.
Correction on my original comment the fluid overflow is empty as is the bottom hose. The water poured straight through and come out behind the front axles.
Any thoughts on what might have blown back there? Was a huge cloud of steam when she went (like the fluid was spraying on the exhaust manifolds). Think this is one for the garage but would like to give them some guidance/possibilities.
OP diagnosis starts with figuring out where it is leaking from.
My diagnostic dice and Ouija board are not effective from great distances. Even the magic eight ball won’t help. Get ALL the panels off underneath and find where it is leaking. Or take it to a competent shop to do this for you.
OP diagnosis starts with figuring out where it is leaking from.
My diagnostic dice and Ouija board are not effective from great distances. Even the magic eight ball won’t help. Get ALL the panels off underneath and find where it is leaking. Or take it to a competent shop to do this for you.
Obviously your skill set it not as high as many of the other Internet Mechanics @JohnLane . We prefer this like playing darts with drunken blind folks in a Graviton. Who needs facts to bother with an internet diagnosis? Please, get with the program. :-)
Obviously your skill set it not as high as many of the other Internet Mechanics @JohnLane . We prefer this like playing darts with drunken blind folks in a Graviton. Who needs facts to bother with an internet diagnosis? Please, get with the program. :-)
I would want to know why it failed...was the system over pressurized (like mine was)?
I wonder if this was the cause. Thermostat is stuck shut, pressure/heat builds in engine, turning on the heat releases over pressurized coolant from the engine into the car heating system, something blows (hose or a clamp or other component), coolant sprays on exhaust manifold, steam cleaning of engine ensues.
Seems like a plausible scenario. Going to need a lift/mechanic to locate where the leak is. Just using another vehicle in the interim.
Yes I agree.
Will figure out leak and f it is easily repaired.
Thinking of doing the thermostat at same time (will have to order a new one in advance).
Yes it overheated within 20 minutes of starting. The hoses (that I can see easily) seem to be in good condition so still think it maybe blew it off. Still not sure where it is leaking from. Going to order a thermostat before it goes to the garage. Yes if hoses are getting sketchy I will order them all and get them replaced.
wow its funny how across every Mercedes decades apart they always have some complicated nightmare coolant hose at the firewall that goes out before any of the main ones
Mechanic replaced the blown heater hose, did a flush and got the proper thermostat installed.
Car still overheating. Old tow truck guy who helped me said it sounds like a blown head gasket. Did some research and am inclined to agree. Any thoughts/experience with BAR's Head Gasket repair additive? Worth a try I would think. I know this may trigger some purists who would say just change them but that is far beyond my abilities and would be major $$$.
OP more real diagnosis is in order. A test to see if exhaust is getting into the cooling system is a good start. Then apply pressure to individual cylinders with the cooling system full and bled. The cylinder that leaks will push coolant out.
Bars Leak has no business in your engine!!!!
Sure the cooling system is properly bled? They can be a pain to get all the air out... esp when a hose lets go.
Thanks for the reply. Haven't done anything yet with the engine. I am pretty sure that the hot gasses from one of the cylinders are getting into the cooling system.
The car worked fine driving 50 km each way to work for months then one day the temperature gauge went right up and a cooling system part failed. The car hasn't been used since (other that back and forth to garage for other work described in thread).
As to whether or not it is bled fully the garage said they have a machine to draw out air while it is being filled with antifreeze so would assume that is the case.
Don't have the ability or resources right now to take anything apart and physically repair a head gasket.
As this is a recent problem I thought it might be a good candidate for the leak treatment.
Even if it resolved the problem for the time being or for short distances with the car. Can just use the car as a town car (ten minutes round trip) and use another vehicle for longer trips.
Have you had a bad experience with Bars or is that just a general opinion against those products?
Well the car has stopped overheating. Except that is because it stalls after about 10 minutes once it warms up to about 80 on the gauge. Did confirm the electric fans do still come on when called for.
Still think it is a leaking gasket. It is not consuming any antifreeze and starts and works as normal when started up until the engine warms up. Check engine light was on prior to all these problems. I purchased a code reader but it won't work because there is a connection stuck open somewhere in the electrical system. This vehicle worked like it should for thousands or kilometers then just failed suddenly.
Has anyone else experienced this symptom (stalling after warming up)?
Any arm chair mechanic opinions appreciated.
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