Coolant contamination in oil
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Coolant contamination in oil
Hi All,
Was just notified by Oil Analyzers that they found coolant in the oil sample I sent them and they recommended that I get the problem addressed ASAP.
My car is a '02 E55 with 1600 miles on the clock. Has anyone heard of this problem before with this engine? How would a dealer troubleshoot this sort of problem based on findings from an oil analysis?
Interested in hearing input on this topic from the forum.
Thanks,
Was just notified by Oil Analyzers that they found coolant in the oil sample I sent them and they recommended that I get the problem addressed ASAP.
My car is a '02 E55 with 1600 miles on the clock. Has anyone heard of this problem before with this engine? How would a dealer troubleshoot this sort of problem based on findings from an oil analysis?
Interested in hearing input on this topic from the forum.
Thanks,
Almost a Member!
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: South Park,Pa.
C320
I have not done much work on an MB engine, but I would guess an engine is an engine. Coolant in the oil could mean a blown head gasket, warped heads. If the heads are not sealed against the block coolant anf oil become mixed. I would have this checked asap. Your oil isn't lubricating the engine properly and this leads to bigger problems. I have had similar problems with american engines and it was the head gaskets. Another symptom is you will be loosing coolant but their are no leaks. The coolant is blowing out your exhaust as white smoke.
Whatever the problem I would have the dealer check it out. They can determine the problem quickely by doing compression check of the cylinders.
Good luck.
Whatever the problem I would have the dealer check it out. They can determine the problem quickely by doing compression check of the cylinders.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
trace elements in coolant?
Just had another thought I would post.
Given that the Oil Analyst has identified coolant in my oil sample, is there a way of confirming this in another way such as finding trace elements in the coolant? I'm just trying to rule out the potential of the sample having been contaminated prior or during testing by the lab.
Is there some test that can be performed on the coolant to validate the findings of the oil contamination test?
Thanks in advance for any info.
Given that the Oil Analyst has identified coolant in my oil sample, is there a way of confirming this in another way such as finding trace elements in the coolant? I'm just trying to rule out the potential of the sample having been contaminated prior or during testing by the lab.
Is there some test that can be performed on the coolant to validate the findings of the oil contamination test?
Thanks in advance for any info.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,445
Likes: 3
From: WOT somewhere in the Bay Area
1951 Caterpiller D6
1. Do compression testing and look for bubbles in the coolant.
2. Take another sample and send it to a different lab.
3. Notify dealer after you confirm with #1 and #2
4. Make them replace engine as coolant eats bearings in short order.
2. Take another sample and send it to a different lab.
3. Notify dealer after you confirm with #1 and #2
4. Make them replace engine as coolant eats bearings in short order.
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento Ca
All of the above
It only takes a mis-torque on a head bolt or installing the head just a bit off and you will get leaks into the oil. I'm not an MB mechanic but have had enough experience to recognize what could quickly become an expensive problem. Take it back to the dealer asap, post the results.
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Dealer update
Just wanted to give an update on a visit to the dealer regarding the coolant contamination problem.
The dealer did a cooling system pressure test which they conducted for over 3 hours and there was no pressure loss. Could someone tell me what this test proves and what type of problem it can't potentially identify if it existed.
So at this point the dealer feels confident that there is NO coolant leaking into the oil but rather they feel that the assembly lube used to assemble the AMG engines contains a type of Glycol and may have been the contaminant which was found in the oil sample. Dealer called Oil Analyzers to determine if they could identify the specific type of Glycol that was identified in the test but they stated that they do not go to that level of granularity in that test.
Any comments are certainly welcomed.
The dealer did a cooling system pressure test which they conducted for over 3 hours and there was no pressure loss. Could someone tell me what this test proves and what type of problem it can't potentially identify if it existed.
So at this point the dealer feels confident that there is NO coolant leaking into the oil but rather they feel that the assembly lube used to assemble the AMG engines contains a type of Glycol and may have been the contaminant which was found in the oil sample. Dealer called Oil Analyzers to determine if they could identify the specific type of Glycol that was identified in the test but they stated that they do not go to that level of granularity in that test.
Any comments are certainly welcomed.
