Mercedes: oil in coolant

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PBENESH
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  • 2 POSTS
Stymied. 1990 Mercedes 300E. Oil in coolant even after several flushes. No water in the oil. Oil consumption 1 qt per 1000 miles. Runs great. 26mpg. No steam or oil smoke out the tailpipe. Theories so far: head gasket (but why no water in the oil?) or timing chain cover gasket. Ideas?
Jan 11, 2006 at 7:38 AM
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2CARPRO JACK
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 11,533 POSTS
timing cover sounds more like it.
Jan 18, 2006 at 9:51 AM
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PBENESH
  • MEMBER
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Many thanks. Funny how my neighborhood garage, run by hard-working Vietnamese immigrants, diagnosed it better than the M-B dealership. But then, the dealership wanted to replace a whole headlight assembly at $500 when a $4.99 plug would do the fix. Thanks again.
Jan 18, 2006 at 10:05 AM
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Suggested Repair

Inspect and service the timing chain cover gasket, which the expert considered more likely than a head gasket as the source of oil entering the coolant.

Conversation Summary

The owner of a 1990 Mercedes 300E reported oil remaining in the coolant after several flushes, with no coolant in the oil, oil use of about one quart per 1,000 miles, and otherwise normal running and fuel economy. Possible causes discussed were a head gasket or timing chain cover gasket. The expert indicated the timing cover was the more likely cause, and the owner thanked the expert.

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