Oil in Coolant
Discussion
Hello all,
Hi all.
My Merc ML320 CDI Sport (57 plate, 47000K miles) went for a Service last week.
All went well etc, but I received a phone call at 12:00 from the dealers, asking if i had ever topped up the oil on my car. Having only had it 9 months(used/approved), i informed him i hadnt. He then advised me that there was oil in the coolant reservior and it would need to be drained and flushed!
My first question was down the line of a head gasket problem, or an oil sump cooler. He advised the tech on site had this same thought but could find no evidence of this, and he could tell it had been put in by someone from the top, as if they thought it was the oil, when in fact it was the coolant.
ANyway, all flushed out and he did say there will be a very slight film as he couldnt get every last drop out. I beleive this, as oil in a PITA to get rid off.
I am going to check it now every week, as my Tier 1 warranty runs out in August and I want it fixed under that.
Here are some pics of coolant after it was cleaned,
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-irJjOviv7dg/T9o...
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DxQk4JUVDIQ/T9o...
The folks over at the Merc Forum have been really helpfull, but wanted more ideas.
Apart from someone puring it in, a head gasket, or a radiator issue, what else can let oil get in the coolant???
Hi all.
My Merc ML320 CDI Sport (57 plate, 47000K miles) went for a Service last week.
All went well etc, but I received a phone call at 12:00 from the dealers, asking if i had ever topped up the oil on my car. Having only had it 9 months(used/approved), i informed him i hadnt. He then advised me that there was oil in the coolant reservior and it would need to be drained and flushed!
My first question was down the line of a head gasket problem, or an oil sump cooler. He advised the tech on site had this same thought but could find no evidence of this, and he could tell it had been put in by someone from the top, as if they thought it was the oil, when in fact it was the coolant.
ANyway, all flushed out and he did say there will be a very slight film as he couldnt get every last drop out. I beleive this, as oil in a PITA to get rid off.
I am going to check it now every week, as my Tier 1 warranty runs out in August and I want it fixed under that.
Here are some pics of coolant after it was cleaned,
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-irJjOviv7dg/T9o...
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DxQk4JUVDIQ/T9o...
The folks over at the Merc Forum have been really helpfull, but wanted more ideas.
Apart from someone puring it in, a head gasket, or a radiator issue, what else can let oil get in the coolant???
I had this, on my 328. It is an automatic, and has a heat exchanger between the ATF and the coolant.
It had failed allowing ATF into the coolant, I can confirm it is a right pain to remove and needed several flushes, and still never quite came out.
Oil sits on top of water, remember, so it doesn't necessarily mean that someone filled it from the top. Of course, it could also be head gasket, oil pressure being higher than water pressure and all that. Fingers crossed it's something simple, at least that's easy for them to test.
It had failed allowing ATF into the coolant, I can confirm it is a right pain to remove and needed several flushes, and still never quite came out.
Oil sits on top of water, remember, so it doesn't necessarily mean that someone filled it from the top. Of course, it could also be head gasket, oil pressure being higher than water pressure and all that. Fingers crossed it's something simple, at least that's easy for them to test.
All good info guys.
I know a little about cars, but i aint no mechaninc!!!
Worse case, how much would it cost an indy to fix the nost expensive item on that list?
In my mind, I have 3 options.
1/Keep an eye on it, take photos every weeks, and if it does get worse, that confirms something is wrong. I then take back to dealer under my warranty( Tier 1)1 and ask them to fix.
2/Take out an extended Merc warranty. WIth a £250 excess, it will cost me £720ish pounds for a year for a Tier 1 warranty. I also have cover for everything else as well.
3/Take it to an indy when it gets worse and when outwith my warranty, but at what cost??
I know a little about cars, but i aint no mechaninc!!!
Worse case, how much would it cost an indy to fix the nost expensive item on that list?
In my mind, I have 3 options.
1/Keep an eye on it, take photos every weeks, and if it does get worse, that confirms something is wrong. I then take back to dealer under my warranty( Tier 1)1 and ask them to fix.
2/Take out an extended Merc warranty. WIth a £250 excess, it will cost me £720ish pounds for a year for a Tier 1 warranty. I also have cover for everything else as well.
3/Take it to an indy when it gets worse and when outwith my warranty, but at what cost??
Didn't some AMG E classes suffer from s
t radiators that had the ATF cooler built in and leaked through? The main problem there was Glycol getting into the transmission and ruining the bearings, but it works either way. Dunno how much part sharing mercedes and AMG do between models but that could be a possibility.
Other places are listed above really. Oil coolers, head gasket, head or block cracks. Just got to think of places oil and water get close to each other.
I would get it fixed either way. There's no reason oil should be in the coolant.
t radiators that had the ATF cooler built in and leaked through? The main problem there was Glycol getting into the transmission and ruining the bearings, but it works either way. Dunno how much part sharing mercedes and AMG do between models but that could be a possibility. Other places are listed above really. Oil coolers, head gasket, head or block cracks. Just got to think of places oil and water get close to each other.
I would get it fixed either way. There's no reason oil should be in the coolant.
Edited by maniac0796 on Thursday 21st June 19:01
Thats my problem.
Merc said when the car was in all is ok. I have bee checking the coolant and taking photos since the service was done, and so far in my eyes its exactly the same as the pics above, hasnt gotten worse. If it does, i will then have proof and will drive up to them and drop it off until its fixed!
Merc said when the car was in all is ok. I have bee checking the coolant and taking photos since the service was done, and so far in my eyes its exactly the same as the pics above, hasnt gotten worse. If it does, i will then have proof and will drive up to them and drop it off until its fixed!
The dealer may be able to buy this product from a heavy truck repairer. It will clean the system thoroughly. Following cleaning the system should be neutralised and fresh coolant used.
http://www.cumminsfiltration.com/pdfs/product_lit/...
http://www.cumminsfiltration.com/pdfs/product_lit/...
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