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Leaking coolant

Tiny
FRVNK
  • MEMBER
  • 2013 MERCEDES BENZ C250
  • 1.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 115,000 MILES
My car is leaking coolant and oil from the side of the head block and it's getting worse. I put in coolant and drove around for 10 minutes and the coolant was all gone. I checked my oil cap and it's milkshake color with sludge. Is my engine done for? Thanks for your help.
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Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020 AT 10:15 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,941 POSTS
The engine is likely on borrowed time at this point. The issue is that coolant doesn't lubricate and it tends to damage the bearings and other items like the valvetrain. When you consider that you see the sludge in the cap and the oil looks like a milkshake I would say that unless you know that this just happened in under a few hundred miles or a couple days, I would opt for replacement. You could have just the head gasket changed but without knowing if anything else is damaged, like the turbocharger bushings or main or rod bearings, it may be wasted money. Now if the sludge is only on the oil cap and the oil itself isn't contaminated then you might get away with having the gasket and associated parts changed out, however the book shows a head gasket time of 17 hours while replacing the engine is listed at 12 hours.
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Wednesday, March 4th, 2020 AT 12:21 AM
Tiny
FRVNK
  • MEMBER
  • 20 POSTS
I recently did the timing chain, camshaft and thermostat replacement just got that job done today. But my car was leaking before this job got done. I thought it was the freeze plug where the chain tensioner goes but once I was down there I saw the oil leaking from where the head gasket is I didn’t think it was to severe drove my car to get washed on my way back home the check coolant light came on. I checked the coolant tank and it was empty. I filed the coolant again and then drove around the block a few times and again check engine and empty coolant tank this also never happened before. I flashed a light near the exhaust manifold and saw oil or maybe coolant running down then checked the oil cap and saw all the milky oil I’m not employed at the moment so a new engine just isn't possible unfortunately. But I do have the time and patience to fix it with your help please?
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Wednesday, March 4th, 2020 AT 2:19 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,941 POSTS
If you check the oil on the dip stick is it milkshake or just oil? That is the bigger question. If you have just an external coolant leak and the oil is clean you may be able to save it. If the oil has coolant in it then it becomes a crapshoot.
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Wednesday, March 4th, 2020 AT 5:19 AM
Tiny
FRVNK
  • MEMBER
  • 20 POSTS
So the dipstick is also coming up milky but it was only like that for one day and the car was only driven for 20 minutes. So my thoughts were to take apart the cylinder head take to machine shop if warped and change all gaskets. Do you still think it's hopeless?
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Wednesday, March 4th, 2020 AT 1:07 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,941 POSTS
If it was only that long then you can likely save it. You will want to flush the oiling system out to remove as much as possible then tear it apart and clean it some more once apart. I would probably drop the oil pan as well simply to get any mixed sludge out of it.
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Wednesday, March 4th, 2020 AT 6:22 PM
Tiny
FRVNK
  • MEMBER
  • 20 POSTS
Awesome, can I get the instructions please?
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Wednesday, March 4th, 2020 AT 6:27 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 12,941 POSTS
For that you might want to buy a subscription to alldatas DIY side, that way you can follow the process easier. It's about 30 bucks for a year of access and gives all of the same info we have access to, plus you also have this site to ask extra questions on. It also will have all of the torque numbers to match your engine.

http://www.alldatadiy.com/

This is what the book has for this job.
Image 1
1 Combination valve
2 Air ducting
3 Vacuum hose
4 Shields
5 Boost pressure control hose
9 Charge air line

Image 2
1 Combination valve
5 Boost pressure control hose
6 Crankcase ventilation system pipe
8 Coolant pipe
10 Electrical line
11 Electrical line
12 Bracket

Images 3 thru 5 are the instructions for the head.
The tools are the special tools needed.

The other 3 images are for the front cover on the head.
Images (Click to make bigger)
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Wednesday, March 4th, 2020 AT 7:13 PM

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