Misfire & leaking coolant

[mb240]

This is a very worrying problem over the past few weeks.

The car had low coolant, so I topped up with 1.5litres (hadn't been done in ~ 12 months so I thought nothing of it). A month later, low coolant again.

At the same time, the engine misfires if I give it around 50% throttle, once it gets to aroudn 3000rpm in 4th gear (judging by the number of shifts). Kickdown is fine but it just doesn't seem to be running as smoothly as it should from my memory. Plugs were changed last November. leads and coilpacks were not. On ignition, it used to be totally smooth, but now it seems to sound somewhat cranky; not really noticeable as a problem but definitely different slightly in idle and throttle to my ear.

There is some coolant staining around the engine bay, which I didn't notice before as well.

I am thinking that this is some crazy coolant leak internally and my car is truly buggered . It's not leaking externally as I had topped up before I left for 10 days and when I got back it was teh same level. However 2 weeks of driving later and it's gone.

Any ideas? It obviously needs some serious investigation, I am just trying to prepare myself for the worst......

 

[Ian B Walker]

Remove fuel pump relay and then turn the engine over. remove spark plugs and check if any are wet. If any are then its head gasket time.

 

[mb240]

Remove fuel pump relay and then turn the engine over. remove spark plugs and check if any are wet. If any are then its head gasket time.

Thanks Ian,

I noticed some black dampness (sort of like oil) on the plastic sheaths from the spark plugs on cylinders 5 and 6 (middle two on the right) when I opened the bonnet. I haven't done the fuel pump relay as I am not with the car at the moment.

OH GOD!!!!!

Hopefully head gasket is not too expensive, €2-3k would be okay but more than that would make me wonder..........is this an huge job? I am imagining a day's labour in any case....

 

[lynall]

Do the head gaskets go on the 113 engine i thought they were almost indestructible?.

Also even if it does need head gaskets £1k absolute tops and thats with a skim and a mclaren loan car

Have you checked the bottom of the radiator or the bottom of the water at the front of the vee?

Thinking about if the engine bay is stained that means the fan is blowing it about which means its and external leak so something a lot lot cheaper than head gaskets


Lynall