ML420 - Head Gasket? Definitely Sod's Law, Anyway...

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E55BOF

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Well, the ML 420 let me down today. Perhaps it knew it was being sold...

I took the buyer, who had come quite a way, for a test drive, and on the way back on the motorway gave it full wellie. Oh S**T!! What's all that bluish-white smoke? Clears when I ease off, smokes a little on the overrun, comes back with throttle, smokes a bit at idle. More throttle = more smoke. Full throttle = lots of smoke.

Got it home, gently undid the coolant filler cap, and there's lots of black engine oil under there. My first thought was that the buyer might be trying the old con trick of putting oil in the coolant, but there was a LOT of oil there, and both exhaust pipes were oily on the inside; they weren't before. I can't see any way that putting oil in the coolant could make the exhaust smoke like that.

I can't see it's going to be anything other than a head gasket failure. Does anybody think differently? I do hope (but not expect...) so.
 
Bad luck Dennis......................again:wallbash:
Fingers crossed its not the head gasket, but it doesn't sound good.
 
When you buy a lot of high-mileage Mercedes, some will go wrong. It's served its purpose, and I don't suppose it will be worth repairing if it is a head gasket. I'm not much fussed; sh1t happens...
 
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