w108 280S 1971 head gasket failure
- Thread starter MercedesintheBlood
- Start date
grober
MB Master
yes it was stuck on the side of the radiator.
ENGINE LUBRICATION MERCEDES M 130 E (130980)
Parts for unit ENGINE LUBRICATION MERCEDES M 130 E (130980)
www.ilcats.ru
MercedesintheBlood
Member
TAKEN FROM
Pistons, Compression, Head Issues
Again dire warnings about not overheating these big bore engines and from the look of it headgasket shape may not be your only problem! piston height wrt deck and cam lift being others- I suspect also that many of these older engines are "compromise rebuilds " using non original spec parts because that's all that was still available at the time.
Yes I am praying it is only the head gasket, and head skim, but will wait and see. As you mention could be a compromise build, and head may already be at the max for potential future skimming ...
MercedesintheBlood
Member
QUTSELL
Active Member
Again have you compression tested each cylinder.
MercedesintheBlood
Member
Hi Qutsell
No I haven't compression tested the cylinders. I am waiting for a garage to get back to me regarding the work that needs doing to the car.
This is all new territory to me, so trying to do as much research before is gets out of control, and learning new things from the forums like this.
In summary what will the compression test in each cylinder do, and won't it have to be done with the car started ?
Thanks
ChipChop
MB Enthusiast
If you look on youtube there are many vids of what a compression test entails.
Maybe also get yourself a 20 litre drum of cheap engine oil as you will need to do a few oil changes to clean the engine of mayo. Engine will need some fresh oil in it to do the compression test.
Maybe also get yourself a 20 litre drum of cheap engine oil as you will need to do a few oil changes to clean the engine of mayo. Engine will need some fresh oil in it to do the compression test.
MercedesintheBlood
Member
Thanks I will have a look at the videos.
Since the car broke down (3 weeks ago exactly) I have done the following, mainly from advice from the Internet/Forums and cousin who works on cars all the time based in the US. I'm sure people will do things differently...
1) Took all 6 spark plugs out, sprayed WD40 into Spark plug holes (I did see a post about someone mentioning pouring diesel into the spark plug holes)
2) Cranked (not started) for 50 seconds (covered spark plug holes with cloth)
3) Drained all the milkshake/mayo from the car - approx. 12-13 litres came out, made the mistake of thinking it would only be about 7 litres of oil (ooops). About 4 litres of oil /water all over driveway floor...... bucket not big enough..
4) Put 5 litres of fresh oil
5) cranked (not started) engine for 50 seconds
6) Drained oil again
7) Put another 5 litres of fresh oil in again.
8) Cleaned the cam area, and carburetor area.
Since the car broke down (3 weeks ago exactly) I have done the following, mainly from advice from the Internet/Forums and cousin who works on cars all the time based in the US. I'm sure people will do things differently...
1) Took all 6 spark plugs out, sprayed WD40 into Spark plug holes (I did see a post about someone mentioning pouring diesel into the spark plug holes)
2) Cranked (not started) for 50 seconds (covered spark plug holes with cloth)
3) Drained all the milkshake/mayo from the car - approx. 12-13 litres came out, made the mistake of thinking it would only be about 7 litres of oil (ooops). About 4 litres of oil /water all over driveway floor...... bucket not big enough..
4) Put 5 litres of fresh oil
5) cranked (not started) engine for 50 seconds
6) Drained oil again
7) Put another 5 litres of fresh oil in again.
8) Cleaned the cam area, and carburetor area.
grober
MB Master
We tend to forget these cars are now 50 years old and their alloy
cylinder heads can become porous after years of coolant corrosion. Failure on the top of the head below the cam/valve cover , would for example, cause it to fill with coolant which would in turn find its way down into the oil in the sump.
I would suggest you join the official UK Mercedes club as they have an owner section devoted to that model.
mercedes-benz-club.co.uk
They have an online forum but unfortunately its still by member subscription only AFAIK They also have a comprehensive data base and contact details for specialists in that model
cylinder heads can become porous after years of coolant corrosion. Failure on the top of the head below the cam/valve cover , would for example, cause it to fill with coolant which would in turn find its way down into the oil in the sump.
I would suggest you join the official UK Mercedes club as they have an owner section devoted to that model.
Home - The Mercedes-Benz Club
The official UK club. Continue your journey. Previous Next What’s happening Find out about our various events around the country Our members love attending and taking part in events. As a consequence, we have a massive calendar full of them. Events take place both across the various Regions of...
mercedes-benz-club.co.uk
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Crewe Engines are the UK Mercedes approved Mercedes engine remanufactures .
They will either sell you an exchange engine , remanufactured as new , or if you want to keep your car as an original 'matching numbers' example , you can send your engine to them and they will rebuild it .
Just bear in mind they aren't cheap .
www.creweengines.co.uk
You could also try Dave Collins - from memory [email protected] as he is a specialist breaker and I have an idea he may have a good used example of one of these engines in stock .
They will either sell you an exchange engine , remanufactured as new , or if you want to keep your car as an original 'matching numbers' example , you can send your engine to them and they will rebuild it .
Just bear in mind they aren't cheap .
Crewe Engines Mercedes-Benz Vehicle Engine Remanufacturers Cheshire
Crewe Engines are the UK's leading Mercedes-Benz engine specialist. Remanufactured Mercedes engines are our specialisty with over 30 years experience.
You could also try Dave Collins - from memory [email protected] as he is a specialist breaker and I have an idea he may have a good used example of one of these engines in stock .
Compression test is normally done cranking the engine over with the plugs removed ( so not started ) but it does need the engine to be built up with the head in place . The tester screws into the spark plug thread .
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I am still working out how oil as come out from the top of carbs .
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The emulsion has gone through the intake system as it has probably entered a cylinder and been pushed up by the piston with an intake valve open.
Bellow
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
I would go with it getting there via the crankcase breathers with the fluid volume in the CC being all the oil plus coolant.
If you're right - bent con rods?
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Yep. It can happen.
MercedesintheBlood
Member
The chocolate milkshake/mayo I believe has gone up the crank case breather hose, and through the carburetor cover, and on top of the carburetors.
When I got the car home on the back of the recovery truck, lifted the bonnet, i could see the liquid coming out of the engine bay area.
My immediate thought was that it was fuel leaking.
Next step, head will be coming off, to inspect for damage caused......
When I got the car home on the back of the recovery truck, lifted the bonnet, i could see the liquid coming out of the engine bay area.
My immediate thought was that it was fuel leaking.
Next step, head will be coming off, to inspect for damage caused......
MercedesintheBlood
Member
Crewe Engines are the UK Mercedes approved Mercedes engine remanufactures .
They will either sell you an exchange engine , remanufactured as new , or if you want to keep your car as an original 'matching numbers' example , you can send your engine to them and they will rebuild it .
Just bear in mind they aren't cheap .
Crewe Engines Mercedes-Benz Vehicle Engine Remanufacturers Cheshire
Crewe Engines are the UK's leading Mercedes-Benz engine specialist. Remanufactured Mercedes engines are our specialisty with over 30 years experience.
You could also try Dave Collins - from memory [email protected] as he is a specialist breaker and I have an idea he may have a good used example of one of these engines in stock .
Hi Pontoneer
Thanks for the details, I have bought some items from Dave in the past (boot badge), I did text him on the off chance he might have one in stock . No luck there...
Crewe Engine's are closed at the moment due to Covid-19.
MercedesintheBlood
Member
OK so the cylinder head is off, and surprisingly the gasket looks intact (looks new), however 1 of the 3 screw plug on top of the cylinder head seems to have just been sitting in place. Corroded, and with half the thread missing.
This I would say was the weak point, but would not have been easy to spot unless the cylinder head was off and out of the car .
Engine block, cylinder walls, seem ok.
Has anyone seen this happen before with a screw plug on top of the cylinder head causing oil / water to mix ?
This I would say was the weak point, but would not have been easy to spot unless the cylinder head was off and out of the car .
Engine block, cylinder walls, seem ok.
Has anyone seen this happen before with a screw plug on top of the cylinder head causing oil / water to mix ?
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