w211 coolant loss problem

[panason1c]

Panasonic.

I obviously didn't make myself clear. We are on the same side of the table..

I agree with you...

 

[prprandall51]

I would only add to this debate that modern cooling systems seem to be a lot trickier to fill successfully than old ones (where you just topped it up with the heater at "hot" and Bob's your uncle). I guess this is because of their very small liquid capacity compared to systems of old.

Dieselman has already given the full description of the onerous and seemingly pointless rigmarole to get these cars to fill correctly. Perhaps, if abc nottingham is really really, lucky the trader just wasn't aware of the full procedure and topped it up after a radiator change or similar?

First step has got to be the full replenishment of the system as per Dieselman's post.

 

[abc_nottingham1]

HIYA EVERYONE !!!!!!

i went to the garage that DIESELMAN recomended, and they were really busy...
One chap, who works there, had a quick look, before giving me
and appointment to book the car had a quick look.
he said, it doesn't look like its the head gasket, and said it could either
be an Air lock or somthing to to with the radiator, and mentioned something about the lack of anti freeze in the sytem .... (VERY BREIFLY)

I will drop the car off off on saturday (this morning) at 8.30, and they
will diagnose the fault and give me a quote for work that needs to be done.. FINGERS CROSSED!!!!!!

Diesel man - are you also from Nottingham ????
this garage you recomended looks very positive, i was real happy to
see their co-operative customer service. do you know these chaps at
this garage???

OK EVERYONE .. THANKS .. AND WILL KEEP YOU ALL POSTED FURTHER !!

 

[Dieselman]

Hi abc_nottingham1
I'm not from Nottingham but used to visit customers local to HAC. The only time I went in was about ten years ago when they were a small outfit covering BMW, just for a chat.
I have subsequently spoken to them over the phone and have seen them expand A LOT. They do have all the proper diagnostic kit and trained technicians so should have no problem looking after your car.
They used to be dirt cheap on parts but now charge the same as the main dealer, which isn't really a problem.

Have you tried bleeding the system yourself yet? That MAY be all it needs.
If air is trapped in the engine when filling with water when the engine heats up the air expands and pushes water out of the system.

Has the car actually lost any more water since it blew it out on the way home?

Just so you know, there is a known problem with the radiator leaking water into the gearbox via the ATF cooler. It might be worth dipping the ATF with a long flexible stick just to check for emulsion.
Having said that the problem normally manifests itself as juddering at low revs when pulling away.
If the radiator is Valeo, it's probably worth budgeting for a new one as it's a lot cheaper than a gearbox.
And the car is probably ready for an ATF change anyway.

 

[Robbo]

As an aside, I have read of quite a number of instances of gearbox contamination with coolant on W211 diesel cars, but none on petrols or C classes for that matter.

Is this problem more specific to the W211 diesels or should I be thinking of getting the radiator changed on my year 2000 C320 as a precautionary measure?

 

[Dieselman]

afaik it's yr 2003 W211 only.

 

[panason1c]

I travelled to Surrey, to a car garage in a small village to view a
Merc E220 cdi, 2003, manual saloon, classic.

Hi abc_Just so you know, there is a known problem with the radiator leaking water into the gearbox via the ATF cooler. It might be worth dipping the ATF with a long flexible stick just to check for emulsion.
Having said that the problem normally manifests itself as juddering at low revs when pulling away.
If the radiator is Valeo, it's probably worth budgeting for a new one as it's a lot cheaper than a gearbox.
And the car is probably ready for an ATF change anyway.

Just (politely) pointing out that the coolant/atf problem doesnt apply to abc as his is a manual..... ............one less problem for abc to worry about:bannana:

 

[Dieselman]

Just (politely) pointing out that the coolant/atf problem doesnt apply to abc as his is a manual..... ............one less problem for abc to worry about:bannana:

Bloody good point. I even thought of that yesterday then forgot today. Doh!!!

 

[abc_nottingham1]

Hiya all .......

got the car back yesterday at 5.30pm ..... it had been there all day !!!

the guy at HAC service centre, said we bled it, flushed out all the coolant system and topped it up with water and anti freeze.
he said he left it running for an hour and drove it for 15 minutes and said the problem is fixed.
he said there was air trapped and told me not to open the coolant lid whilst car is still hot ... as this makes air get in.

it cost me £72 .. 4.38 for antifreeze and 65.00 ish for labour....

as i thought the problem would be a lot more, i asked him several
times if it is definately 100% fixed....
he INSISTED it will be perfectly fine, and if it wasnt, then he would fix it, within the money ive paid him ......

AFTER THAT .. i drove it home .. around 5 miles, and drove it for another 2-3 miles yasterday.. and it seemed fine .. no coolant warnings in the dash ... whereas normally if you drive it .. after a mile .. it would say check coolant level .. and soon after it would start loosing water ...

GUYS, IM HAPPY ITS FIXED:bannana: .... BUT WHY DO I HAVE A STRANGE FEELING..
what do you guys reckon .... ?????????

to test if it really fixed, is there anything i should do...

e.g. take it on the motorway for around 20 -30 miles ,, or drive fast ..
any tips or advice...

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
hope to hear from you !!!!

 

[panason1c]

Looks like Dieselman's advice/diagnosis was spot on..........nice one Dieselman...

 

[prprandall51]

Modern engines have a remarkably small volume of coolant compared to engines from 10 - 15 years ago. Because of the small volume, engines overheat very rapidly if there is any fault at all in the cooling system (no more limping home with the heater on full and a stop every twenty miles to "let her cool down a bit"). You would be lucky to travel 2-3 miles before overheating - even from a cold start.

If you have driven 5 miles in the car and the temperature gauge is rock solid and in the middle then there is highly unlikely to be anything further wrong.

Philip

 

[abc_nottingham1]

Have you tried bleeding the system yourself yet? That MAY be all it needs.
If air is trapped in the engine when filling with water when the engine heats up the air expands and pushes water out of the system.

YOU ARE A GENUIS DIESAL MAN !!!!!!!

 

[abc_nottingham1]

If you have driven 5 miles in the car and the temperature gauge is rock solid and in the middle then there is highly unlikely to be anything further wrong.

Philip

I hope your right !!!!!!

 

[Dieselman]

I take it things are still going Ok then?:bannana:

As you have probably worked out a high speed run will soon show this type of problem..

Oh how I wish I'd kept my mouth shut and let you pay me to take it off your hands..

p.s. I don't need any thanks, it's what the forum is all about..helping each other.

 

[abc_nottingham1]

Hiya everyone .....

BAD NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the problem has come back to haunt me !!!!!!!!!!!

i had been driving local for 1-2 days around 20 miles in total and keeping sensible speed limits and it was driving like a dream with no signs of coolent levels bieng low.
on Wednesday i drove it to Uni around 18 miles away .. on the way there i was doing aroung 75 - 80 mph and it was fine ....
BUT on the way home, over took a car speed was 90, then i noticed heaters getting cold, whilst on hot air... and the temp going up .. and soon after .. the dash board warning sign ''coolent level low, check coolent'' .........

so i came home and parked it on the drive ..

today i drove the car locally ... all day it has had the sign saying check the coolent level ... but the temp stayed fine .. and the heaters were ok ...

IM REALLY CONFUSED !!!!!!!!!

HAVE booked it back in the garage for sat morning, they said they will further investigate !!!

 

[prprandall51]

Hi abc,

Don't worry about it, Dieselman has offered to buy the car from you (two posts up) just sell it to him and get another

EDIT: Seriously, hope you get it sorted out. Problem seems very strange....

 

[Dieselman]

It sounds like it's either leaking or losing water internally or pressurising the cooling system when under sustained high load.

 

[Dieselman]

Don't worry about it, Dieselman has offered to buy the car from you (two posts up) just sell it to him and get another

Still has to be worth the price in post no2.

 

[abc_nottingham1]

It sounds like it's either leaking or losing water internally or pressurising the cooling system when under sustained high load.

if this was the problem, would it be expensive to fix?
any idea's how much .. is it a big job ... ??
cheers

 

[kth286]

Could it not be something as simple as a faulty cap allowing coolant at pressure to leak out via the overflow ????????? Cheap.

Go to Merc dealer and give your VIN to get the proper rated replacement cap.

IF that does not work you need the garage to do a coolant system pressure test when the car is static.