190E Coolant loss after head gasket change

[ismai25]

Hi

I have just had a head gasket replaced om my 190e manual 1994 ad have noticed after driving more than approx 25 miles and an hour after parking up, water dripping from a U shaped pipe next to the radiator.

It can't be AC unit as i have'nt got it, is it a raditor leak or could it just be condensaton? after spending over £700 on the head gasket i am getting increasingly fed up!! if the radiator has gone, how much will that cost to replace??

 

[paulcallender]

Is the U-shaped pipe, a black flexible one?

Since the head gasket has just been changed, I'm suspecting that they have not completely tightened all the coolant hoses, hence there is a leak which runs down the hose by capillary effect and drips. Of course, its also possible that the ordeal of removing, then fitting, some coolant hoses has split them. Either scenario shouldn't cost too much to fix...

I couldn't give an accurate price on the radiator, since my experience lies with the W124 and W114 models...

 

[ismai25]

thanks for the reply paul, no the hoses seem fine this U shaped pipe sits below the front left head lamp and feels wet when touched. i am a bit mystified at the mo. probably best i look at it in the morning when it will be easier to identify

 

[paulcallender]

What colour and material is this U shaped pipe? What's it connected to at either end? Its also interesting that you report that you still have oil in the coolant (in another thread). Perhaps the garage who did the job, didn't tighten all the hoses and also didn't flush out the cooling system as thoroughly as possible.

Are you looking to finish the job off yourself (ie it was a low cost job done initially), or to try knock something off the bill, or to go back to them and get them to finish it?

Water dripping from cooling system + oil in coolant, sounds like incomplete job by garage.

 

[squealinneil]

Different engine sizes have different rads, automatics have different rads from manuals. I just replaced a 2.6 auto rad - £150 + VAT for an O.E. part bought through an independant. MB wanted £295 + VAT. 2.0s and 1.8s are easier to source and cheaper,

If I'd just spent £700 on replacing the head gasket I'd be talking to the place that did that work to see how this is related.