Can any one help

[1999s320long]

I have just bought a s320 5 speed auto, Now it has done 189000 miles, any way i looked in the radiator cap, and there water is conatminated with oil, I changed the coolant, just by draining one of the pipes, and adding more. i have no overheating, or smoke, or etc........ but the xoolant box has oil covered on inside walls, could this mean that my head gasket has been replace or needs replacing.

 

[Vangogh]

Hi
It sounds like a head gasket problem to me.
Vangogh

 

[paulcallender]

Do you mean that if you drain and then add more coolant, the coolant that you add, is miximg with something and then appears oily - even without running the engine?

Yep, sounds like head gasket (sounds like you got it bad!) - then you'll also need to flush the cooling system too.

Does yoor oil filler cap have a white froth build up (indicating water in the oil)?

 

[marshie001]

did you not get any history with the car?

it doesn't sound good,you seem to know already that its a possible head gasket,do you have contamination in the oil aswell or is it just the coolant thats contaminated? try to flush the deposits right out and see if it happens again,you never know the previous owner may have done something really stupid and put oil in the wrong filler cap :-?
highly unlikely but there are some really stupid people about!

 

[paulcallender]

Yeah, it could mean the head gasket has been replaced, but that they didn't flush/clean the cooling system. There are a bunch of chemical products that can help here - for example http://www.motortraders.co.uk/car_Radiator_Care_Repair.shtml