Coolant Leak

[John A Waddelow]

Good morning all.
I replaced the oil cooler on my 1999 MB E240 Elegance Estate (165k on clock) last year after it dumped most of my engine oil into the radiator water/coolant, and been running perfectly since.

I’ve now sprung a bad coolant leak from beneath the alternator which I can’t get under to view as I’m quite physically restricted with a bad back at the moment.

I’ve removed the radiator expansion tank filler cap and can run short distances without losing much coolant but once heated up it suddenly develops into a bad leak, so assuming that’s when the ‘stat opens.

My backs too bad to consider trying to repair this myself but reluctant to put it into garage without having a good idea of what’s wrong.

I’m pretty sure it’s not a head gasket leak and suspect either water pump or possibly even a core plug(?) unless there’s a pipe beneath there that’s fractured.

Any/all ideas/suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[grahamcol]

The only encouragement l can offer right now is the fact that on that M112 v6, it's very unusual for the head gaskets to fail. Good luck with this and do post back with the outcome.

 

[Taffy7hfa]

Maybe try using a smartphone on a selfie stick to record some video of the area.

 

[joderest]

I could stand to be corrected, does the vehicle have a water cooled alternator ?
I know that some Mercedes models do, for example my 2003 W163.

Just a guess

 

[grahamcol]

I could stand to be corrected, does the vehicle have a water cooled alternator ?
I know that some Mercedes models do, for example my 2003 W163.

Just a guess

My C280, also with the M112 v6, didn't have a water cooled alternator.

 

[00slk]

Coolant leak, I think I'll brush over this one........