Oil in my coolant

[JackCLK280]

Hi, I'm hoping someone can help.

I have a clk55 on a 54 plate (July 2004). I regularly check my fluids - when I do the weekly wash. Last week I noticed some oil in my coolant.
I dipped a rag in to get it out and it came back.

My car doesn't overheat. It has white smoke on start up but only if its cold - no different to how its always been- and drives perfectly well and is never driven too hard. She lives an easy life.

A garage said the radiator could need doing but I thought as a mid 2004 I'd be clear of a valeo radiator? And with the newer ones I cant see how the oil could mix with coolant?

Really hoping he's right and it's not the head gasket.

Could it be the oil cooler? How would I know?

 

[bembo449]

Could well be the oil cooler breaking down , i wouldn't leave it like that id investigate or get it looked at asap

 

[Tony Dyson]

I would be as equally concerned about the possibility of coolant leaking into the oil?

 

[JackCLK280]

Could well be the oil cooler breaking down , i wouldn't leave it like that id investigate or get it looked at asap

Could that get into the coolant? Sorry I'm not mechanically minded. So when a garage starts throwing words at me I want to be able to have some understanding of him .

 

[JackCLK280]

I would be as equally concerned about the possibility of coolant leaking into the oil?

It doesn't seem to be losing much (if any) water.

 

[Tony Dyson]

It doesn't seem to be losing much (if any) water.

It wouldn't take much coolant to damage a gearbox either, there was a post on here not long ago from an owner who had to replace, if I recall correctly two gearboxes due to poor diagnosis of a similar problem, I'll look for the thread if I have time later today but it's something that needs to be taken seriously and very quickly!

 

[Tony Dyson]

Gearbox flooding

Hi everyone. Can anyone offer a solution to this problem please Just over a year ago I had to have a new gearbox for my SLK 1997 Then in March of this year same thing happened and I was asked if I had had my radiator replaced. No...I had not. Why? Because the gearbox was flooded. Second new...

forums.mercedesclub.org.uk

This was the thread I mentioned earlier FYIP

 

[star]

All rads can corrode internally.

 

[bembo449]

Could that get into the coolant? Sorry I'm not mechanically minded. So when a garage starts throwing words at me I want to be able to have some understanding of him .

You need to have all the external cooler rads checked , so gearbox and oil cooler itself for any leaks pal , they are cooled by the cars cooolant system

 

[Flyinspanner]

Get it to a good MB indie - you have a few nearish to you.
Someone will recommend someone close to Chichester.

Maybe call them and ask if it’s ok to drive it to them?
May be more prudent to get it recovered to avoid further issues.

it will be the Rad & Oil cooler, your gearbox may want a flush & refill of transmission fluid.

 

[JackCLK280]

Get it to a good MB indie - you have a few nearish to you.
Someone will recommend someone close to Chichester.

Maybe call them and ask if it’s ok to drive it to them?
May be more prudent to get it recovered to avoid further issues.

it will be the Rad & Oil cooler, your gearbox may want a flush & refill of transmission fluid.

Great thank you. I'll just get the rad and cooler changed out I think.
Gearbox has just had a service. I'm pretty sure it was them who caused it.
Not mentioning any names...

 

[AMGeed]

Get it to a good MB indie - you have a few nearish to you.
Someone will recommend someone close to Chichester.

Maybe call them and ask if it’s ok to drive it to them?

My recommendation would be Olly at PCS in Horndean up the A3. Not too far from Chichester.

https://www.prestigecarservice.co.uk/

 

[LostKiwi]

I fail to see how an indie could cause it. It's a weakness from corrosion in most cases.

 

[joderest]

If you cannot see a separate oil cooler in front of the radiator, then it is internal to the radiator

 

[JackCLK280]

I fail to see how an indie could cause it. It's a weakness from corrosion in most cases.

They didn't fit the oil filter properly so it was sucking air and creating drive. They then tested it for 5 miles... and tried to tell me my torque converter was gone. It was only when I demanded they redo the work they discovered it was them not the car.

 

[JackCLK280]

If you cannot see a separate oil cooler in front of the radiator, then it is internal to the radiator

Thank you. Sorry but how would I know? Sorry I'm useless at these things.

 

[JackCLK280]

If you cannot see a separate oil cooler in front of the radiator, then it is internal to the radiator

And what would they mean?

 

[LostKiwi]

They didn't fit the oil filter properly so it was sucking air and creating drive. They then tested it for 5 miles... and tried to tell me my torque converter was gone. It was only when I demanded they redo the work they discovered it was them not the car.

Still won't cause coolant and oil to mix.

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi
M113 V8 has an Engine Oil Cooler fitted by the Oil Filter housing, and is plumbed into the coolant system, it has several O rings between the cooler and the filter housing which are known to harden and flatten over time and constant heat cycling which can cause oil/coolant contamination.
A lot cheaper than a radiator replacement.