Radiator popped

turnipsock · Sep 8, 2005

On my 320 radiator there is a small plastic elbow that takes a pipe to the expansion tank.

This popped out today and threw the coolant out all over the place.

I pushed it back in and there it stayed.

I'm not sure if this is damaged or what mystical force holds this in place. I would think that once the pressure built up this would pop out.

There is a rubber seal, like a square O ring, on this. Should there be something on the plastic elbow that stops it popping out? (like a clip)

mjtray · Sep 9, 2005

You can buy a new elbow from your local dealer....they cost pence, so I would get it replaced. They do just press back into place, but the question you need to ask is why it blew in the first place.....air-lock in the system, failing water pump, duff thermostatic fan, head gasket.

When it happend on my E280 it turned out to be an air lock in the system.

Good luck

paulcallender · Sep 9, 2005

Every coolant hose connection has a clip, apart from the tank overflow if fitted. If your car doesn't have clips, its missing parts.

turnipsock · Sep 9, 2005

I'll go and get a new one so that I can see if the existing one is damaged. (The old one will make a good thing to attach to a hose for flushing).

The only thing that could have caused it is that I set off a bit quicker than I normally do due to road works at Grangemouth that I was trying to clear before they became busy.

The part has a rubber seal on it, but I still can't understand why these don't blow out all the time.

I'll take a picture tomorrow and put it here. My radiator setup is different from your picture and different from my manual as well.

This picture is from the 'flushing the coolant system' section. The bit in around '1' and '2' is where my pipe that links to the expansion tank comes from. There is no pipe from the thermostat housing so there could be a possiblity that the system could easily get air locked.

Since I topped up the system, with the elbow removed, the temp seems to be a lot more stable (judged on one journey)

paulcallender · Sep 9, 2005

What's your chassis number and engine number?

tom7035 · Sep 9, 2005

And this time turnipsock make sure it is fitted with an O square ring this time and NOT a square O ring!

turnipsock · Sep 9, 2005

W1240522B958199

I'll have to check on the engine number tomorrow.

paulcallender · Sep 9, 2005

Don't worry about the engine number. The pic relates to that chassis number. I guess the pic is wrong, then.

turnipsock · Sep 9, 2005

Why does the overflow have a catch tank? There seems little point as it's not going to get back into the system.

paulcallender · Sep 9, 2005

turnipsock said:
Why does the overflow have a catch tank? There seems little point as it's not going to get back into the system.

To avoid the "I'm wetting myself" look on the side of the road, I guess.

turnipsock · Sep 10, 2005

Here are a couple of shots of how it actually looks.

paulcallender · Sep 10, 2005

The general principle holds true - every hose in the pressurised circuit, should have a clip.

turnipsock · Sep 10, 2005

The small pipe that heads of to the header tank is conected to the radiator via an elbow that seems to just push in, there doesn't seem to be anything that clicks into place, is this correct?

Another question springs to mind...why is it there? it would be simpler to have a single part. It may be there so you can fill the cooling system and then remove an air lock at that point. (It also serves as an easy way to force flush the cooling system)

The other thing that I noticed was that the big pipe that goes from the thermostat housing to the radiator went up then down which would cause an air lock, I have leveled this out now.

paulcallender · Sep 11, 2005

turnipsock said:
The small pipe that heads of to the header tank is conected to the radiator via an elbow that seems to just push in, there doesn't seem to be anything that clicks into place, is this correct?

No

turnipsock said:
Another question springs to mind...why is it there? it would be simpler to have a single part.

Because someone's economised in the past, by making up their own pipe, instead of buying the Mercedes item? I don't know why your car is non-standard, but it seems that it is. And, surprise surprise, its failed at this point.

sjc123456789 · Sep 28, 2005

I?ve had the same problem with 2 E320 coupes; both times I was on the motorway with cruise on doing a steady speed.

Did you order the part? Do you know the part number Of the elbow bit of plastic?

I?ve checked the water in the latest car and just topped it up for now. Both this and the oil seem to be ok, no cross contamination.
I took the spark plugs out at the weekend, none were ?steam cleaned? ? all were a bit black ? on the metalwork, with a thin coating of carbon /sandy on the ceramics round the centre pin.
The car is a 92k with 80,000 miles on the clock; I?ve just bought it and done about 300/400 miles. It runs really well, smooth, comfortable, quiet and powerful.
What?s the most likely cause in this case? An airlock in the system?
Apart from this the car is really mint. I bought it to replace my V220CDI, although this cost me £30k 4 years ago; it?s not in the same league as the old timer.
Any thoughts gratefully received. Thanks.

turnipsock · Sep 29, 2005

I got the part yesterday, I'll check the number and let you know.

The thing hasn't come out since I put some ptfe tape around it. I took the rubber O ring off and put the ptfe tape on, then put the O ring back on.

I have had a hose split between the heater and the block so the water is drained out at the moment.

I also have some new plugs to fit along with a new thermostat, radiator cap, oil filter and oil.

I'll be flushing the cooling system tonight, weather permitting.

paulcallender · Sep 29, 2005

You mean you don't work on your car if its dark and raining???

Richard Moakes · Sep 29, 2005

paulcallender said:
You mean you don't work on your car if its dark and raining???

Which would make it tricky, living in Scotland eh?

paulcallender · Sep 29, 2005

Exactly! You're going to miss out on at least 5 months every year, otherwise? It would also apply to people in Manchester.

turnipsock · Sep 29, 2005

You can work on the engine with the bonnet half up in the rain, as long as you remember about the grill bit that is going to hit you in the back of the head when you least suspect it.

The number on the invoice is MA 000 500 08 94 £1.75

(Actually, I was going to try for an MOT now so that i don't have to do it in December when it's due, is that allowed)

Radiator popped

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