My 96 C220 is leaking oil into the cooling system. Car runs 80-90 degrees c. The coolant looks like chocolate milk. Local import garage wants $2000 (labor, machine shop, parts) or $2500 if the timing chain and guides also have to be replaced. My questions - what kind of long term damage am I doing to this motor (107K miles) by driving it now, and would you spend the money?

Thanks

Pete in Nashville.

 

If you have choclate milk mix you are clogging up the cooling system, and adding some oil to the water which reduces the oilingand eventually you will overheat the block, which will lead to engine failure and big $$$$$

 

Fix it now and do as he says. The parts are worth about $500. And the labour is tedeous and requires a good tool collection. Get the pro do fix it quick and stop driving her before she grenades on you man.

 

head gasket is pretty easy 2 change. stop driving it and do it this weekend.

 

oh i forgot worse case ur head is cracked. if so BIG$$$$$$$$

 

Shouldn't cost that much to do a head gasket on that car, there's no PITA s/c plumbing to remove. Should be an 8 hour job. You can go to alldatadiy.com and get the instructions with pictures and do it yourselfor find a good independent to do it for $1,000. The hardest thing is doing it in Nashville with all that country music playing, just wear ear plugs. Get a valve job kit for all the gaskets you'll need, cheaper than buying all the individual gaskets.

Here's pictures of my kid's SLK230 to inspire you, same motor except for Kompressor







See all the extra Kompressor crap -



BTW, driving it at all now is just foolish, if the car runs low on oil you'll spin a bearing, if it overheats you'll warp the heads. But if you are just in that mood to push your luck, and I can understand it, dont' agree, but I've seen people do it, go to getparts.us, they'll have links to salvage yards with replacement engines for your car.

 

Do not drive the car another mile.
And be sure you have a lot of equity left in your home equity line of credit.
You're going to need it.

PS>not a job for the faint of heart or inexperienced tinkerer. My opinion only.