[rca918]

Hi,

2 weeks ago my 1995 C220 Coolant Indiactor came ON, I check the plastic coolant tank (the level) is low. I waited for the engine to cool after a few hrs, then I top up with water. 4 days ago, the indicator cam ON again. I decided to check the base of the engine, where there is the plastic base, I notice slight liquid with green colour coolant. I think this confirms a small leak somewhere.

I notice the leak may not be from the radiator but below the engine. You notice on the photo I have remove the fan blade to get a better view of where the leak is. It look like from the hose connected below the engine. Can any one pls help me to diagnose.


Kind Regard

 

[Sergio]

It could be the transmission cooling line (rubber hose with a metal spring around it).
Also check the water pump area.


Sergio

 

[rca918]

Thanks Sergio

Is the hose in the picture with the metal spring, is that the transmission cooling line you referring to here. Some 1 mention that hose with metal spring in the previous pic is the Auto Transmission Line but he mention its fluid is red colour. He said that would not be where the leak is from.

I'll post a few more pic here of the water pump, left & right side of the Radiator. Please advice.

Also from beneath the car, am I able to open the plastic base to gain a better view. I will squeeze down to open it. Do I need special tool or technique to open.

I dont see there is a leak from the water pump but I'll try to wrap tissue around it to see if its wet. From seeing the radiator, it dont look like a leak from there? It look kinda dry,but again its hot there & the water trail may have dried out & leaving no traces??

Kind Regards

 

[Sergio]

The transmission cooling line connects to the radiator so look under the radiator and you'll see a rubber hose with a metal coil around it. Make sure it's not leaking there.
Why is your antifreeze green? I hope you did not use Prestone antifreeze (are you in the US?) as the only antifreeze you should be using is either the MB antifreeze or Zerex G-05 (both amber in color). Prestone will not prevent damage to the radiator.

Sergio
'95 E320 168K miles

 

[rca918]

Sergio


I have taken a pic of the transmission cooling line connecting to the radiator which is a rubber hose with a metal coil around it. I have wipe tissue aroung it but its dry.
I notice the rubber hose beneath this, 10 times its size, its bottom slightly wet. I have wipe dry this & tighten the hose. I also wipe dry the leaking trail on the plastic base and then top up 200ml of water. I hope this being the cause, as you can see the pic leak trail 2 lines originate beneath this hose area. I'm still not certain. I try to move the Readiator slightly to gain a better view but something is holding it. Is there a bolt/nut I need to remove?


My Coolant is green, I am in Australia & its a combination of anti corrosion, antifreeze & half part water. I check MB & service stations , they are all green colour.

If its Radiator itself, is it worth reconditioning it or buying new as being the saver bet? Is removing the hoses from the Radiator result in all the coolant fluid & other fluid draining out? How to avert this?

Kind Regards

 

[Sergio]

Is the drain valve to empty the radiator on the same side as to where the transmission cooling hose connects? (Right side of the vehicle). Check to make sure it's not the source of the leak.
To remove the radiator you MUST disconnect all hoses/lines connected to it. There's a metal pipe that connects to the upper part of the radiator and you DON'T want to bend it.
Remove the lower plastic panel and get under the car. You will have a much better view of where that leak is coming from. If you suspect a hose, replace it (cheap). If it is the radiator, I would replace it. In the US you can buy for about U$200 and since it lasted 11 years, that's not a bad deal. I would NOT try to repair the radiator.
If you are going to replace any hoses or disconnect anything, first drain the radiator using the drain valve I previously mentioned. It is a fairly simple procedure. The coolant should be replaced every 3 years. If you do this, after you drain the radiator get under the car and below, on the engine block you will find an aluminium nut. Open it and this will drain the remaining coolant that is inside the engine block.

Good luck,

Sergio

 

[rca918]

Thanks Sergio

Where can I see, where the radiator drain valve is? It seem to be quite wet there. Whereas the hoses fees dry. Is that drain value facing down?

After I drain the coolant, how much coolant do I need to replace? I hear some say I need to flush? How do I do this?


Kind Regards

 

[rca918]

Sergio

I manage to look again beneath left & right bottom corner. The leak is on right side (looking from driver seat). This pic I take is on the left side, is this the drain valve with a round red adjustment beneath it?

Kind Regards

 

[n0alpha]

Yep, that's the drain valve. Looks like you've found the leak.

 

[rca918]

n0alpha Thanks

Does this drain from the opening tube above it or its drain directly from that RED cap? But the wet/leak trail is on the opposite side of the Radiator? Could it be that it flows under the base of the Radiator to the opposite side. Making a false impression that its leaking from the opposite side?


Kind Regards

 

[jporrata]

Leak help

I just found a small leak just bellow the top hose. Is this a weakness and is my car due to a new radiator? I will continue to monitor, but I forsee epoxy in this future.

I took the liberty to use an image from above since its dark out right now.

 

[jporrata]

Same leak better image

Bump

 

[n0alpha]

It's not very common on these cars to need a new radiator. Instead, usually problems occur in the hoses and fittings that they connect to, but even that isn't all that common.

For jporatta, I did have a leak in the hose above your leak on my old car, and replacing the hose fixed the problem.

 

[Mercedes Benz of Florida]

Sergio

I manage to look again beneath left & right bottom corner. The leak is on right side (looking from driver seat). This pic I take is on the left side, is this the drain valve with a round red adjustment beneath it?

Kind Regards

SERGIO; What would we do without you? Your awesome!

I also notice a fair amount of rust on the Radiator. It was bound to have failed.
Now if this was MY car, I would Install Radiator/Engine Cleaner, run it through for 20 minutes or so and then replace ALL the Hoses, Belts, Radiator, Thermostat.

From the looks of the Radiator, Hoses its bound to fail either immediately or soon. The Radiator/Engine cleaner I use to flush out all contaminants and free
up those tiny Water Jacket passages.

Just my two cents.

PS: I might even replace the Water Pump just for extra measure and personal comfort.

 

[jporrata]

Better view

I was able to take as closer look and I saw the leak coming from the hose going onto the radiator fitting. I tried to tighten it up with no possitive results. I also cut out a small piece to see if it would couple up better and it still leaked. Could it be the fitting beening cracked or the hose is just bad? The hose clams are also not all that strong, I also do want to overtighten and break the fitting. I think ill just get a new hose and clamp and see it it works out.

 

[jporrata]

Bump

I replaced the hose and it still leaked. I still think, its the plastic being cracked around the fitting where the hose goes on, anyone cares to give me any help on this issue?:surrender: How hard is it to take out the radiator to really give it a good inspection and maybe fix it with MarineTex if it is cracked?

 

[n0alpha]

If the radiator is bad, replace it. Don't try to fix it, because you're just putting off the inevitable that it's going to fail in another more serious way while you're driving down the freeway in the middle of the hot summer.

 

[Banhoff]

I replaced the hose and it still leaked. I still think, its the plastic being cracked around the fitting where the hose goes on, anyone cares to give me any help on this issue?:surrender: How hard is it to take out the radiator to really give it a good inspection and maybe fix it with MarineTex if it is cracked?

Read this link completely:
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w202-c-class/1313128-coolant-color.html

 

[jporrata]

New radiator!

My old one had a hairline crack right on the top hose connection. I was able to get a replacement installed for $275.00. You are right about taken care i\of it in time, things like that happen on a busy work week in the middle of traffic and your late to be somewhere, and the cell phone is dead, etc etc. One less issue to worry about.

 

[OzC36]

From the photos, it seems to me that either your drain cock or more likely your radiator is stuffed.

Get a diagnosis and quote from your nearest radiator specialist, and you'll know where to go from there.