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Merc 300TE 1988 - head gasket gone?

I've got a 1988 300TE 12 valve auto (UK model) and whenever the revs go over

4,000 (yes, I know - I drive it on Sport mode everywhere) I get a puff of smoke.

Also, oil's being used up and there's a creamy deposit in the coolant reservoir.

Could the head gasket be gone? If so, is it serious? What sort of cost is involved?

Thanks

David

Reply to
David Lane
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Possibly the head gasket, possibly the oil seals.

It doesn't sound too serious now, so drive a bit more and see what happens. If nothing much changes, it's probably the oil seals. If the deposit in the water gets worse, the car starts overheating and the water bubbles while the engine runs, it's your head gasket.

To change the head gasket and oil seals (if you do one, it's worth doing the other), it will be a day's work and parts will cost maybe £50 (a rough guess for a gasket, bolts, and seals) plus maybe £20 to get the head skimmed.

Btw scrap yards are littered with 1988 cars that have been driven regularly at over 4000 rpm.

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Reply to
DP

Thanks - I'll look into it.

David

Reply to
David Lane

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