Goldeni245
09-15-2012, 04:16 PM
Brought my car to two different mechanics saying that they've detected a head gasket leak on my 1999 C230K.
One of them, an older fellow, Mercedes/European car specialist says that the head gasket leaks were a big problem for the inline 6 C280's, but on my C230K, he said that I should still definitely repair it once I've saved up the money, but if i didn't, all that would happen is I would have to keep replacing my coolant every couple months to keep up with the leak. He said the coolant is less likely to mix with the oil or blow like the inline 6's of the C280's and C36's. Something about the design of the 2.3 liter engine. Course he said that something really bad could happen, but it's not likely.
The other diagnosis was from a guy at Big O Tires, where I asked them to do a quick brake fluid flush. He said that I needed to replace the head gasket immediately and that a failure was imminent. It could happen anytime, my car could overheat and the engine explode. Course I also overhead this guy tell an old lady that he could replace her burnt out blinker bulb for $20. That's a hell of a profit isn't it?
The guy at Big O Tires quoted me $1000 to fix it, the old timer Euro mechanic told me it would cost $1500. I could live with the head gasket leak, it seems like it has been leaking for a while and I've been replenishing coolant every 2-3 months, but would it be catastrophic if I just left it the way it is? ie leaving me stranded?
So...who is telling more of the truth between these two mechanics?
Haven't posted here or contributed in a long time so thanks in advance for reading. Very much appreciated :)
One of them, an older fellow, Mercedes/European car specialist says that the head gasket leaks were a big problem for the inline 6 C280's, but on my C230K, he said that I should still definitely repair it once I've saved up the money, but if i didn't, all that would happen is I would have to keep replacing my coolant every couple months to keep up with the leak. He said the coolant is less likely to mix with the oil or blow like the inline 6's of the C280's and C36's. Something about the design of the 2.3 liter engine. Course he said that something really bad could happen, but it's not likely.
The other diagnosis was from a guy at Big O Tires, where I asked them to do a quick brake fluid flush. He said that I needed to replace the head gasket immediately and that a failure was imminent. It could happen anytime, my car could overheat and the engine explode. Course I also overhead this guy tell an old lady that he could replace her burnt out blinker bulb for $20. That's a hell of a profit isn't it?
The guy at Big O Tires quoted me $1000 to fix it, the old timer Euro mechanic told me it would cost $1500. I could live with the head gasket leak, it seems like it has been leaking for a while and I've been replenishing coolant every 2-3 months, but would it be catastrophic if I just left it the way it is? ie leaving me stranded?
So...who is telling more of the truth between these two mechanics?
Haven't posted here or contributed in a long time so thanks in advance for reading. Very much appreciated :)