diesel W463 PARTS REQUEST

Hello Terrance,

Depending upon how much oil is in the radiator or coolant system.  Firstly, it could be oil in the system from the previous ownership, which, in this case, is your Mother.  Has she had, any work done on the Head gasket?  If so, the oil can be reminiscent of a poor clean up from that job.
 
Initially, I would say it could be the Head gasket, allowing an oil breach from the block, into the cooling system.  It is not necessary that, the cooling system would become pressurized if a leak were to occur from a compression leak.

You are absolutely right, in saying the radiator houses an engine and gearbox oil coolers; these could breach oil which enters the cooling system but from the probability of my experience, I have not experienced such cases from the Mercedes radiators.  Since, this can not be theoretically ruled out; my suggestion for your course of action should be, to have the cooling system thoroughly flushed out with cleaning agents and the whole system cleaned out.  Upon replenishing the coolant system at this stage do not, add any antifreeze, use just water.  Have the gearbox and engine oils checked, replenished as necessary and take a note on the dip stick of the levels.

Driving your vehicle, check the coolant when the engine is cold, also engine and gear box levels on a daily basis - note for any oil contamination in the system; should you find fresh oil in the system, the next, least expensive action to take is to remove the radiator and have that pressure tested and flow tested by a radiator specialist, who can check and confirm for any breach in either oil coolers.  Oil coolers are not available for repairing of radiators, you would have to renew the radiator; details of suppliers can be given to you when required.  If oil leaks into the coolant system, there would be equivalent oil diminishing on the dip stick.

If the radiator checks out, then the only place, the oil can come from, would be the head gasket. 

If, your local garage is technically advanced or equipped, they could use oil dyes to trace the oil leak but this test would only determine whether the oil is engine oil or gearbox oil, it could not source the leak to the oil cooler.  Further more, the test would have to be individually done by adding dye to either the engine oil or gearbox oil, the dyes could not be added to both the oils as it can not be determined which dye is from what oil testing under the UV light source.

The fuel tank strap is a dealer part only, other wise you can get the local iron monoger to fabricate one, it is not difficult.

The exhaust will need renewing, the internal baffles has broken or corroded free, alternatively just have a straight through pipe fitted, the engine will be a touch throatier.

Mercedes of the Inchcape group do on line order that can be posted out to you.

Cheers,