I have an unusual question about heated car engines?

Question

Hi, I have a 1987 190E Mercedes-Benz (petrol engine) and today the engine heat was very high and I saw the low water level light go on but I didn't really care for it.

I first noticed the HUGE heat (110) when I got stuck in a SLOW traffic jam for about 45mins and cars were moving like 2 meters every 3 mins!!!, and it was noon and the sun was really strong.

so when I finally reached my house I opened the hood to see if one of the cooling system pipes was loose but I discover that the water tank cover wasn't in place (it was next to the battery) I then remembered that two days ago I added coolant and didn't put the cover back on the water tank.

Which means that I kept using the car for two days while the cover was off and coolant must've kept boiling outside the tank, eventually leading all the coolant to leak out.

And my question is: is it true that if a car's engine was exposed to such heat for a long time needs new engine oil? although I only did a 1000miles with the new oil

I should mention that after like two hours since I got home and waited for the engine to cool down, the oil dashboard light went on for the first time. I then turned the engine off and left it for 5 hours, after that I checked the oil level and it was BLACK as space!!! but wasn't low, and after the 5 hours break the low oil light went off. Did the oil turn black from the heat? I mean I only did a 1000mils.

Should I change the engine oil? if yes which brand?

Thanks in advance.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Yes, change the oil and hope your head-gasket hasn't died.  These old engines drink a little more oil than modern ones, but a 190E should see 300,000 miles on the original engine, if it is looked after.  
    Change the oil AND the filter, they are cheap enough.  Supermarket 20W50 oil is fine for a 190E, I have owned four over a ten year period and they all ran sweetly on it.  Keep those changes of oil and filter going, every 6,000 miles maximum.  
    Refill your coolant not just with water, but water and proper Antifreeze-Coolant.  ALWAYS replace your coolant and oil caps, and keep a check on both over the next month in particular.  Mercs tend to be SO reliable, that some owners don't actually do these checks.

Anonymous · Answer

Hopefully you have got away with it. Black oil early on tends to indicate poor changing technique. Or if a garage (shop) did it they took your money without changing the oil. I always change my own oil and filter before the recommended time/mileage. You should drain the oil when the engine is hot and let if drain for a few hours. this gets rid of the most impurities. A garage will not bother to wait and the new oil is quickly contaminated with the old residue. Also use fully synthetic oil as this is the best there is. Oil is cheap, engines are not. Wal-Mart should sell it at much less than Mobil.

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I have an unusual question about heated car engines?

2 Answers