oil in coolant expansion tank

[n/a]

It appears I have a (very!) small amount of oil in my expansion tank.

I just bought this vehicle, 66 230sl, and have only driven it from the previous owner to my house, (about 15 miles with no indication of overheating or loss in oil pressure).

This is the first time this vehicle has been driven for that distance in the last two years so I think it is possible that the oil could have been loosened up from a previous problem. The previous owners daughter did not know of any problems relating to head gaskets or otherwise.

I have checked all the usual suspect indicators.
Spark plugs: normal
Compression: 140 psi all way across

I checked the torque on all the head bolts.

At this point I am thinking I should flush the radiator with some MB citrus flush mentioned in other threads then refill and watch carefully for the next 50 or so miles.

Can anyone tell me if this sounds reasonable or what else I should be checking?

Also, how hard is it to change the head gasket?

[hauser]

Is this the same 230sl that had been sitting for twelve years?

1969 280sl 5 spd        1999 ML320          Gainesville,Fl.

[n/a]

Yes, this is the same vehicle that sat for twelve years at least this is what I was told at that time. After digging a little more through reciepts that came with the car I found that the vehicle had been sitting for twelve years until about two years ago when the daughter started driving it. At that time they took the car to the local MB dealer and spent about $10,000 dollars on it to make it road ready.

The correct information would be that the vehicle has been driven only 3200 miles since 1982 much of those miles seem to be in the last two years however the vehicle was mostly sitting the last twelve months.

[rwmastel]

I would follow your instincts and back flush the coolant system.  Come to think of it, replace all your fluids.

coolant
engine oil
transmission fluid
power steering fluid
rear axle oil
brake fluid
others?

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both  tops
1994 E420