Ok ok, I know I am asking way too many questions today but I noticed that the coolant is really dark. The car passed smog yesterday but I'm still worried. On my 93 Mercedes 190E 2.6 this meant the head gasket was bad. Could it be that the coolant is old?

 

is the car overheating if it isnt broke dont fix it

 

It runs perfect, no smoke, no overheating no nothing. The reason I'm nervous is because I bought this car yesterday and it looked like it was very well taken care of. That, and it passed smog.

 

Go get a sample of your coolant tested for hydrocarbons. I just went through the same thing. Also open up your oil fill cap and see if there is any evidence of water (white foam).

 

you might need to just flush it and put new coolent in...

 

Assuming everything else checks out OK, that would be my advice, as well. I know it's supposed to be "lifetime" [whose?], but I just changed mine at the 4-year mark.

 

Eh coolant is not lifetime John, that would be tranny fluid. coolant is changed at the 60k service. Oil in the coolant is NEVER a normal condition! It is a dangerous condition!