Very, VERY bad! From your comment: "They thought they were filling the radiator, and filled it to the top"???? Did they fill the VALVE COVER with water though the oil fill cap???? And who the hell were these idiots?
If I understand the situation correctly from your vague and amateurish description (and you're not just trolling us) -- the engine is likely destroyed. Water would sink, displace the oil, get sucked up through the oil pump, and get pumped through the bearings and rings. Water does not lubricate or cool as well as oil. Even at idle for five minutes would be a disaster. If it churned into a milky foam as you say in another comment, the pressure was low too. Still, Mercedes engines are very durable, and if it was only "five miles" as you claim, you MAY have dodged a bullet.
Personally I'd make those idiots buy me a new engine. There IS permanent damage -guaranteed! - even if "they" get it running again.
Not too bad. Oil temperature runs about 250 degrees so any water in the oil would quickly boil off.
Very bad, get an engine oil flush asap and tow it to a shop. The water in the oil will ruin your engine quickly. Don't ever work on your own car again.
Take it back to whoever done the work and make them change the oil. It will just mix with it and make it milky which will reduce its lubricating abilities.
yes never allow water into oil thats bad .drop oil and change it. how did that happen thats almost impossible to do and for what reason know one would ever know .why .
Howard L is right that small amount of water will boil off if you take a half hour drive. The vapors will be pulled out by the PVC valve and put through the intake system where it will be turned to steam and out the exhaust, hurting nothing in the process. You will need to check the oil and refill as needed.
How could something like this happen? Someone would have to pour the water into the filter before installing it on the car.
BAd.
1992 Mercedes 190E
