How good is MB anti freeze?? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

fj bertrand · #1 10-31-2004, 10:32 PM

Closest MB dealer is about 100 miles away so I usually do not too many dealer forays.

I will be in the neighborhood of a mb dealer this week and I want to change the anti freeze in my 350sdl. How good is the MB anti freeze vs Zerex GO 5?

Are they the same as I have heard? thanks to all

#2 10-31-2004, 10:43 PM

our shop uses and recommends only original coolant, you will need to flush it well with alot of water to remove all of the other coolant, it can take some time especially the green stuff

#3 10-31-2004, 10:50 PM

I think the new Prestone might be some good stuff, I know they have reformulated it so it is compatible in all engines...

mplafleur · #4 10-31-2004, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fj bertrand

Closest MB dealer is about 100 miles away so I usually do not too many dealer forays.

I will be in the neighborhood of a mb dealer this week and I want to change the anti freeze in my 350sdl. How good is the MB anti freeze vs Zerex GO 5?

Are they the same as I have heard? thanks to all

Yes, it is the same stuff, made by the same company. For 1/3 the price.

#5 11-01-2004, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mplafleur

Yes, it is the same stuff, made by the same company. For 1/3 the price.

not that i am doubting you, do you have anything that can show me they are the same? iwould like to know for sure. save money for my shop and customers.
ray
mercedessd@cox.net

#6 11-01-2004, 06:32 AM

I was told that the Zerex G-05 was the only coolant that crossed with the MB coolant, just of late the local parts place where I sourced my coolant, is dropping the Zerex G-05 to be replaced by the cheaper "reformulated" Prestone. I know the Zerex G-05 lists the Mercedes specs that it meets on the bottle, but I did not bother to read the new Prestone bottle, though I did notice it is the new *Prestone coolant appeared to be the same color as the MB and Zerex coolant........

*edit

tjohn · #7 11-01-2004, 07:15 AM

I had confirmed this too, but can't for the life of me find where. The Zerex/Valvoline website does claim approval by Daimler/Chrysler for G-05, and the article I read did state, as was mentioned here, that both are manufactured by the same company. However, it wasn't my experience that there was a huge price difference. I pay around $11/gallon for Mercedes compared to $9 for Zerex. I'll still save the 2 bucks of course....

mplafleur · #8 11-01-2004, 08:51 AM

I thought I read it in the company literature somewhere.

It does have MB approval.

I paid ~$6 a gallon at Autozone once, so I bought 6 gallons. I htought the dealer stuff was $17. Just what I'd read somewhere. I'd never pay that much.

Kestas · #9 11-01-2004, 04:23 PM

Here's the manufacturer's info on Zerex G 05.
It also links to the MSDS sheet. I once compared the MSDS sheets between dealer antifreeze and Zerex G 05. Though they weren't EXACTLY the same, the differences were quite minor - enough to make the two virtually interchangeable.

Around here, MB fluid is $11... Zerex G 05 is $8-9 at our local Murray's auto.

Hatterasguy · #10 11-01-2004, 04:46 PM

Last time I checked Fastlane will ship you a gallon of the OE stuff for $9.

phantoms · #11 11-01-2004, 11:48 PM

This is a quote from the FAQ located at http://www.valvoline.com/pages/products/product_detail.asp?product=10

Quote:

What vehicles use Zerex G-05 in the factory fill and what is the dye color?
1984 Mercedes and beyond (light yellow)
1990 Deere and Company vehicles and beyond (green)
2001 Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep and beyond (orange)
2002 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury trucks and SUVS and beyond (yellow)
2003 Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury automobiles and beyond (yellow)

What is the difference between these products?
All products use the Zerex G-05 formulation. The only difference is the dye color.

There's much more to read, but that basically says it's the actual MB coolant.

BTW, do not buy the "Ready-to-use" version as it is premixed with water. Pre-mixed antifreeze is a big rip-off as you are essentually paying the same price for half as much antifreeze with water already added. Buy the G-05 Antifreeze/Coolant (Gold container), not the "G-05 Ready-to-Use Antifreeze/Coolant" (Black Container).

Kestas · #12 11-02-2004, 07:59 AM

I checked today and FastLane sells the antifreeze for $12.43.

Hatterasguy · #13 11-02-2004, 11:47 AM

Wow the price went up! But I will still only use the oe stuff.

odie · #14 11-02-2004, 12:38 PM

a little anti freeze trivia for you...

y'all remember about way back about 10-15 years ago

Green anti freeze was $3.99/gal everywhere. Wal-mart, Autozone, K-mart. Every place had just about the same exact price. All of a sudden it was priced $7.99 everywhere

Everybody doubled their price overnight

Ya know why?????

At the time there were only TWO chemical plants in the entire US making anti freeze for the entire North American market and for all the many "brands"

One plant had a devestating fire and total US production was cut in half instantly. Perfect supply and demand senario. Demand for other chemicals is unchanged so other plants can't pick up 50% of slack

AF prices stayed at $8/gal for a long time and only in recent years has the price started coming down towards the $4 mark. Not there yet but I've noticed going that way over the years

Other chemical plants have surely picked up most of the slack, but the consumer is already conditioned to high AF prices now

Moral of the story...MB antifreeze is the same stuff as what you find in the generic jug. Buy the correct TYPE, not "correct" BRAND

Hatterasguy · #15 11-02-2004, 06:15 PM

Actually MB antifreeze wasn't availible in the US until Zerex came out with it. MB antifreeze is very different then the green stuff. Do a search we had a very good thread a few months back in the tec forum on this.