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Question for those in the north....
My mechanic says I might not need or benefit from a new thermostat. Symptoms-- outside temps in the 60's, car will not heat the engine for more than 60 degrees tops....therefore the heater doesn't get hot enough to be of any use. He says it might not be a stuck open thermostat, and that replacement might not help. And that I might have to put cardboard or some such in front of the radiator daily (and adjust it as far as temps go on the temp guage while driving). Any of you guys in the northern areas have anything to say on this? First day off I shall replace the stat anyways, but if he is right, any other solution?
Regards Run-em |
#2
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I don't think there were any MB models that required cardboard blocking the radiator to get the motor up to temps in 60 degree weather.
What model are we talking about? There are thermostats that are not just open close valves but traffic controllers of sort.
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82 300D....went to MB heaven 90 350 SDL....excercising con rods |
#3
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Quote:
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1983 300-D turbo 1985 300-D turbo 1959 Harley Panhead chopper 1929 Ford coupe restored I hang out with Boneheaddoctor at Schuman Automotive OBK#5 All liberals are mattoids but not all mattoids are liberal. |
#4
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It probably IS a stuck open thermostat, which is the way it is supposed to fail. Replacing your failed thermostat will increase the heat from your heater, and make your engine run at the proper temperature too. Make sure you have the rubber seal around the t-stat. The old one can be as hard as a brick.
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'82 300SD - 361K mi - "Blue" "Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement." listen, look, .........and duck. |
#5
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I also don't understand why your tech would tell you what (s)he said.
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Steve '87 300TD - 132K - Soon 4-Sale '84 300D Turbo - 122K - Driving '77 VW Type II - 77K - Restored '08 250EX Ninja English Bulldog (Brier) - My best friend. Passed away 12/02/04 while in my arms. |
#6
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Hmmm, that is unusual, a mechanic that doesn't want to just throw parts in a car and see if it works. Is he just lazy, or aren't you paying him? I live in Wisconsin with 80 below wind chills and have never used the cardboard technique. Although, hopefully this will be the first winter with my diesel benz, if I can get it running.
Just replace the $3 part and troubleshoot from their. Glenn |
#7
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Yes, find a new mechanic
The fact that the car does not warm up and the heater doesn't produce heat is usually a sign that either the thermostat is stuck open or has been removed. If it has been removed it could have been either because it was faulty and the PO took it out because he was too lazy to buy a new one or there was some other problem like overheating and removing it was a "free repair". Either way, you won't know until you at least try to fix it right by replacing the thermostat first and see what happens. As others have said here, there is no reason to use cardboard on a Mercedes.
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Marty D. 2013 C300 4Matic 1984 BMW 733i 2013 Lincoln MKz |
#8
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Tell your mechanic.....
Mercedes are manufactured in Germany and from what others tell me, it gets pretty frosty there in the winter.
(He may be using what he has seen from Ford-Chevy-Dodge diesels, where the cooling system is set up for towing large loads. They need the cardboard.) In fact, my MB puts out heat faster than any other vehicle I've ever owned. As others have recommended, changing of the thermostat should resolve this.
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Sam 84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle ) |
#9
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Yeah, new 'stat.
The cardboard technique is not for an engine that does not ever get up to temp. Cardvoard is called for more when you are going down the highway in winter and watch the temp needle slowly crawl up a bit above the normal operating temp, then swing down below operating temp as the thermostat opens. The inrush of frigid water from the radiator makes the 'stat slam shut and the temp again starts crawling upwards. This will repeat constantly, and over a wide temp range depending on ambient temperature. I have thought about putting something over my oil cooler though. Since the oil doesn't have a thermostat, I don't know if the oil really gets up to temp in the colder weather now.
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1971 220D/4-speed ~250K mi. Family owned (dads side) through three generations since <5K miles. 1992 Chrysler LeBaron, 3.0V6 125K. Family owned (moms side) through three generations since new. 1977 Chevy Camaro Continual hotrod project 1970 Cadillac Sedan DeVille 472ci and nearly 19' long 1974 Fiat Spider Still needs work |
#10
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not stuck open
from my experience, when your thermostat is stuck open, your engine gets warmer. All of your coolant is constantly running through the block, not having a chance to cool away from the block. My car was running extremely hot. I pulled the thermostat and it was stuck open. I changed it and everything went back to normal. your thermostat needs to open and close to allow the coolant to cool. I'm thinking that your thermostat is opening up to early. Maybe it is the wrong thermostat. Either way, spend the 15 minutes and change the 10 dollar thermostat. Oh yeah, whats up with this carddboard mechanic.
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#11
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???????
A thermostat is closed when temp. of the coolant is below a certain level. This helps the car reach op. temp. much sooner so it is more efficient. If your thermostat is stuck closed, your engine will overheat. The coolant sensor measures engine temp. - not radiator temp. If the thermostat is stuck open then the coolant does not reach the proper operating temperature. Therefore, the coolant going into the heater core is not hot enough to give much heat to the cabin. Also, when the temp. of the engine is not hot enough it will allow all kinds of other problems - eventually. Premature rust in the exhaust system, condensation forming in the oil, etc. |
#12
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Marty D. 2013 C300 4Matic 1984 BMW 733i 2013 Lincoln MKz |
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-Randy Wakefield 1969 220D 4 speed (parts car) 1976 280C 1976 280S 1981 240D 4 speed (parts car) 1982 300D 1983 300TD (Ivory) 1983 300TD (gold) 1985 300TD (gray) 1987 190D 2.5 1970 280SEL (sold) 1977 240D 4 speed (sold) 1974 280 (rusted to death) --- 1927 Chevy 4 door sedan 1938 Chevy 2 door sedan 1950 Willys Jeepster 1955 Studebaker President 4 door 1977 Ford F250 1979 Glastron 17' 1948 John Deere A 1960 John Deere 2010 1979 Satoh S650G -- 2000 Bichon (Doby) |
#14
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Your mechanic isn't a mechanic!
Your engine, as are all engines, are designed to run at a specific temperature. Running too cool could be detrimental, just as running too hot! You cannot guage engine temperature properly with a cardboard cover over the radiator. |
#15
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i t could be
that the stat is missing. any chance the mechanic removed it and doesnt want you to find out?
just trying to think of why he is talking of such strange ideas. tom w
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC] ..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis. |
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