210 radiator flush - pictorial - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Scott98 · #16 07-02-2006, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhdoc

Yes, you've now found the plug, that is it. The problem with reading the gauge when there's no coolant in the block is that the temp sender needs to be surrounded by coolant to read properly. If you run your engine with a big air bubble in it you run the risk of having parts of it being run dry, they get MUCH hotter than the gauge reads, then once the T-Stat opens coolant hits the red-hot parts and that's how you ruin a head or block.

If you're lucky then nothing bad happened...but take it from me, I had a tech once change a timing belt on a Sterling (that uses an Accura V6) and didn't properly purge the engine of air...that was a costly error...it caused the head to warp and had to be removed and machined with a new gasket installed...about a $1500 repair he had to swallow.

You never want to run an engine until you have gotten as much coolant as possible into the system. If it means removing the top hose and pouring it in then you need to do that - it's better than running it without coolant and waiting for that thermostat to open up...by that time it might be way too late.

After flushing everything I drove the car through the mountains up to Santa Fe - about an hour one way. Never had a problem with the temperature gauge. It stayed between 80 - 85 degrees C the whole way which is normal. I think everything is going to be all right. I did a lot of searching on coolant flushing before I attempted this job and never saw anything mentioned about refilling the block first. I hope this post will help others in the future. Looks like I got lucky - wouldn't be the first time either!

Thanks,

Scott

Matt L · #17 07-03-2006, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwitchKitty

You didn't mention recycling the antifreeze. Antifreeze does not wear out, you can let the debris settle out of it and reuse it. That is a PITA and most people wont do it.

Antifreeze is very poisonous and should be disposed of properly.

It's poisonous to humans and pets, that's for sure. But it doesn't hurt the bacteria at the waste conversion plants, and in fact they decompose it. That is, it's safe to flush it down the toilet.

Don't pour it on the ground or put it in water runoff drains.

deltajetfixer · #18 07-10-2006, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott98

I just went out into my garage and took a look. Is this the fill plug (where the upper radiator hose enters the block) for the block?

Scott

MY version of WIS says to bleed the system...BUT my 1999 E300 doesn't have the bolt!!! The casting is BARE.

Suggestions?

Thanks

Scott98 · #19 07-10-2006, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltajetfixer

MY version of WIS says to bleed the system...BUT my 1999 E300 doesn't have the bolt!!! The casting is BARE.

Suggestions?

Thanks

Maybe you can flush the block through the upper radiator hose where it enters the block. I don't know about bleeding the system. I flushed mine again this Saturday to make sure I got everything. All I did was drain the radiator, drain the block, run a water hose through each and then fill each one back up separately.

Scott

deltajetfixer · #20 07-10-2006, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott98

Maybe you can flush the block through the upper radiator hose where it enters the block. I don't know about bleeding the system. I flushed mine again this Saturday to make sure I got everything. All I did was drain the radiator, drain the block, run a water hose through each and then fill each one back up separately.

Scott

I didn't see a need to flush as the water port going into the head showed BRIGHT SHINY aluminum and I didn't see any sediment in the tank.

Car has 82,000 miles and the Stealer filled/flushed it three years ago this month according to the paperwork I got with the car.

What I ended up doing was to fill the expansion tank to overflowing and then fill the head portion through the upper radiator hose after I disconnected it from the radiator. I ran at idle and when the thermostat opened, topped off the expansion tank with the heater going full blast.

Took almost two gallons of 50/50 Mercedes coolant/distilled water mix to finish the job.

I wonder why they deleted the bleed bolt? Probably the same reason they deleted the torque converter drain plug (mine has it with a 5/99 build date)...to save $1.00!!!