...which says that up to model year 2001 the green stuff is OK. My wrench agrees that, for my 1985 model, there's no reason to switch to the "expensive stuff."

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

I get mine from Murrays


It's under $10 also. There musta been 5 or 6 on the shelf. Gaint gold jug; Cant miss it.

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-1983 VW Rabbit LS Diesel (5speed, VNT/Giles build)

As long as the anti freeze meets astm d4985 it is ok.( ASTM D4985 standard for a heavy duty diesel antifreeze) I bought some Zerex Max Life at Big Lots for 7.50 gallon and it meets this standard.

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Gary
85 300D Ivory, 202,000
Beatus exsisto Jesu, verus et Deus verus Vir

No, that's not what you want to use, find some G-05 or use the MB coolant.

The chart I'm looking at says the G-05 is recommended for all MB back to "1980 and older." I think you're looking at the chart for pre-DC, Chrysler products.

http://www.valvoline.com/zerex/pdf/Zerex_CoolantChart.pdf

I'm not sure how you're reading that chart, but it actually says that Mercedes requires the G05 series coolant, NOT the traditional green formulations. Are you looking at D/C, instead of MB?

__________________
1987 Mercedes 300D

all of this makes no sense, ill just stick to the MB labeled coolent

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Current:
05 E320 CDI
07 GL320 CDI
08 Sprinter
05 Dodge Cummins
01 Dodge Cummins

Previous
2004 E55 AMG
2002 C32 AMG (#2)
1995 E300
1978 300D
1987 300D
2002 C32 AMG(blown motor :[
1981 300SD
1983 300SD
1987 300SDL
2002 Jetta TDI
1996 S420
1995 S500
1993 190E 2.6
1992 190E 2.3
1985 190E 2.3 5-Speed

What doesn't make sense about it?

__________________
1987 Mercedes 300D

Me too, but if some folks want to save a couple of dollars by using G-05, there's nothing wrong with that.

This has to be one of the most discussed topics on internet MB forums.

Boils down to this. MB Coolant is the exact same thing as Zerex G05.

The correct factory approved and specified coolant is either of the above.

The green stuff is not correct regardless of what your local mechanic says.

If your doctor wrote you a prescription you would presume that he or she knew what they were doing based on all the years of training. Correct?

If you answered yes, to the above, then wouldn't you think all those engineers that designed your Mercedes automobile, had a reason(s) to specify the coolant?

If you answer yes and choose to use a non-approved, then one must assume that you think you are smarter than the factory. This is a doubtful assumption.

Steve

It says right on the bottle that it's approved for ALL mercedes vehicles and is factory-fill.

When are cars were built in the early 1980's, there were few autos that had aluminum parts in the radiators much less having diesel engines. Now almost all cars have aluminum radiators, and all of the major producers of anti freeze/coolant are ok for the newer cars. In addition there is a standard for diesel powered vehicles, which is ASTM D4985. This what you should be your guide. Green has nothing to do with it., the specifications does. I am not buying snake oil sold by Mercedes Benz dealers, with their 3 star mark up.

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Gary
85 300D Ivory, 202,000
Beatus exsisto Jesu, verus et Deus verus Vir

It's your car.

This old, but useful, thread deserves a bump.

I was able to obtain G-05 at my small-town NAPA store. They did not have it on the shelf, but I asked the counterperson for it. A quick lookup in their chemicals catalog and it was there for me the next day. $11.69 a gallon.

Not for Mercedes, it doesn't.