Well, I stopped by the Mercedes service center that is pretty close to my house - about 10 minutes away, luckily - and picked up 2 gallons of MB coolant! Hurray for me!! 22$ per gallon isn't too expensive, especially considering you don't have to change it THAT often. I will take it to my mechanic and have him drain the 'green stuff' his assistant put in there, flush it out, and refill with the MB coolant.

Now, the stuff from MB needs to be diluted 50/50 with distilled water, right? I'd like to know for sure so I can be non-ignorant when I go in early next week!

Thanks!

It should say on the bottle. If it says "concentrated", it needs to be mixed. If it says "prediluted", it is mixed.

does mercedes sell diluted premixed coolant? i believe all the sell is non-dilutted.

This is the coolant I bought today. I looked it over and I don't see anything about diluted or non-diluted. I do remember at the service center they mentioned diluting it 50/50, so I think that is probably right.

Anyhow, here's what I bought today...

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that definately needs to be dilluted. see if the shop will flush the heater core and entire engine, using garden hoes or other method, it is very difficult to get rid of the green tint of the old coolant with a drain and refill, it took me a few flushes to get it out of mine, i disconnected all heater hoses, removed the thermostat (temporarily) to get maximum system flush

A complete flush is already on the docket - I'll be sure to let him know the MB coolant definitely needs to be diluted, in case he doesn't already know - but I feel pretty sure that he knows.

My '91 350SD has been running a bit hotter than I want it to - not OVERHEATING, but still pretty hot - especially with the A/C running, so my mechanic will be giving it a complete cooling system check-up next week - including a complete system flush.

you should have then install a new thermostat since the coolant is being flushed, be sure to have them use a decent brand

I bought the same coolant from MB dealer here in Houston, Star Motor cars, $16.00 for one.

Vahe
240D 77

blevinsax.. i recomend a citric acid flush

Factory manual says that if you decide to use a citric acid flush that you must deoil the system before you use the acid regardless of whether there is any evidence of oil in the system or not.

Len

One thing he may not already know is the location of the block drain. He's got to remove this drain plug if you expect to get the green stuff out of the block. Otherwise, he's wasting his time and your money.

Furthermore, the green stuff lives in the heater core loop and he's got to flush the heater core with a garden hose adaptor while the block drain is open. Otherwise, again, he's wasting his time and your money.

Finally, the system is never completely devoid of fluid when you button it up. It might only take 9 quarts. So, if you add a 50-50 mix, you'll be light on the anti-freeze when he's done. To avoid this, you'll need to add two quarts of pure anti-freeze and seven quarts of the 50-50 mix. At that point, the system has the proper amount of antifreeze. If it still needs more fluid, then you add distilled water to top it off.

Dropping these vehicles off at the mechanic and picking them up later is usually a recipe for disaster, unless the mechanic is very good.

the citric flush is what mercedes recommends to use to remove the oil from the cooling system. so it is used when there is oil present.

i too recommend the garden hose method, see post #5 above, i hope he listens.

The citric acid is not for deoiling. It is for decalcification/descaling. Mercedes has another product for deoiling or some just use dishwasher detergent or Liquid Tide. The manual says to do the deoiling procedure before using the citric acid. At least that's what the factory manual for the 123 says

Len

if you have wis, look at document number ra20001040160x