Did my version of a coolant flush today. Drained engine block and radiator, put in "gunk" 10 min. flush with distilled water, drained that, hosed it out as best I could, filled with zerex/distilled mix.

Question: I was told it would take almost 4 gallons total to fill up the car, and I poured about 1.5 gallons in the filler neck, and another gallon through the overfill tank. 2.5 gallons total?? What did I miss? I even went to a hill, turned on the heater, trying to get the coolant through the path. Not much displaced, maybe another .25 gallon.

Any thoughts or will I just be slowly refilling over the next week?

Thanks!!!

ps it's 19mm on the engine block drain plug. And get ready for a waterfall once it comes out.....each and every time.

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JBG
1985 TD wagon, 228k
running on grease since 3.07
AUSTIN, TEXAS

You missed the point that somebody told you a factually incorrect statement.

The engine holds 11 quarts. You'd like to have about 5.5 quarts of anti-freeze in the system. It usually takes about 8 quarts on an intitial fill............and then you've got to gradually top it off over the next few days.

I forgot to mention I run a stock greasecar system in my wagon. HIH coolant path. Someone who has a similar setup told me it was 3.75 to 4 gallons capacity, total.

I Just hope I don't have any green s**t circulating in there, and that I fully flushed the "gunk" 10 min flush additive. Guess I'll find out.

Anyone else with a stock greasecar system who has done a coolant flush care to chime in? How much coolant/water mix did you fill with, ultimately?

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JBG
1985 TD wagon, 228k
running on grease since 3.07
AUSTIN, TEXAS

did you run the engine with the rad cap off. This will allow the air to get purged out of the system

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http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...titled-1-3.jpg
1981 300d

50/50, distilled water and Mercedes coolant.

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

Actually its a 60/40 ratio of water/coolant that should be used.

Actually.......it depends on the coldest ambient temperature that one would expect. Over in your neck of the woods, 60/40 could be a bit marginal.

For most folks, 50/50 is the best choice.

60/40 protects down to -22*F. Thats freakin' cold, even here, and very few places see that more than once or twice a year. 50/50 works down to -34*F, and I doubt most people live near the arctic circle.

The less coolant is mixed with the water the better it will cool. The whole 50/50 thing is a myth to both simplify mixing coolant and to sell more.

If it will do -22F. with 60/40 then I agree.........it's satisfactory for just about everybody.

I cheat and only get about 8 quarts out of mine. Actualy right now I have about 4 quarts of coolant and 3.5-.75 of water. Not quite 50/50.

Hunt ebay for an owners manual, they have all the fluid capacities listed.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Thank you, BITT. I might have forgotten this step after a long day of maintenance. I will run the car with the cap off and see if I can't get any more coolant in there.

The rest: your debates are fascinating. FASCINATING. Keep up the good work O)

__________________
JBG
1985 TD wagon, 228k
running on grease since 3.07
AUSTIN, TEXAS