You don't understand my reason for asking that question. The reason I ask, and consult the experts here, is to make sure that I can just go ahead and replace the part and continue driving the car with no further ado (what I really wish to do, if deemed reasonable by those who know more than I do)... My concern was that there might be a problem of a more serious nature causing that leak that would require my attention... Hence my asking in this forum.

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1979 240D, W123, 105K miles, stick, white w/ tan interior.

Zerex G-05? Thanks!

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1979 240D, W123, 105K miles, stick, white w/ tan interior.

Really shouldn't any aluminum-safe coolant be acceptable, though? That's the only remarkable thing about the requirement really.

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1983 Mercedes-Benz 240D
Automatic, A/C, Power Sunroof, Power Right Side Mirror
231K Miles FOR SALE MAKE OFFER

That's exactly why I got concerned... It seems very strange to me too...
I'd be very glad if it were only that. I really hope it is.
Nope, the radiator in my MB is metal.
I'll ring the local PepBoys or AutoZone tomorrow morning to see if they carry the suggested Zerex G-05 coolant... You guys positive the plastic drain plug can't be bought locally? If not, I'll have to order it online and wait forever until it gets here...

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1979 240D, W123, 105K miles, stick, white w/ tan interior.

No idea... That's why I asked that question. Let's see what the other guys say. I'll check back in the forum in about 8 hours. Going to sleep now.

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1979 240D, W123, 105K miles, stick, white w/ tan interior.

And YOU WERE RIGHT! (and I was right too, to have my doubts that the drain plug was the culprit here)

I inspected it more closely this morning, and found that the WHOLE LENGTH OF THE BOTTOM of the radiator is lined with leaked out radiator fluid (it just happened to drip onto the ground from the little hole where the drain plug is located).

So far I have removed the fan and its encasement, to be able to inspect the whole radiator area for leaks more closely. There are no signs of leaking on the surface of the radiator except at the very bottom of it, near the area where the drain plug is.

Now, does this mean that the radiator needs to be replaced, or are there some tests I should do first to make sure I understand what the problem is before I start spending money here and there?

By the way, the radiator on the car is a Behr. Thank you so much!

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1979 240D, W123, 105K miles, stick, white w/ tan interior.

AHHHH!
now we are getting somewhere!
the stupid plastic tanks on each end of the radiator are held on with bent aluminum tangs and sealed with a single o ring all the way around the tank.
they do fail.
time to get a new radiator...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

There is more to the G05 than just the fact it is Aluminum safe. Apparently it also fights cavitation damage in a Diesel as well as being "low Silicate" rather than No Silcate as many Green dyed fluids now are. But most Green Dyed fluids don't have any anticavitation properties unless those are then added to the mixture afterwards. I say Green Dyed because thats the main difference that can be visually seen. Some forms of G05 are indeed dyed Green so it can be tricky really... color is just not that well standardized.

Fact is that up until about 1984 or so Mercedes did use a Green dyed fluid but they developed the current one (G-05 being the Manufacturers designation for its branded product) and decided it was better. So it offers the benefit of fighting cavitation without having to monitor additives (SCA's) and replenishing them from time to time. And works equally well on non Diesel motors too it seems. So it is just easier to use and does some other nice things for you.

Many Mercedes Diesel owners never bothered to check nor think about Cavitation issues, but most of us Diesel Truck owners do. Mercedes decided to do something about it long ago to make it easier. Ford now uses it too in the newer Diesel trucks. I think some others do as well. My older (well... 2001) Power stroke still uses the Green No silicate but I do monitor the SCA and add it from time to time. But a few years after mine was built they switched to Gold/Yellow Low Silicate with SCA properties too.

The problem with SCA additives and monitoring is that you then have to check with a chemical dip stick to see where you are from time to time. And then calculate how much to add each time it gets low. But yet... if you add too much it will precipitate out into a Sand and this will be abrasive to the water pump. So then you have to be careful and even add a Coolant filter to keep that from eating up water pumps. So its all a real bother in the end. But it is what we do and used to do.

it is my contention that on an older Mercedes (1984 and pre) that Green No silicate but WITH SCA added and monitored would work just as well but it more bothersome to maintain. So I think the G-05 is the way to go if your willing to flush and clean and start over.

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1983 300D-Turbo - Deep Blue w Palomino MB Tex (total loss in fire 1/5/09 RIP)
1995 E320 W124 Polar White/Grey Mushroom MB Tex
2005 F150 Supercrew - Arizona Beige - Lear topper
1985 Piaggio Vespa T5 - Black and Chrome

www.cphilip.com

Autozone, Advanced, and O'Reilly's do not carry G-05

PepBoys told me they had discontinued it

Apparently NAPA carries it, and I was told that CarQuest does as well by a forum member.

I thought about using a aluminum-safe Prestone coolant, but decided to go with the Zerex (hopefully I won't have to think about it for another 5 years!)

__________________

Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT

Hi, are you sure about it? (...getting a new radiator?)
I have no idea what "stupid plastic tanks on each end of the radiator" you are talking about... Mine is a Behr (metal) and I see no "stupid plastic tanks" at all...
I mean, before I place that order, are there any tests or something I should do just to make sure I need a new one?

By the way, fluid is still coming out and puddling on the garage floor...

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1979 240D, W123, 105K miles, stick, white w/ tan interior.

Say, all I could find locally is the Zerex G-05 Standard Formula (GREEN).
I read in this forum something about the GOLD Zerex G-05 being preferable to the green (I forget what the reason was). Should I go the extra mile to find someone selling the Gold, or is the Green just fine for my purposes??

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1979 240D, W123, 105K miles, stick, white w/ tan interior.

I doubt you can find G-05 in Green

The only brand name of it that I have ever read about being Green is branded John Deere but made by Zerex for them. I seriously doubt Zerex is putting a dyed green G-05 on the shelf. Never seen it in anything but yellow. Take another look at what you saw. I doubt its G-05.

Go to NAPA. they always have the real stuff.

You want the Gold container clearly marked that it is G-05

http://www.valvoline.com/pages/products/product_detail.asp?product=10

Phil

__________________
1983 300D-Turbo - Deep Blue w Palomino MB Tex (total loss in fire 1/5/09 RIP)
1995 E320 W124 Polar White/Grey Mushroom MB Tex
2005 F150 Supercrew - Arizona Beige - Lear topper
1985 Piaggio Vespa T5 - Black and Chrome

www.cphilip.com

A tank is a tank, whether it's plastic or metal. (The tank would be the portions of the radiator (top and bottom) where the hoses attach.) A radiator shop can reseal a leaking tank, if that's what you want. In my opinion, that's not ususally a cost effective option when dealing with a presumably 30 year-old radiator. But you would need to talk to a convenient radiator shop to make an informed decision.

Local PepBoys and AutoZone, and very emphatically so, told me they don't have it, to go somewhere else. But look at what I got today from Valvoline... The bottom line is they don't want to be bothered with ordering it, but if you insist and tell them Valvoline told you so, they ARE SUPPOSED to place the order for you.

From: ValvTechLine@ashland.com
To: ***************
Subject: Re:Feedback From Valvoline: Question/Comment about product: Ask Zerex
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:30:57 -0400

Our biggest supplier for the Zerex products is Carquest Auto Parts. Other options include Napa, Auto Zone, Advance, O'Reilly's, & Pep Boys. If these places don't carry the product, please just ask them to order it for you.

>>>> ----------------------------
>>>> Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2008 5:08:53 PM
>>>> To: valvtechline@ashland.com
>>>> CC:
>>>> Subject: Feedback From Valvoline: Question/Comment about product: Ask
>>>> Zerex
>>>>
>>>> The following person submitted a question or comment via the Contact
>>>> us form of type: Ask Zerex
>>>>
>>>> I have been trying to find a local store that carries your Zerex G-05
>>>> coolant, to no avail. Do you have a list of places where this product
>>>> is sold?

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1979 240D, W123, 105K miles, stick, white w/ tan interior.

PepBoys, Advanced, and AZ no longer carry it - the guys behind the counter have no easy way of ordering it b/c the computer system they use says it is discontinued.

Good luck - find a NAPA or CarQuest. (or MB dealer)

__________________

Current Mercedes
1979 maple yellow 240D 4-speed

Gone and fondly remembered:
1980 orient red 240D 4-speed

Gone and NOT fondly remembered:
1982 Chna Blue 300TD

Other car in the stable:
2013 VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI / 6-speed MT