Coolant Question

[gvran71]

Does MB sell a ready to go 50/50 coolant mix like other brands (prestone) you find at retail stores?

[JawJee]

not sure but doubting it.

just mix it its easy. you need hybrid organic acid coolant

[Jeremy5848]

MB coolant is full strength so you need to buy only half as much as the other guys' stuff.

[tankowner]

Or buy the Zerex G-05 which is the same stuff at half the price and does come in a 50/50 mix. I buy mine at NAPA.

[Squabble]

Originally Posted by tankowner

Or buy the Zerex G-05 which is the same stuff at half the price and does come in a 50/50 mix. I buy mine at NAPA.

x2

[tobybul]

Originally Posted by tankowner

Or buy the Zerex G-05 which is the same stuff at half the price and does come in a 50/50 mix. I buy mine at NAPA.

X3 (or at AZ)

[tangofox007]

Originally Posted by gvran71

Does MB sell a ready to go 50/50 coolant mix like other brands (prestone) you find at retail stores?

When you buy premixed coolant, you are paying about $6 per gallon for distilled water.

[tbomachines]

Usually it is half the price...

[tangofox007]

Originally Posted by tbomachines

Usually it is half the price...

I suspect that that notion is not supported by facts.

Referencing a chain parts store pricing, the price for full strength national brand is $12.99, 50/50 is $10.99. Store brand is $11.99 and $9.99, respectively.

Using the store brand for reference, the 50/50 gets you $6 worth of coolant (at the full strength price) and $4 worth of distilled water (1/2 gallon). That's $8 per gallon for distilled water.

[gvran71]

On a 95 E300D, where is the drain plug for the coolant? Being a complete newbie repairman, even a simple task like this seems daunting!

Thanks for the info so far.

[tankowner]

Originally Posted by gvran71

On a 95 E300D, where is the drain plug for the coolant? Being a complete newbie repairman, even a simple task like this seems daunting!

Thanks for the info so far.

You should drain the coolant from two places, but before you start take the cap off the reservoir to facilitate draining (while you're at it, check the rubber seal on the reservoir cap - they dry out and if yours is dry and cracked you should buy a new cap - they're cheap).

First, the valve on the radiator. It's located on the bottom (obviously - to be in compliance with the laws of physics) passenger side of the radiator. Look for the red knob - loosen it up and coolant will flow out of the adjacent drain. You can place something underneath to catch, or use a 12 mm inner diameter hose to route the fluid into a container.

Second, you should also drain the engine block. The drain for this is located on the passenger side of the block - near where the block heater cord attaches to the block (if you have a cord installed). This drain plug will take a 14 mm inner diameter hose to route fluid where you want it to go. Do you have to use some sort of hose? - no, but be prepared for a little mess if you don't. And your piece of junk hose doesn't have to be exactly 14 mm - that is just what will fit - you could always rig something else up to avoid the mess. Whatever gets the job done. On the engine block - you do not have to remove this plug completely - simply loosening the plug will allow the coolant to flow through. I included a pic of it removed if you really want to see it. I also attached a pic of the engine block plug in place (the front of the engine is to the right), the block heater cord is to the left and the engine block drain plug is the silver thing to the right.

It never hurts to flush out the system with distilled water before refilling with 50/50.

Total capacity on the 606.910 engine is 8.0 liters. Make sure you bleed out the air after refilling. Start by refilling through the reservoir and see how much you can get in that way. Adding coolant through the upper radiator hose might help too. It is also helpful to park the car with the front end pointing uphill or raise the front of the car.

[tankowner]

Originally Posted by tangofox007

I suspect that that notion is not supported by facts.

Referencing a chain parts store pricing, the price for full strength national brand is $12.99, 50/50 is $10.99. Store brand is $11.99 and $9.99, respectively.

Using the store brand for reference, the 50/50 gets you $6 worth of coolant (at the full strength price) and $4 worth of distilled water (1/2 gallon). That's $8 per gallon for distilled water.

Well, in this situation, da "facts" be hard to come by. Obviously price is going to vary somewhat by region and store - but I am only talking aobut G-05. Last time I bought full strength G-05 was at AZ and it cost me about $14. However, the AZ in my town doesn't even sell G-05 anymore, so I am obviously very happy to be able to buy the 50/50 G-05 mix at NAPA for $7 and change (my receipt shows $7.35 + tax). That, to me, is about half. And, of course, the last time I paid about $14 for the full strength, I also had to buy a gallon of distilled water - that cost me a whole extra dollar.

In general, I am a pretty chinchy fella, so I don't want to pay extra for distilled water. But, in my case, I am happy to take 50/50 at half of what I paid previously. If someone can find full strength out there at a price that is cheaper after you add in the distilled water - then I say go for it - times are tough, I need all the scratch I can get.