I've got a '80 300TD Wagon with 221K miles and a Clogged Radiator, I run about 90-100C Normal Operating Temp With My Aux Fan On All The Time, I've flushed it twice to no avail so I'm looking into replacement.

Now I understand these cars had a million little changes year to year like the 9 blade cooling fan i just installed, But I like the Idea of having a coolant reserve tank on my car like the newer TD's, Anything I Can do to keep my car on the road longer I want to do

So is anything different other then the Hose From the Reserve Tank to the Rad? any difference between Turbo and non-turbo cars?

Any Idea on a parts list to convert to the '85 cooling system?

Thanks

Forrest

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http://i52.tinypic.com/23lblox.jpg
1980 Mercedes Benz 300TD
227K Miles

Just get a turbo radiator, along with the tank and two extra hoses (there are two from the tank to rad).

You can't go all the way anyways (switching to the smaller water pump pulley that would spin the pump/fan faster), because your alternator is single belted (vs turbo's double belt).

Isn't a '80 300TD supposed to be a Turbo??

SB

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Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG

How do you know that your engine is running hot besides the dash gauge? Do you have other signs? Is that effecting your engine? There's a reason they made the cooling system as they did- it was more than what was needed to begin with. You could "upgrade" to a turbo system with a overflow collection/return, but if you had a properly operating system in your car now you would not need it. Have you checked the thermostat?
Most wagons were turbo'd in model year '81, 1979-80's were non turbo.

Have you confirmed the gauge is reading correctly? Replaced the sender? Confirmed the temperature with a infrared thermometer? I too like the idea of an overflow tank but I don't think it's going to make any difference in your temperatures.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

What makes that tank so worthwhile?

Saves neighborhood cats when parking after a hot run.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

It may help in that regard, but there is no "catch container" on the W123 Turbo models, so any coolant released by the bottle cap ("radiator" cap) will, unfortunately, wind up on the pavement. That would seem to further the argument for an expansion tank and against a pressure bottle.

Fortunately, MB has engineered a reliable pressure bottle, unlike some other vehicles I have dealt with, which required new bottles every few years.

Old Peugeot diesels had a similar coolant tank. It was referred to as a degassing tank. I wonder if its real function is to provide a place for bubbles to escape from the coolant. Just a thought.....

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Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



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