This discusses rebuilding the clutch: Visco clutch

and this discusses testing and rebuilding: How does one test a viscous radiator fan?

I believe that one of these will lead you to the answer.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

good reading. looks like i might be able to rebuild the clutch after all.

thanks to everybody for all the help and tips so far, they been great!

had my wife turn on the car this morning and didnt hear a roar! guess i'll be calling the Toyota Dealer and try to get some of that fluid.

I think you might find the cost of the Toyota fluid a little higher than expected. You can also get the silicone from a hobby shop.

I am also having a very difficult time understanding how the fan clutch is causing your overheating issue on the highway?

Idling is one thing, but moving @ 60mph provides more airflow than any 16" fan will ever throw out.

removing the bellypan is a more inviting option than rebuilding the fan clutch.

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Removing the belly pan so that the air is pressurized behind the radiator and flow thus reduced? Ya think that Mercedes Engineers considered airflow when they designed the belly pan (its largest function)?

The fan is necessary, even on the highway according to Engineers involved in the project at the time, depending on load/temps/speed/etc.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

what exactly is the belly pan? not to familiar with the some merc words. i also have a hard time understanding overheating on freeway speeds. apart from oil in the coolant and hard radiator hose, how else would i know if the head is bad?

Also does a 87' 300 SDL diesel radiator fit in a 300 TD body? could probably get one for cheap? dont want to waste extra money if the head is cracked.

bump

since the sdl is the same 126 as the 82's and 83's in my yard, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say no, the radiators will not interchange.
what more do you need to discover a bad gasket? fast hose pressurization and oil in the coolant, plenty of signs there.

so far i dont have either problems in the cooling system so that make me feel better.

guess i'll keep looking for a radiator and either fix/buy a clutch fan. thanks again guys, appreciate all the help.

Update: installed a new Behr Radiator on Saturday and been driving with no over heating issues. took a nice family drive to the coast today, hit a steep hill doing 80mph and the temp was just above 80*c . just happy my #14 head is still going strong!

W124 diesels have a two-piece belly panel that screws to the underside of the car and covers the engine and transmission. In some of their writing (e.g., 1986 "Introduction into service," the factory claims that this is for reducing the drag coefficient. A couple of pages later, they say "On model 124.030 [gasser] the engine compartment is partially paneled underneath for improved aerodynamics." Later on that same page is a reference to "noise encapsulation on model 124.133 [diesel]."

EPC calls the belly panels "antinoise capsules" [diesel] and "engine compartment paneling" [gasser]. For diesels, the front one is 124 520 50 23 and the rear one is 124 520 34 24. Mechanics sometimes "forget" to put them back on because it saves them time when the owner returns for more service and many customers don't miss them. You might be able to get the panels from a forum member parting out a car but you don't want to know what the dealer would charge for a new one.

Incidentally, "merc" is a Mercury. If you want to use that kind of abbreviation for a Mercedes-Benz, use "Merz." And say "Sir!" And smile when you do it.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970