Need to know if i need to remove the wheel in order to access the drain plug on my w123?
Going to drain old coolant
PS What is the hook inside the radiator drain plug? should i be hooking something before screwing it in?
Thanks People, have a great Sunday!

W123 radiators usually have a drain plug on the left hand side of the radiator (LHS => as though you are sitting in the car looking out the front) and there is a drain on the block on OM616 and OM617 engines on the right hand side - sorry I don't know about petrol engines - but you've got a diesel haven't you? ('cos this is the diesel forum I see I guess this info helps).

Can you stick your car info in your posts or in your signature?

EDIT - oh sorry I see you've found the radiator drain. The hook thing just stops the drain plug from flowing away with the coolant.

On a non turbo OM617 the block drain plug is easy to reach - I guess with a turbo it is harder to get to but you don't need to take off the wheel. The drain is about halfway along the block at about the same height as the starter solenoid.

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

No need to remove the wheel, but it would help to raise the vehicle on stands or jacks for space.


The drain plug is a 17mm hex bolt that resides forward of the starter against the engine block.

You might need a swivel joint attachment for your wrench as it is pretty tight under there without one.

The drain plug on the radiator has a small hook that will catch itself so you don't have to put your hands into the drain bucket for your coolant.

I'm posting wirelessly but if you need a picture go to dieselgiant.com and visit his coolant change diy page. He has a picture of the location for the drain plug.

If you have a Behr radiator the drain plug will be a large philips style plastic bolt. Just look on the underside of the radiator and you'll find it. It won't be the one that looks like a small tri-star.

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Prepare to get soaked in coolant.

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1984 300D 193.5k miles
ASTM-certified B100 bio when able

And don't lose the washer on the block drain plug. Verify that it came with the plug, or remained on the block.

There's supposed to be a washer on the engine block plug?

My 85 didn't have one. I even swabbed around with a small pick to make sure I didn't miss it.

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

13mm crush washer, correct?

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Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
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There is no need to lift the vehicle or get wet. The plug is easily accessed from the top side.

on a turbo 617? I don't see how it's EASY...

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1987 190D 2.5Turbo
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1987 300TD
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19mm socket, 2' extension and a breaker bar. Its the only method I use. Removing the air filter housing helps add room but isn't necessary.

I'll trade you that coolant drain plug for this effin' thermostat it took me 2 days to replace on this Jeep diesel.

I swear, they must have used cement at the factory to put that bloody gasket on with - and I don't mean the contact type.

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Just say "NO" to Ethanol - Drive Diesel

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Mooresville, NC
'87 300D 212K miles
'87 300D 151K miles - R.I.P. 12/08
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD 67K miles
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club

could someone post a picture on how to approach it?
Because i cant see it from top or bottom?
I flushed with shout gel about 3 times and ran the heat on high but im still getting a lot of really brown stuff coming out.
When i drain the block should i flush with the engine running and the block open?

Here are some old pictures from the archives.

Attached Thumbnails