As mentioned before check and see of the Sensor is working OK. On 2 gas Cars I owned the Temp Sensor Prob got covered with gunk and did not function right.

Pull the Thermostat and check that also.

Can a 10 year old Radiator be set to a Radiator Shop and cleaned or has the price for that service gone up to the point it is better to buy a new one?

Note: From what I have read the "Flush" sometimes reveals bad Freeze/Core Plugs or Heater Cores. Plan time for that just in case; if you do a Flush.

Many years ago, I had a brass/copper radiator for my '72 250, re-cored at a radiator-shop for about $130. At that time a new radiator, only availible from Mercedes, was about $500.
I've heard rumours of radiator shops that can repair the plastic/aluminum radiators, but there aren't any in my area I'm aware of.

I've seen brass/copper aftermarket radiators in a couple salvage-yard W123 240Ds. In fact I bought one as a spare for my 240D.

I'm already experiencing slight seepage from my TD's heater-core. I wouldn't try acid cleaner in any of my cooling systems.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Refurb the system?
 

Was out of town yesterday, but just took a quick look under the hood. The fins are dirty and somewhat buggered up. Also noticed that the brand was "CSF Europe", with a lifetime warranty sticker on it. Anyone ever heard of this brand? My biggest issue right now is time to do the job...:eek:

Anyone have a sense of how long this should take? I'm only what I would consider an average mechanic at best...:o

I know this thread is a little old, but I recently formed an opinion of whether or not to go with the all-metal radiators.

In a word, do (i.e. go all metal). The stock ones have plastic tops and bottoms.. which means two more gaskets to get old, stiff, brittle and to have go and fail on you under pressure. Since the metal is crimped onto those end plastic caps, the design relies on the gaskets staying soft and pliable to hold pressure and they cannot be replaced.

I know the OE design works, and seems to be functioning OK in my car too, but heck, why would I ever want to include two nonmaintainable gaskets in the cooling system if I didn't have to?

But where do you get them? Don't think the CPF imports radiators have the right overflow connections.

I've had multiple w123s and a 210 with original radiator over 200k and 30 yrs... Nbd.