First off, yes, I read several threads debating on what kind of antifreeze should be used in the Mercedes Diesel. Before I get a thousand different suggestions, I would like to know if I can use the same coolant I use in my Ford 7.3 IDI. The antifreeze is called Fleetcharge and it has DCA-4 anti-cavitation additive pre-mixed. It is a purple-pink color and I don't have any issues with it in the Ford. I would rather stock the same kind for both vehicles if possible.

Fleet Charge Specifications Sheet

__________________
1991 F250 super-cab 7.3 IDI. (rebuilt by me) Banks Sidewinder turbo, hydroboost brakes, new IP and injectors.
2003 S430 - 107K
1983 300SD - Tanoshii - mostly restored ~400K+.
1983 300SD - Good interior. Engine finally tamed ~250K.
Monark Nozzle Install Video - http://tinyurl.com/ptd2tge

A 617 will put up with any coolant. I wonder about convenience as the justification.

Sixto
87 300D

It's not really convenience as much as I know the Fleetcharge coolant works well and has anti-cavitation properties.

If I wanted convenience, I would use the 5 gallons of standard green coolant I have sitting around and call it a day. It has straight water in it right now which is about the worst thing to have. I might just use the green stuff until I find a good radiator as mine is JB welded all over. I just need more $ before I replace the radiator. It also needs new hoses (all 8) to do the job right.

__________________
1991 F250 super-cab 7.3 IDI. (rebuilt by me) Banks Sidewinder turbo, hydroboost brakes, new IP and injectors.
2003 S430 - 107K
1983 300SD - Tanoshii - mostly restored ~400K+.
1983 300SD - Good interior. Engine finally tamed ~250K.
Monark Nozzle Install Video - http://tinyurl.com/ptd2tge

The right coolant to go get is G-05 from Zerex, which is the same chemistry as MB coolant.

__________________
Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

Don't worry about cavitation in a 617, but for peace of mind, the G-05,MB Gold, and Ford Gold stuff they started putting in the 2002 7.3 trucks are all very similar from a chemical standpoint; it also has anti-cavitation properties apparently.

If you're looking to go cheap, you can do as you mentioned with the green stuff until you get a radiator, or even Fleet Charge (I use it in my 7.3), but be sure to flush the hell out of that cooling system if you do run Fleet Charge and then switch back to G-05 or MB Gold.

"green" coolant is no longer the same stuff as used to exist. It is usually dyed green, all makes and models type coolant (Prestone comes to mind), which is more like a clone of dex cool than anything else. I'd not want that in my system, especially since the OAT chemistry can eat gaskets.

G-05 is readily available in any Napa I've been in, so I see no reason not to go that route.

__________________
Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

That depends entirely on the manufacturer.

Valvoline.com > Products > Zerex > Antifreeze Zerex > Zerex® Original Green Antifreeze / Coolant

Best bet is to forget about color and pay attention to chemistry.

You're missing the issue. Try and find that chemistry in most places. You won't. And, why talk about an obsolete chemistry which is tougher and tougher to find.

People need to beware of the dex-clone chemistries, which, if you go to Walmart and pull a bottle of antifreeze, is what you get.

G05 is readily available, is used in ford, Chrysler, and other vehicles and is the exact, correct fluid for MB systems, without any of the silicate dropout, 2-eha gasket eating additives, etc.

You say to forget color and chase the chemistry, well fine. G-05 is the chemistry to chase. Everything else is a conflicting hodgepodge of colors and chemistries that aren't the same.

__________________
Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

The issue is that you made a claim that is factually incorrect.

You won't find G-05 in "most places," either. But I didn't say "forget chemistry and let convenience be your guide."


It (original green) is not obsolete. At least Zerex doesn't think so.

Which is precisely why you should forget about color and pay attention to chemistry.

Same coolant, different colors.
What was I saying about color?

No, I didnt. As an example, the "standard" bottle of Prestone antifreeze, dyed green, that the average consumer would buy off the shelf, is NOT standard silicate green from the old days, but rather "all makes and models" OAT Dex-clone. That is just one of many examples. Go buy a bottle of antifreeze off the shelf, it is NOT conventional green. You picked the one niche situation where there is still some availability of "green" coolant.


Go to any Napa, Ford dealer, Chrysler dealer, MB, etc. Pep boys and Autozone at least used to carry it. G05 (G=Glysanthin, which is a BASF trade name and has been taken on by many manufacturers) is readily available, maybe not as prevalent as dex cool and dex clones, but close.





Really? What new vehicles are delivered with it as OE fill? GM stopped using it (green) in 96, Chrysler in 01, Ford in 02-03. No euro manufacturer specifies it from at least 80-85 or earlier.

See this:
http://www.whitfieldoil.com/downloads/ZerexAntifreezeCoolantApplicationChart.pdf

And page two of this:
http://www.whitfieldoil.com/downloads/ZerexAntifreezeLineupChart.pdf

Pretty compelling, with some inaccuracies. For example, Honda type I and II (greenish-bluish for each) is NOT the same as the zerex youve linked to.




Agree. But there is absolutely no reason to go to green (standard), nor green which one would generally find on the shelf, which is NOT the zerex you linked to, but rather an OAT dex-clone.





What is same coolant, different colors. All coolants used these days are HOAT or OAT. Not that green you linked to, which again, is "conventional", non organic acid technology, and is obsolete.

__________________
Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

Chrysler HOAT is red, Ford HOAT is gold, John Deere HOAT is green, MB HOAT is none of the above.

I suppose that you can create your own definition of "obsolete." Maybe W123's are obsolete because they are not equipped with OBD2. Maybe diesel fuel is obsolete because a lot of service stations don't sell it. (Wait, service stations are obsolete; they are convenience stores now.) Maybe horses are obsolete. Fact is, there are plenty of vehicles on the road for which "original green" is specified. And "original green" is still being offered for sale.

Factually incorrect. Again.

Here is another "niche" example of an extinct product!!!
I guess that qualifies as a "double niche."

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/AutoZone-1-gal-green-conventional-antifreeze-and-coolant/_/N-25ha?itemIdentifier=540722_0_0_

Soooo, is this what I need?

Antifreeze/Coolant Valvoline GO5 - Engine Coolant / Anti-Freeze | O'Reilly Auto Parts

__________________
1991 F250 super-cab 7.3 IDI. (rebuilt by me) Banks Sidewinder turbo, hydroboost brakes, new IP and injectors.
2003 S430 - 107K
1983 300SD - Tanoshii - mostly restored ~400K+.
1983 300SD - Good interior. Engine finally tamed ~250K.
Monark Nozzle Install Video - http://tinyurl.com/ptd2tge

That's it.

There should have been a question mark after the same colant different colors. You said it first, I meant to ask "what is same coolant, different colors?"

So please tell me what cars are provided today with non-OAT/HOAT today?

And please tell me when MB wasnt specced with the equivalent of the Glysantin G-05 chemistry?????

__________________
Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

I have one sitting in my driveway right now that I provided with IAT (conventional green) because that's how it was originally equipped. And the manufacturer continues to specify conventional coolant for that model.

G-05 has never been specified for all MB applications.

Interestingly enough, G-30 is approved in some MB engines. It's an OAT formulation, just like Prestone Extended Life Antifreeze/Coolant.