60x coolant flow through w140 radiator. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

locry · #1 12-10-2012, 03:15 AM

Would a radiator from a w140 care which neck was used for the inlet/outlet? The reason I ask is because I'm using a radiator that came with the M104 with my newly installed 602. the most efficient routing of the hoses seems to be reversed compared to the M104 setup.

Right now my upper radiator hose, the one that comes from the cylinder head waterneck connects to the upper radiator bung. The lower bung connects to the lower radiator hose that comes out of the engine bloack at the passenger side of the engine.

Just wondering what the flow is through the radiator and if I should reverse it... which will be a little complicated.

Brian Carlton · #2 12-10-2012, 08:58 AM

Tell me you're not thinking of getting the coolant to fight gravity............please, tell me that..........!!

oldsinner111 · #3 12-10-2012, 09:07 AM

Lo Cry if you can get a S 600 radator they are 3 row.Don't push coolant uphill

vstech · #4 12-10-2012, 09:12 AM

um... no.
cold out the bottom. period.

locry · #5 12-10-2012, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

Tell me you're not thinking of getting the coolant to fight gravity............please, tell me that..........!!

I didn't think of it that way.

I assumed the water pump could just as easily push/pull water in either direction being a closed system. I just connected the upper hose to the upper bung and the lower hose to the lower bung... The thing with the 140 radiator is that both bungs are located at the lower half of the radiator on the same side. I don't have the M104 at the moment, my only clue as to the original routing is the "indent" at the shroud on the driver's side which is for hose clearance. This indent goes all the way down, possibly connecting the upper radiator hose to that bottom bung... but i'm not really sure. :0
That's why asked which way the coolant flowed.

Looking at it it makes sense to connect upper to upper and lower to lower... I just wanted to be sure.

And uhhhhhh... I still don't know which way the coolant flows.

Out the cylinder head or the block? I don't know exactly how the water jackets are routed inside the engine.

Add the fact that both bungs are located at the lower half of the driver's side... and the smaller diameter hose that branches out of the upper hose and into the passenger side of the radiator and the reservoir further confused me regarding the path the water takes.

And the fact that when the car warms up... only the upper part of the radiator is hot to the touch!!!

while both hoses are hot. Which is the reason why I started asking about flow.

qwerty · #6 12-10-2012, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

Tell me you're not thinking of getting the coolant to fight gravity............please, tell me that..........!!

It has to fight gravity somewhere.

SD300 · #7 12-10-2012, 05:32 PM

is it cooling down the eng ?
if not then u need th flow the way it should be.

Zulfiqar · #8 12-10-2012, 05:40 PM

the both pipes on one tank radiator is perfectly OK to use - infact this type of radiator makes for a doublepass radiator. All coolant is passed to one side then forced back through the core to the original side.

As long as your expansion tank and cap level is not messed up you are roadworthy, It wont be any problem.

engatwork · #9 12-10-2012, 06:12 PM

I have had a couple BMW's in with the electric water pump and have noticed that after replacing the water pump and taking it for a test drive it is only using about 30% of the radiators capacity at 80 mph on the interstate. I don't think locry would see any issues with a backward flowing system.

Brian Carlton · #10 12-10-2012, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qwerty

It has to fight gravity somewhere.

Point.

Intuitively, it appears that gravity would be of a benefit in the radiator.

But, pumping the fluid upwards through the radiator and downward through the head to the pump might be perfectly acceptable.

However, consider the fact that the maximum amount of heat is generated in the head and it's much easier to dump that coolant off to the top of the radiator then to force it all the way to the bottom of the radiator using the water pump.

locry · #11 12-10-2012, 08:26 PM

Thanks for the replies guys.

Paging S320/S280 owners... can someone please confirm where the cylinder head hose is connected: upper or lower bung? I'd be happy just knowing that.

And... what IS the flow through the engine? IN through the block water neck and OUT the cylinder head water neck?

vstech · #12 12-10-2012, 08:31 PM

every car I've ever seen except for the 90's era corvettes/camaro/impala's with the LT1 motor flow coolant this way. in the lower/center mass of the water pump, and out through the head.

locry · #13 12-10-2012, 11:54 PM

Out through the head then.

Thanks!!!!
I think that'll be it for now... I just have that little bit of uneasiness NOT KNOWING how the w140 radiator is constructed internally.

Most radiators I've encountered had the inlet and outlet at OPPOSITE sides of the radiator, and had the bungs occupying the lowest and topmost section of the radiator. This one has BOTH inlet and OUTLET at the SAME side... and lower half at that.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/SuperCat/3948/MBZ_3948_WATRAD_pg1.htm#item3