Any link between wrong coolant and head gasket failure? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

shertex · #1 06-23-2013, 07:49 PM

Yes, I know....green coolant bad/evil. Only use proper stuff. I do now. BUT, for a long time my 92 300D had the green stuff in there. Now, with 244k miles, it's getting the head gasket replaced.

I know the reason to use MB coolant or G-05 is for the longevity of the plastic parts. But could the green stuff accelerate a head gasket failure? If so, how/why?

To the best of my knowledge, the engine has never overheated (at least not since I took ownership at 137k miles).

cooljjay · #2 06-23-2013, 09:13 PM

Gosh that coolant debate has been going on since the birth of the internet.....

I have the green coolant in my car, and before that it had green coolant....then it sat for a number of years with green coolant....no idea when it first received green coolant but so far I have had no issues.....but I feel like in need to drain it out asap as I might end up getting a fine for running it in the car :p

No idea if it causes issues with head gaskets or not....

shertex · #3 06-23-2013, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooljjay

Gosh that coolant debate has been going on since the birth of the internet.....

I have the green coolant in my car, and before that it had green coolant....then it sat for a number of years with green coolant....no idea when it first received green coolant but so far I have had no issues.....but I feel like in need to drain it out asap as I might end up getting a fine for running it in the car :p

No idea if it causes issues with head gaskets or not....

Not wanting to reignite the coolant debate. Maybe a better way to pose the question: for those who DO believe the green stuff to be harmful, is accelerated head gasket failure one of the issues?

ah-kay · #4 06-24-2013, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shertex

Not wanting to reignite the coolant debate. Maybe a better way to pose the question: for those who DO believe the green stuff to be harmful, is accelerated head gasket failure one of the issues?

NO

pawoSD · #5 06-24-2013, 07:28 AM

The green coolant does not protect aluminum cooling system parts. I just removed a thermostat housing from my dad's SD this weekend that was eaten away on the edges of where the hoses attach, probably from its time running green coolant. If it will do that to the t-stat housing, I imagine engines with aluminum heads could have a similar experience! The MB/G05 coolant is designed to protect aluminum.

shertex · #6 06-24-2013, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

The green coolant does not protect aluminum cooling system parts. I just removed a thermostat housing from my dad's SD this weekend that was eaten away on the edges of where the hoses attach, probably from its time running green coolant. If it will do that to the t-stat housing, I imagine engines with aluminum heads could have a similar experience! The MB/G05 coolant is designed to protect aluminum.

I'll have to ask my mechanic if he notices any deterioration of the head.

Shortsguy1 · #7 06-24-2013, 02:33 PM

Shertex-
Please see this recent thread which shows some aluminum head damage from green coolant use.
Purchased used OM603 head, has significant erosion.

Based on the damage I see on the head I bought, yes, using the wrong coolant (or not changing the right coolant frequently enough) could lead to head gasket failure.

funola · #8 06-24-2013, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

The green coolant does not protect aluminum cooling system parts. I just removed a thermostat housing from my dad's SD this weekend that was eaten away on the edges of where the hoses attach, probably from its time running green coolant. If it will do that to the t-stat housing, I imagine engines with aluminum heads could have a similar experience! The MB/G05 coolant is designed to protect aluminum.

Hmmm, what kind of engines is green coolant made for? What engines does not use aluminum?

speednjay · #9 06-24-2013, 06:18 PM

I've.used green coolant in my Volvo 5 banger engines with no corrosion. One Volvo had 400k miles. There much be another connection between the corrosion

compu_85 · #10 06-24-2013, 06:39 PM

I know VW changed coolant formulas in the late 90s, and one of the reasons given was head gasket protection...

DexCool has problems because it eats through the coolant passage gaskets on the intake manifolds.

-J

DeliveryValve · #11 06-24-2013, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compu_85

I know VW changed coolant formulas in the late 90s, and one of the reasons given was head gasket protection...

DexCool has problems because it eats through the coolant passage gaskets on the intake manifolds.

-J

Interesting thing is the G12 coolant has a similar OAT formula to DeathCool.

.

compu_85 · #12 06-24-2013, 06:47 PM

Yes, but I think there's one chemical in DexKill that G12 leaves out. The GM cars also had problems with leaky radiator caps letting air into the coolant system, which oxidized the coolant.

Of course VW is on G12++ now...

-J

DeliveryValve · #13 06-24-2013, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compu_85

Yes, but I think there's one chemical in DexKill that G12 leaves out. The GM cars also had problems with leaky radiator caps letting air into the coolant system, which oxidized the coolant.

Of course VW is on G12++ now...

-J

Air + DeathCool/DexKill= sludge.
Bad things happen to clogged up systems.

DexCool is also incompatible with some nylon plastic parts and GM found out later. So they changed the composition of their plastic cooling parts to make it compatible.

.