Break down of the plastic, usually happens when you don't do regular coolant changes or you opt to use the green coolant instead of mb coolant....

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Thanks for all the replies, sounds to me like the old girl gets a Nissens.

Sorry for your bad luck dubadaddy.

Richard, did you break the overflow tube?
I broke that (leaning while working...) a year or so ago and crafted a pretty reasonable repair using a drilled out bolt and some rubber bushings.
Think there is a thread here somewhere about it, which is where I got the idea.
Has been solid, no leaks.
Unfortunately, I don't know any crafty fixes for leaks in the fin area where it's leaking now. At least none that would be less trouble than replacement.

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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

One coolant flush with MB fluid costs more than a new radiator.

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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

Not really, I went to Napa and got zerex g05 same as mb coolant for the same price that the green stuff ran.....I know there's a big debate about the coolant....but I decided not to take the chance because the price was equal...

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If you don't mind my asking, what kind of price did you get on the Zerex?

My SD came with green, and the last flush and refill was with green because I had an abundance of it, but may consider switching now that I'll be pulling the radiator...

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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

cmbdiesel: No, I've never broken the overflow tube on these radiators with plastic top sections, as small and vulnerable as this O/F neck area is.

Good job making a workable fix for the O/F tube that broke off. Sometimes we need to think like we're far beyond the end of the pavement off in an area in northwestern Kazakstan or similar.

I think I'll now try to learn more about the chemistry of MB and Zerex antifreeze while waiting for a new Nissens to arrive; hopefully UPS will treat the box carrying it with care. I still find it difficult to believe that some antifreeze can affect the mechanical integrity of plastic radiator components.

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Respect, protect, and maintain complex systems - whether natural or of German design, to benefit from their full potential.

1982 300SD W126.120 with an OM617.950 from a W116.120
1984 300SD W126.120 with an OM617.951

I bought MB blue from *****geek.com and it ran me about $25 per carton shipped...I have heard others say the zerex is just as good. I was so paranoid after doing the head job on my 87 that I just went with MB blue coolant. At least on my 87 there is a warning sticker saying not to use regular antifreeze, so I am very wary of green coolant in this. I think you will be happy with the Nissens radiator. The one in my 87 was put in about 8 years ago according to receipts (before I owned it), and I have had absolutely no issues with it. Best of luck!

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97 S500 (90,000 miles) - wife's car
87 300D (298,000 miles and a replacement #14 head)
94 Suburban K2500 - need something to haul firewood
83 300SD (343,000 miles) (sold)

that's a bit melodramatic...

even if you went to the DEALER and had THEM flush the coolant, and install new coolant, it's still less than a new BEHR radiator...

MB branded coolant from the dealer is only 35 or so a gallon. two gallons needed, and two gallons of distilled water, and you have a full coolant change.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

$35 a gallon, whoa. Its $18 a gallon here. Last time I went they were out of the white bottles and gave me zerex G05 for $14 a gallon.


To the OP, got 90k on a nissens in my 87, and put several in friends cars, nothing bad to report. I think they are Canadian but I could be wrong.

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68 280SL - 70 280SL - 70 300SEL 3.5 - 72 350SL - 72 280SEL 4.5 - 72 220 - 72 220D - 73 450SL - 84 230GE - 87 200TD - 90 190E 2.0 - 03 G500

Nissan GTR - Nissan Skyline GTS25T - Toyota GTFour - Rover Mini - Toyota Land Cruiser HJ60 - Cadillac Eldorado - BMW E30 - BMW 135i

Please clean out your old messages. I tried to send you a PM. PeachParts says you have exceeded your quota.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

I've been having the same problem .

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Cleared.

Yes, vstech, I was being somewhat melodramatic, but I thought I pulled it of with a certain panache...
Still... I just don't see myself busting out $35/gallon for antifreeze in a 30 year old car.
If I can get Zerex for a 1/2 of that cost, I'll will use that.

__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

Premix at Napa, 11.49$

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx/Antifreeze-GO5-Ford-DCX-Gallon/_/R-ZRXZXG05RU1_0336876173

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Sweet...Not much more than standard green
I get a very favorable discount from my local NAPA as well.
Thanks cooljjay.

__________________
On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif