Not an earthshaking issue but it would be nice to be able to do a quick visual check. Whether or not it's worth $200 for that feature I'm not sure of just yet.

https://tinyurl.com/yal54spu

I've read that severe opacity could herald failure in the not distant future. Unlikely I'll find a good boneyard replacement, unless the gassers use the same reservoir, which I somehow doubt.

Anybody had any luck cleaning one? Would probably take some sort of chemical flush.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Take a look at the seam of the tank on the front end where the coolant level sensor goes in. If it looks stretched, replace the tank, otherwise I'd let it ride. Mine split open right along that seam and had a "stretched" look to it before it let go. Fortunately an OEM tank was about half that when I bought mine.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

My 91 is pretty dark. IMO the latest G-48 blue coolant doesnt help.

I actually pulled it to see if I could clean it to a lighter color. Nothing I tried helped. Not that I spent more than 30 minutes on it.

Perhaps the better question is if the sensor works. If so, what does it really matter? Before you go on a long trip, remove the radiator cap and add if necessary. The rest of the time trust your instruments.

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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)

Good point. The sensor does work. It blinked on and off a few times, it's what led me to give a closer looksee. I had a feeling that cleaning it would be a tall order. Would be hard to get any sort of brush action inside, maybe on the end of a coat hanger and unlikely to do much cleaning without manual agitation I would think.

I put in just enough so I could see fluid through the fill hole. Didn't take much to bring it up to where I could see it.

I'll wait on the replacement. Better to spend my money, and in the next week, on a mono valve repair kit, something I've put off all summer. They're up to $130 now for OEM and everyone says don't cheap out on this one.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

It looks really good, can't see anything that looks at all questionable.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K