'Been trying to find citric acid to use in flushing cooling sys in 91 350 SDL & 81 300D. 'Tried drug, groc and hdware stores. Local drug store has it in 4 oz. pkgs @ $9.69/pkg! Anybody know of more reassonable supplier? TIA.

I am a pharmacist by profession. Thats a lot of money for citric acid. It usually is about 2-5 bucks a pound. If you want for cooling system flush use nonpharmaceutical grade stuff. Food grade citric acid is just what you are looking for.
I did a web search for you and found following online supplier.

http://www.bestdeal.org/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=Essential&Product_Code=CITRIC-1%23

I do not have any experience with them so call them up before you buy. I do not have any experience with flushing the cooling system using citric acid either.

Good Luck

MVK

__________________
One penny saved is three penny earned.

1985 300D Turbo 179,000miles

Thanks, MVK, $2.30/lb. is more "like" it.

'Thought I was all set at $2.30/lb, but their min. order is $25.00!

Or, post a thread asking for people to sign up who want 2lbs or more... and then order the batch and parcel it out to everyone.. in your spare time of course .... A buying co-op I think you could call it....

I considered coop., bulk-buying, also, but I finked out and ordered 2 lbs. from The Chemistry Store (http://www.chemistrystore.com/citric_acid.htm) this morning. Supposedly enroute via UPS to my door @ $19.59, incl. $10.59 S & H.

As luck would have it citric acid is used by winemakers such as myself. It can be had from Presque Isle Wine Cellars: http://www.piwine.com Click on catalog, then do a seach for citric acid. 120 grams $1.25; 454 grams $3.80; 3632 grams $14.40

These prices seem much more in line.

Good luck.

They have Limes on sale at the local grocery store for 10 cents each... wonder how long it would take to squeeze 195 limes... and if I would have any left over for Limeade.... I guess I would need to strain the pulp out of the juice... do I need to use the Zest off the skin ? If I leave the pulp in will that act like Barsleak if I spring a leak ?

Does anyone know how much citric acid to add to the cooling system when flushing it?

Aivars

I think the manual says 10g/liter.

__________________
andy t
'78 300d
'95 volvo 850, wagon
'86 300sdl - engine out, maybe I'll have it rolling by June

whole bunch o' bicycles

Is " citric acid " strength something that is standardized ? Either by industry / regulations / or by the physics of making it into a powder ?
Sugar is the same whether made from Sugar Beets or from Sugar Cane.... is this something like that situation ?

HI;
Citric acid is white crystalline powder. Its like you said -- Sugar is sugar.
And Citric acid is citric acid. Its the std. However you can have different grades in citric acid. based on its purity.
The pharmaceutical grade is very pure but the food grade is right behind it followed by industrial grade. Many of the food grade citric acid may well qualify for pharmaceutical grade. A pharmaceutical grade is identified by letters USP at the end of a chemical. It stands for United States Pharmacopoea - Which is the official US Gov book on drug and pharmaceutical standards.

For cooling sys flush food grade is fine.

Now I know I can use my pharmacist's knowledge somewhere.

MVK

__________________
One penny saved is three penny earned.

1985 300D Turbo 179,000miles

Thanks, now, any opinions on whether this stuff really works ?... like on old engines which have rust built up in the bottom of the water jackets ? Like on old tractors..... diesel tractors of course... Greg

Well I have no experience with flushing the cooling system with citric acid. But I can tell you this--
Citric acid is a much weaker acid than hydrochloric acid( Muratic acid) or sulfuric acid or nitric acid. The last 3 acids are very corrosive and will corrode most of the metals. Therefore these acids are not recommended to be used in flushing the cooling system.
Citric acid is a milder acid but is acidic enough -when dissolved as per Benz reccomendations- to make the salt deposits dissolve without causing harm to the metal surface of engine, radiator or even gaskets.
Based on these arguments, I think it should work in flushing any cooling system. Most of the commercially available fhushing agents like Prestone etc. are alkaline agents and can dissolve only certain kind of gunk. I am told that the acidic reagent works better than alkaline.

Make your own conclusions but if citric acid can be used on a Benz why not on anyother D- engines.

MVK

__________________
One penny saved is three penny earned.

1985 300D Turbo 179,000miles