Here is the scenario,

Last night I got through replacing the water pump on my 300SDL by flushing everything before hand and was ready to put the new antifreeze into the car. The service library procedure states that you fill the antifreeze through the overflow tank to the top, then run it until you get to 90-100C and keep the heater temperature at maximum. Well I was able to get about a gallon and a half in, at first then I ran the car to get the car up to temperature. The temperature finally got up to 100 but I was waiting for a sign that the coolant was circulating by touching the heater lines and also touching the radiator hoses.......they weren't even warm. I shut it off to see what was happening. I reviewed the service manual instructions to recheck myself and, yes, I followed them to the letter. I then turned it on again and the temperature went back up to around 100C and then one of the lifters started clacking loud, so I shut it down again. I then decided to open up the upper radiator hose to see if there was even any coolant in the hose, there wasn't any so I decided to add coolant to the engine through the upper radiator hose after the engine cooled down for a short period. It took about 2-3 quarts to fill at this location. I started it up again and then finally got some signs that the coolant was circulating and the temp gauge was at it's normal 80C. However, the lifter is still clacking loud. Did I overheat this engine using the service manual procedures? How does everybody else add coolant after a coolant change after everything is drained? Your comments would be appreciated. I hope I didn't ruin this engine. I'm beginning to think that the coolant never made it to the engine in the first place by adding it just through the overflow tank.

Herb
'82 240D
'87 300SDL
'92 300D 2.5 Turbo