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  #1  
Old 04-23-2003, 08:32 PM
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Question Coolant

Okay, I get the idea that the 'green stuff' is not a good idea, but does it HAVE to be MB coolant? ARe there other acceptable brands? Is it the green dye that is so corrosive? If it's not green, does that mean it's acceptable?

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Old 04-23-2003, 09:43 PM
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Oh boy, you are looking to start a war with that one. Some run the green stuff with no problems, others swear by MB brand coolant. Provided you flush the cooling system and maintain it well there should be no problem with either. I don't think there has ever been a documented case of the "incorrect" coolant causing any damage if used correctly. Myself I prefer Shell Rotella ELC which is an extended life coolant for heavy-duty diesel use. It is available premixed which makes flushing easy. I purchase it by the case from a local distributor and use it in all my cars. RT
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  #3  
Old 04-23-2003, 11:22 PM
123c
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I switched over to the some Dex-cool stuff since it easy to get almost everywhere. I would use MB stuff, but since the nearest dealer is over 2 hours away...
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Old 04-24-2003, 09:17 AM
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I'll take the MB coolant side

The MB coolant is not the same as anything you will find in the auto parts stores. As is the case with all fluids, Mercedes-Benz has worked with their suppliers to come up with formulations that are compatible with the other materials used in their cars. According to rwthomas1, there's no documented case of damage from incorrect coolant. What about all those broken plastic radiator necks? Personally, I believe that the coolant contributed to the plastic deterioration.

Remember the Mercedes-Benz advertising slogan from the 1970s? "Engineered like no other car in the world." The MB engineers didn't just go down the street to Jurgen's Auto Parts, buy some coolant, and say "OK, we'll use that." No, there's a science behind this stuff and Mercedes-Benz does it better than any other car company. That's why we're using 20+ year old cars as daily drivers. They're also still supporting our old cars like no other car company, so you can be confident that today's fluids from MB are backward compatible.

Yes, the fluids from Mercedes are more expensive. But they're pennies compared to the systems they work in. If you want to blow water pumps, power steering seals, self leveling pumps and every other such system, then go to Pep Boys and load up. But if you want lots of happy trouble-free miles, go the the dealer and buy the good stuff.

End of diatribe #323.

Eric - sorry you live in BFE. You could stock up on everything with one dealer trip, or contact a dealer like Fletcher Jones or Capitol West and have them ship you stuff.
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  #5  
Old 04-24-2003, 09:21 AM
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A number of parts houses carries MB collant. Performance Products is one.
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Old 04-24-2003, 10:02 AM
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You can just get it from FastLane, up above. I try never to buy at the local dealer. Their markups are ridiculous and they really only car about selling new cars. I only buy from them if I need the part yesterday.
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Old 04-24-2003, 10:30 AM
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Yikes, I didn't mean to start a 'war'.

I am about an hour+ away from a dealer (or Hopefung), and it's a very busy week (hard to come up with 2+hrs to go and get it). I phoned around to some places closer to me, but so far no one carries the MB stuff. That's why I asked about other possibilities. I don't exactly need it 'yesterday', but we did lose some coolant during the valve adjustment. Not sure how much. It's running okay, but the temp did get up to 90 yesterday. Usually it stays at 80.

Oh well, we'll figure something out. Is the MB stuff premixed? I got a quote of $15/gal, and we were thinking it would take 3 to completely change the system. But if it's not mixed yet, I'd only need half that.

Thanks!
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Old 04-24-2003, 10:38 AM
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It's not premixed.

Pardon my ignorance, but what are the temps like up there this time if year? If you don't need freeze protection, just topping up with water will get you by until you can get the coolant.

Yes, there are online places that sell the stuff in the US, but poor Natalie is in Canada where the shipping and exchange rate (and duty?) would kill the deal. I don't know if there are any Canadian online suppliers. Maybe you could inquire at MBCanada.com. (This should be fun)
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  #9  
Old 04-24-2003, 10:51 AM
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Rick,

I believe the radiator neck problems are caused by mental deteriation of the person who replaced a metal part that has survived almost 100 years of service with about zero failures with a cheap plastic part to save a few cents.

I could understand GM or Ford doing the above , but for MB to replace a perfectly good metal part with plastic is unconscionable.

Its not doing cheap little things like the above that make the older 240D,300D and 300SD so reliable and long lasting. Another thing is not to replace cast iron and brass with aluminum.

P E H
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  #10  
Old 04-24-2003, 10:58 AM
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Radiator necks have since been reinforced with metal.

I would NEVER use DEX-COOL. Its turns into brown sewage like material in some new GM cars that come with it. Do a search on the net for Dexcool problems and you will see what I mean.

The problem with the Green stuff is the higher pH eats plastic over time. The MB coolant is pH 7 (neutral) and bufferred to help it stay that way. Its available mail order & is NOT pre-mixed.

I've used green in the past and will switch to MB coolant during my engine swap.

Brian
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  #11  
Old 04-24-2003, 11:16 AM
123c
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I am going to stick with the Dex-Cool that I am using for a while, and if it turns into brown sewage sludge looking stuff then I will replace it with some MB coolant. The stuff I am using meets several DaimlerChrysler requirements, so I figure it must be good enough to use in my 24 years old MB...
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  #12  
Old 04-24-2003, 11:22 AM
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If your car was properly flushed you MAY be Okay.

The previous owner of my 1987 300D installed Dexcool (and did so in his 300SDL also) and both had brown sludge.

Some GM dealers won't even use it.

YMMV,
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  #13  
Old 04-24-2003, 11:24 AM
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Jassz,

Have you thought of replacing your coolant with Evans waterless coolant? The only disadvantage is the cost, about $25 per gallon.
It is used full strength, so you need twice a much as regular AF that is mixed with water.

It is not ethylene glycol. Its ethylene polypropylene and boils at 375F, yes three seven five Farenheit and with out a pressure cap. Therefore it takes the strain of pressure off the entire cooling system. Freezing is something like -40F.

Here is another cheap out by the Manufacturers: instead of building a more expensive non pressurized cooling system that will cool the engine properly, they make a cheaper pressurized system that gives owners problems after the warranty either runs out or are not covered by the warranty.

I put the Evans coolant in 2 of my MB: 300SD and 300SD. In a trip to the west US last year, I admit the engine ran a little hotter up the hills in the Rocky Mtns but as soon as I went over the top and down the other side, the temp came back to normal. And all this with the radiator cap loose so there was no strain on the radiator, water pump, hoses, heater core, ETC. I also use it in my Diesel tractor. It always overheates because of chaff preventing air from going thru the radiator. With regular antifreeze, it was boiling and loosing coolant by the time the over temperature light came on. With the Evans coolant the light comes on long before it boils and I can stop and remove the chaff with out any boiling or loss of coolant. Again without pressure on the system.

I think Evans is great amd well worth the extra cost.

P E H

Last edited by P.E.Haiges; 04-24-2003 at 11:35 AM.
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  #14  
Old 04-24-2003, 11:25 AM
123c
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I think I did an ok job flushing it out, I spent several ours flushing it out. I will keep my eye on it, and when it changes cooler I will flush it again and just switch over to the MB coolant...
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  #15  
Old 04-24-2003, 02:32 PM
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janko

Take your request private.
123 - I liked the pic with the bag & sock o' 1/4's better.
thanks

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