why MB antifreeze?

[Pete Burton]

Sure MB wants you to believe this, but what's the reasoning behind it? Does the MB product provide a sacrificial molecular layer within the water jacket which protects it from the erosive effects of cavitation? Compatability with the seals for the plastic end tanks on the radiator?

[Hatterasguy]

MB antifreeze is different then any other I have seen, it is very light orange almost clear. I use it to protect my $2000 head and $400 plastic radiator. I guess it is better for plastics, at $9 a gallon I will use it for cheap insurance.

[Rick Miley]

This has been debated ad nauseum. Click the search button at the top of the page and search for "green coolant." Settle in for several hours of entertaining and informative reading.

[sixto]

Zerex G05 which can cost as much as MB branded coolant claims to meet MB requirements.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

[speedy300Dturbo]

Originally posted by sixto
Zerex G05 which can cost as much as MB branded coolant claims to meet MB requirements.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

That's because they are the EXACT same product in different packagin!

[vahe]

This has been discussed extensively here. The other day I was at the dealer for servicing our E320, I asked the dealer about this, according to the dealer the "green stuff" is safe with all cast iron engines such as 240D's but they do recommennd the "yellow stuff" for light alloy engine/heads.

Thanks,
Vahe

[lietuviai]

I have the green stuff in my iron OM617 300D and it hasn't caused any problems. Doesn't even run hot. The PO has used it for many years before I owned the car. I must admit I haven't been able to look inside my radiator. I did have to replace my plastic coolant tank last year but that was because it was old and brittle.

I have the dreaded green stuff in my M117. Same with PO. Car came from TX, when I bought it, had the whole system inspected --No probs.


What's the chemistry behind the color?

[mplafleur]

Originally posted by sixto
Zerex G05 which can cost as much as MB branded coolant claims to meet MB requirements.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

I bought about 6 gallons of that stuff at Autozone for ~$6 a gallon. I've only used it in the M-class.

Don't mix it with green!

[gsxr]

The MB stuff (and G-05) has a different chemical makeup that keeps the pH levels constant throughout the life of the coolant. I believe the base pH (of new, unused antifreeze) is also different than the "green" stuff. I forget exactly, but I believe the MB stuff is more neutral, and the green is higher pH. The complaints I've seen with "green" are the plastic radiators turning brittle and the necks snapping, and for some reason the water pump seals can weep with green (had that on my old 300E, before I was informed I should switch - and switching cured the weep/leak. Go figure.) Any system with an aluminum head, and/or radiator, should ONLY use the MB/G-05 stuff. If you insist on not using it, to save a whopping $5 per YEAR at most, is way far beyond foolish. To each his own though.

A note about the neon-orange colored "long life" crap - do a search on Google for Dex-Cool problems (aka Death Cool). I can't believe that junk is still on the market. FWIW, I use MB/G-05 in all my vehicles - Mercedes, Ford, VW, and Aprilia (motorcycle).

I have considered using the Evans NPG stuff, which has some really cool properties, but it ain't cheap... and conversion is not quite a drop-in procedure. Maybe someday I'll experiment with that.

[gsxr]

some photos of Mike Nowak's 1987 300D radiator with "green" in it (before... it now has MB coolant!)

[wolf_walker]

Mine has had the orange stuff in it for, well, ever more or less. No problems, inside of upper hose fitting was spotless, litteraly when I changed it(to G-05). It's a small cost.

[JimmyL]

If you buy a car that is green already, can you simply flush the system and go back with the MB-type stuff? Flush with water, or a radiator flush?

[gsxr]

Originally posted by JimmyL
If you buy a car that is green already, can you simply flush the system and go back with the MB-type stuff? Flush with water, or a radiator flush?

Yup - drain, flush, and fill with the correct stuff... and hope there wasn't any real damage done from the green. Plain water should be ok to flush it out but if the system is of unknown condition (which is usually the case with a "new" used car purchase), a Prestone Super Flush type product wouldn't hurt. If the system is decent, the flush should come out pretty clear. If it comes out brown & nasty, repeat the flush (with cleaner) until it comes out clean. And never, ever put cool water (or garden hose) into a warm cooling system - great way to crack the head or block! Let the engine cool WAY down, or pour in clean hot water.

And of course, never pour used anti-freeze on the ground, or in storm drains... it's deadly poisonous to pets and fish. If you live in a city with public sewer systems, you can usually pour it down the toilet, and the treatment plant safely filters it out. Call to check though. I'm in a rural area with a septic tank and I have to save it all and bring to a county haz-mat collection center...

[jdblann]

Guys ya'll can run the green stuff if you want.
As for me I plan on keeping my cars a long time
and don't want to have NECESSARY problems with them.
My expierence is with truck engines and they have a problem with something called electrolysis. The aluminum parts
are eaten away and end up in the radiator
and elsewhere. For years we have had to run an
"additive" in the green antifreeze to prevent this.
Newer antifreeze formulations are now out that are
red in color and have the additive already mixed in. I
suspect MB has the additive in their formulation as they
engineer their cars and expect them to run for many hundreds of
thousands of miles. The 617 engines have aluminum parts in
the cooling system that are susceptible to electrolysis.

It just is not worth the risk IMHO.