Cooling System Flush

[BDBENZ]

Need some advise please. I am planning to do most maintenance on my own, but wonder about a couple of items. If I change the coolant, can I just drain the coolant, refill with distilled water, warm up engine, drain again and add proper coolant to achieve 50/50 mix? Will this do a good job without draining the block? I followed this practice on all of my other vehicles over the years, but maybe it is not the correct way.

Thanks for any help,

BD

[BDBENZ]

Your right in the procedure, as I believe in doing it the correct. This is one of those things that I am running out of time on, and was looking at the sorter way. I probably will call and take it in to the dealer for a flush. I suppose every two years isn’t to often for them to see me.

Thanks for the response,

BD

[BDBENZ]

Okay, you touched on one of my suspicions, and at least, a concern.

At last count, which I quit adding a few years ago, I have owned 18 new cars with warranty. I have been to a dealer less than ten times since 1973, my first new car. In the past I have performed the maintenance and repairs at my cost, even when it would have been covered under warranty. I have always thought that I was better than who was doing the work on my car. I have never had my car to a dealer, where it did not come back with a new scratch or dirty carpet. It drives me nuts! This car has the carpet swept every time it is returned to the garage, waxed every three to four weeks, and has not had water on it since May. I only drive on sunny days and dust off the car and cover when I get back. I know, my wife calls me “crumb king”. Over the last ten years, I have since been driving company cars that I turn in every 18 months for a new one, and really have not been back to a dealer. I use a convenient local owned tire store for routine maintenance, which is paid for by the company. I have wanted something to " tinker with" as a mental exercise, so I picked up this 560 SL. It is in really nice original condition, and I would like to do my own work. It is my first MB. I am not really in a hurry to get things done, for needing to drive the car, I have five vehicles available to use. It just takes me awhile to get to the maintenance, because of travel for work and taking care of the daughters cars, etc. and I wanted to get the car caught up on things that have not been done in a while. Over the last month or so, I have been replacing all of the rubber seals and enjoying driving the car on weekends. I guess I have all winter to get things in shape.

I appreciate your candor as I really feel the same. I know there are good people out there, some on this forum, but not locally that I know I can and would trust to take of things the correct way. That is why I would do it myself. I lived in Madison for 4 years, and still travel there, and if I had my car up there, would let Gilly work on it. To date I have not used my local MB dealer. Please send me the information you have on the citric acid flush and degreaser and I will make the time to get the coolant changed. The car has always had the maintenance done according to the mileage, but the service records show that the brake fluid and coolant were last changed in 1996. That was only 6,000 miles ago, but quite a few years. Thank you for your help. If you want or would fax me some information, I will email you my fax number at work.

BD

[sjsfiji]

Moraine,

Would it be too much to ask for the information. I'm at my wits ends as well in regards to what and where to buy the appropriate citric acid flush...

please advise,

sjsfiji@hotmail.com

[jcantor]

sjsfiji,

I got mine on the web from a site called chemistrystore.com. Very good price, reasonable shipping and easy to deal with.

jlc

[sjsfiji]

Great info... always appreciated....