it's losing about a gallon a day! since the local radiator shop wants $1000 to replace it, i'm just adding fluid-- how much stop leak can i use? it never overheats, and never seems to leak below the bottom part of the reservoir-- so i'm guessing i'm about a gallon or less down. nobody wants to repair it, of course, but i think it could be fixed.
thanks as usual!

you should at least find out where it's leaking from. loose hoses or cracked radiator? if it's cracked, I don't see that you have many choices.

__________________
98 ML320 (gone but not forgotten)

I would never use stop leak in a modern engine. Too many small necessary openings and passages that could get plugged.

__________________
1973 280SE 4.5 (Sold)
1984 LWB 280GE (Sold)
2000 G500 NMLE - "Deep Throat"
2007 ML320 CDI (Sold)
2010 Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia TipTronic (Sold)
2010 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI (Sold and Sorely Missed)
2014 ML350 BTC
2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI (On Order)

New radiator $397.50 + shipping here http://www.trademotion.com/partlocator/index.cfm?siteid=213951 Can't be that hard to DIY. My 2 cents.

Big question is...where is the antifreeze going ?

Do you notice drips under the radiator or hoses? Hopefully you do , because you definately do not want antifreeze diluting your oil, indicating a cracked head gasket. Pull your dipstick and make sure its pure oil and not milky or white, indicating water......take it from there !!

yeah, thanks. the leak seems to be coming from the main intake at the top of the radiator---the big hose on the drivers side---- can't you do a repair on the cracked part? got some "liquid steel" or whatever- can't imagine you can't patch the crack or tape it or something...how much coolant does the reservoir hold, by the way?

thanks

The radiator for MOST ML's has a HIGH list of $530 (made in USA by a French Co "Valeo")... I would think $400 would be a good price.

Takes less than 2 hrs to install...Where is the $1000?????


What year & model ...after 04/98 the number is 163-500-00-03.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
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190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

i hear you!!! i think it's mostly because i'm in a resort area in florida--that's good info- thanks for the post, but until then, it only leaks out to the bottom of the reservoir- the most it's ever gotten down is about 1 inch below the seam ( the full cold line) am i doing any damage with it until it gets fixed?

thanks

Is the leak in the radiator or the tank on the firewall? The full cold line is NOT a level on the radiator itself, but about halfway down the overflow tank on the firewall. If that tank is constantly empty, you could be damaging the electric recirculation pump that runs after the truck is shut down, recirculating part of the fluid in the system through the overflow tank.
The $1,000 estimate is outrageous. I would bet that if you walked into a dealer they would not quote you that much to replace it, and it can be done as a DIY with the part from the dealer probably being half that. But, be warned, the MB collant (which is the best out there ane what you should use) is VERY expensive. You will need 5-6 quarts of it, so you will need to buy 2 gallons. I forget how much it is, but I think last time I picked some up it was $35 per gallon jug.

DCF, the sponsor of this very same site offers the MB coolant for about $20

__________________
98 ML320 (gone but not forgotten)

Last time when I needed it they were out and said they may not carry anymore, due to the shipping of liquids causing some type of issue (even though it is not haz., it gets classified as Haz., something like that).

If they have it for that price now, our leaking radiator friend is in luck!

It's made in the USA by Zerex; and the Zerex antifreeze is on MB's approved list, too. If you want the specific number, let me know; and I'll look it up on the WIS.

__________________
1973 280SE 4.5 (Sold)
1984 LWB 280GE (Sold)
2000 G500 NMLE - "Deep Throat"
2007 ML320 CDI (Sold)
2010 Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia TipTronic (Sold)
2010 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI (Sold and Sorely Missed)
2014 ML350 BTC
2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI (On Order)

Use MB fluid or Zerez G-05. NOTHING ELSE!!!

http://www.valvoline.com/pages/products/product_detail.asp?product=10

__________________
Jim