Hello: I am a proud owner of a 1986 300E, which I have owned for 2 months now. I read a couple of posts about previous owners of cars not using mercedes coolant. What is different about using mercedes coolant over , say, Prestone for instance? thanks

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Ron Miller

1986 300E

Ron, there is no difference between Prestone, Zerex or MB anti-freezes. That is what my dealer told me. I know this stuff is supposed to last 5 years or longer. Considering the low cost of anti freeze, I change every year. I added a Prestone reverse flushing kit to my cooling system. It goes in the heater hose. If allows me to attach a garden hose to the fixture and reverse flush the cooling system. I open the drain on the block and radiater, remove the radiater cap, turn the water on slowly, go drink a cup of coffee and let nature do it's job. I have a 1987 300E with 169,000 miles, the waterpump was replaced at 109,000 miles, the core plugs are still solid and the radiater still looks good. You may consider Red Line Water Wetter. It is a surfactent and it is supposed to do something to the water. Oh well that's how I do it. Happy Trails Beep Beep from Houston.

Donald
all wet

There certainly is a difference between MB antifreeze and anything green. Mercedes antifreeze is Glysantin. See the following articles:
http://www.imcool.com/articles/anitfreeze-coolant/G05-Glysantin.htm
http://www.valvoline.com/products/cooling/technicalbulletin/tb_zerex_antifreeze.html

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

Hey, good buddies lets not start the debate about antifreeze again.It's all ethylene glycol with additives to protect all metals and plastics against corrision. If Prestone, Zerex and all other brands did not protect your cooling system, do you think they would sell very much of the "stuff". Prestone and all the other brands sell much much more of their antifreeze than MB does Of their "stuff" which is made by BASF, and BASF has sold their antifreeze division to Valvolene, which is a division of Ashland Oil located in Ashland,Ky. Valvolene has their headquarters here in Lexington,Ky.
Bill Lewallen Lexington,Ky.

Ikchris, you can use whatever brand or type you want,the chemistry and additives are the same. I'll go from the budget brand, buy it "As A BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL" and change every year. I might add a pint of Water Wetter to boot. Happy Trails Beep Beep from EL CHEAPO Houston.

Donald
it don't freeze in Houston,
I'll just go with the flow

I just read the website for Glysantin. Seems that it is ethylene glycol with additives to prevent rust,etc. That's what Prestone and all the other brands contain. Same stuff, but a lot cheaper. If you want to use MB brand,so be it. You probably buy MB batteries and MB brake pads. I use ATE pads and don't have to pay for the MB logo.
Bill Lewallen Lexington,Ky.

Well, I wouldn't say this is an argument, although calling it one is a pretty worn tactic for disputing something in the absense of knowledge or evidence. Rather, the fact is ...

... there is no mechanic with the authority or knowledge to contradict manufacturer-specified products.

In the aircraft industry, such a mechanic would likely lose his or her job should he or she carry out such actions. Possibly your Alaska Air DC-9 would dive into the Pacific simply as a result of using two different brands of grease on the elevator jackscrew. (Current theory, not yet confirmed.)

Seems pretty much fact to me as well that very few mechanics have degrees in chemistry or engineering or are experts in metalurgy. It takes a team to get this right, and mechanics should defer to team members with the requisite knowledge on issues like this. Should I encounter a mechanic that desires to be a "one man show" or "not a team player," I'd just walk away and would recommend others do so as well. The desire to save a few cents could possibly be seen as admirable, but generally it's penny wise-pound foolish. The cost difference in using the specified product is negligible.

Interesting thing about this for sure is the financial motivation. Seems until recently it's likely independent mechanics couldn't procure Mercedes-spec antifreeze except from their local Mercedes dealer. Probably not much discount doing that. Dealer may not deliver to the independent's shop, either. Probably lots of motivation to make profit on parts and supplies sales, which this situation complicates and which drives independent mechanics to recommend something they can more easily procure and make more profit on. They may even very honestly believe they are doing the right thing--that is, I'm not trying to personally attack anyone and recognize there are lots of factors here. I suggest now that Glysantin is available here, the situation should ease somewhat.

The fact also is the base stock for about all automotive antifreeze is indeed ethylene glycol as was noted (it could also be propylene glycol--Sierra, etc.) but it's truly the additional components that make the difference and the additive packages are very definitely different, as is, reportedly, the performance. Just like a lot of other chemicals, motor oil being another example.

This is all a conspiracy between Mercedes and some antifreeze manufacturer, right? Mechanics always know more than engineers, especially the engineers that designed the vehicles they work on, right? There are no better parts or chemicals than those on WalMart's shelves, right? Just simple logic would suggest differently.

Unless a respondent can cite scientific studies and evidence and manufacturer agreement, I'd suggest this forum is not the place to seek or provide recommendations on automotive chemicals. How to install, how to repair, how to diagnose ... it's great.

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

If prestone and all the other brands of antifreeze are so terrible, why do they even bother to make the stuff? Why don't we all just use the Valvolene product Glysantin(Zerex).I won't boast of the degrees I have from college,but I do know chemistry. I also know about business and Mfg. practices and economics.It's the bottom line that counts.
Bill Lewallen Lexington,Ky.

You can do that in Houston? In the SF Bay Area, the storm drains flow directly to the bay so we're supposed to dispose of coolant down house/facility drains. It ends up in the bay anyway, but it goes through a treatment plant first.

Regards,
Sixto
78 450SEL
91 300SE

Sixto,no we don't drain our waist in our sewers as you don't in your City by the Bay. You assumed I did and you know what assume makes you. IKCHRIS, per document MBNA/MBC 473 (Rev 3-87),FACTORY APPROVED SERVICE PRODUCTS, All Passenger Cars, Section H. APPROVED ANTICORROSION/ANTIFREEZE FOR ALL ENGINE TYPES. MB Anticorrosion/Antifreeze(specifically formulated to protect aluminum parts). Source MB dealers. You are right to the letter. My 1987 300E with 169,000 miles(rounded down, member SIXTO), had the original water pump renewed at 90,000 miles(same note) and the radiator and heater core are still in place. At the first change and every year after I have used Zerex.I have used the same technique. I encourage every member to evaluate and make his own choice. Happy Trails Beep Beep from clean sewers Houston.

Donald
Chief Sewer Inspector

Oh hum. This one could go for a while. All antifreeze is not created equal. If you want to have a mess just mix a low silicate antifreeze with a high silicate. First you get a jello like crap in you cooling system then the silicates start to precipitate out and collect on radiator tubes as a hard scale. Next you get to replace your radiator AND your heater core too. Use a low silicate antfreeze. Use a low silicate diesel antifreeze designed for the trucking industry and you will never have a problem. NEVER MIX.

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Mark
82 300SD 110k
91 Caprice SS
92 Jetta TD
97 Cadillac Concours(300hp)
84 Celebrity 4.3L diesel

Mark, a well plsced caution about mixing orange juice and milk. And this forum could go on forever, only seconded by what type of engine lubricating oil. Happy Trails Beep Beep from drink it straight Houston.

Donald
Zerex today and to-morrow.

I seem to remember hearing once that there are only about three or four manufacturers of coolant/antifreeze in the whole country and that all brands come from them. Is there any truth to this?

John - for a period of time I worked for a large, multi national chemical co. in Charleston, WV. This particular facility made MASSIVE amounts of ethylene glycol in addition to aircraft de-icing fluid. I would have to answer your question in the affirmative that there are probably only a handful of companies that produce this stuff. The ethylene oxide (raw material for ethylene glycol) is the nasty stuff that a lot of companies do not want to be bothered with having to handle.
Personally, I use the MB antifreeze because it is really not that much more expensive.
Jim
'95 E320
'97 Honda CRV

Let's get off this antifreeze thing and talk about batteries. Especially MB batteries. Now we all know that Daimler-Benz does not make batteries. I don't even think Chrysler makes them. The MB dealer will sell you "their" battery with the Mercedes logo for around $150.You can buy a battery with higher cranking amps and longer lasting life at Advanced Auto Parts for a little over $50.A friend of mine just bought one of the Advanced Auto batteries this morning.He is a High School science teacher and when I asked him why he didn't buy a Mercedes battery from our local dealer, he laughed and said, "Do think I'm stupid.Why should I pay $150 for a battery, when I can get as good a battery for $50".I guess some people are plain out and out stupid.
By the way, Advanced Auto does not make batteries, either.
I'll stick with the store brands and try to keep my sanity.
Bill Lewallen Lexington,Ky