In my previous post I told how I had my water pump replaced. The shop put in new anti freeze. When I got home and had a look at the coolant reservoir, I saw that the antifreeze was green! I thought that all MB approved antifreeze had a pale yellow color. The new antifreeze was really green, not that yellow-green of Prestone.

I called the shop, didn't get the owner but a mechanic told me the anti freeze they used was "phosphate free" and ok for all Mercedes. He said they bought it in 55 gal drums and used it on all the MBs thay worked on.

Questions: Does this sound right? Should I leave the new antifreeze in or change it to MB or Xerex G05?

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1986 300E
1993 Volvo 940 Wagon
1984 Volvo 240 (daughter's)
1976 Dodge 1/2T pickup, gas hog

The green antifreeze could very well be phosphate-free, but that is not a big deal in the US, as I understand that the water in Europe is where the phosphates beomes a problem. There are several other attributes to the antifreeze recommended by M-B. Chances are that the green antifreeze that was installed was generic, phosphate-free, all-purpose type, and not the G05 level (hybrid technology) which is the M-B recommended type. This link shows the diffences in antifreeze types, and is a company that supplies shops: http://www.advancedliquidrecycling.com/products/antifreeze/formulas.htm

Thanks for the info. I'll be draining the generic anyifreeze and replacing with the approved type. I'm a bit suprized that the shop cuts corniers like this. Maybe I should look for a different Indy shop, if there is one around here.

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1986 300E
1993 Volvo 940 Wagon
1984 Volvo 240 (daughter's)
1976 Dodge 1/2T pickup, gas hog

I think you have to worry that they drained the radiator...and didn't drain the block... then the old mixes with the new..

this is one of those DIY jobs that you are better off doing it yourself than a shop..

kind of like doing a tranny service...but not draining the torque converter.. job half done or less than half done..

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

They charged me for 1 gal of antifreeze which would not be enough to completely change the antifreeze. It may have been just diluted 50/50 and they refilled to the level of the thermostat. You are probably right that I now have a mixture of whatever they put in and the MB antifreeze.

I don't know if that is a problem with the MB coolant but I do know that regular Prestone and Dexcool must not be mixed.

Thanks for the reminder.

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1986 300E
1993 Volvo 940 Wagon
1984 Volvo 240 (daughter's)
1976 Dodge 1/2T pickup, gas hog

Relax. Prestone (or generic green antifreeze) can be mixed with MB/G-05 coolant. It's not a big deal, you just won't get the 5 yr/100,000 mile life expectancy out of it. (I get the feeling, however, that you're the sort of owner who does a coolant flush sooner than that anyway.)

However, if they had put Dexcool in there, you would have been in SERIOUS trouble.

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'01 SLK320, '79 450SL & '01 C320 -- What? 3 Mercedes? I am DEFINITELY crazy!!!