MB Dealer using Dexcool
 

Hi,

I called my local MB Dealer today asking for a spare parts quotation. I asked if they had MB Coolant and the workshop mannager told me they use Texaco's Dexcool (havoline) coolant wich is aprooved by MB.

What do you think?

http://www.havoline.com/products/na/antifreeze_01.html

I had that coolant for all of 6 months. I think it's garbage, and I think that dealer is full of crap with the "Approved by MB"

Ahhh, .....Dexcool, the most discusting anti-freeze ever made by mankind.
There are a number of lawsuits going on, involving Dexcool.
I've NEVER seen a product cause as much grief and aggravation as that junk. :mad:

A sensible reply
 

Face it! It makes no sense to purchase a vehicle of this caliber and use substandard fluids. Hence, performanceproducts4benz.com sells the original MB anti-freeze/coolant. Price: $19.00 per gallon. Definitely worth the cost in comparison to the expense caused by using the wrong fluid!

Which dealer is that? Where is this place? I think you had better find another dealer, in Bogota, Cali, Medellin, Cartagena, Baranquilla or another place. As stated above, MB coolant is what you are using; why gamble with your motor and use an unapproved coolant for it?

Zerex G-05 is an acceptable substitute.

dexcool is most certanly not an MB approved coolant. i asked similar Q a while back on another forum. this is what i got as responces: http://www.benzworld.org/forums/off-topic/1257128-dexcool.html?highlight=dexcool

mzsmbs: That requires a BenzWorld registration, not everyone here has one of those :P
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/167103-what-causes-water-pump-fail.html?highlight=dexcool
Look for dexcool there.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/152374-mb-coolant-what-big-deal.html?highlight=dexcool
Also there

After 6 months of using dexcool, a coolant check showed: Orange in ALL my coolant pathways. I am lucky it didn't destroy my water pump. FYI, I did not mix dexcool with another coolant, I did a FULL system drain and flushed twice before putting dexcool in (once with flush, the 2nd with straight water)

The dealer is full of crap, avoid them.

Kindof like our local MB dealer that told me that they could not get parts for a 1985 Mercedes, because it was so old? :rolleyes:

My mothers 97' Oldsmobile has Dexcool (I think) from the factory. It states this is a 5 yr/100K mile coolant. My mothers Oldsmobile is now nearly 10 years old (it will be in March of 2007) and it has 158K miles on the original coolant. Maybe it was better back then? :confused:

I am still running the green coolants in my MB. Maybe it will bite the dust soon. :)

Wow!! :eek:

Dexcool looks like the worst crap on earth. We are talking about the oficial MB dealer in Medellin, Colombia and they get their stuff from the MB Dealer in Bogota (capital city). Unfortunately it looks like I can't get the original MB coolant in my country and will need to choose some substitute. All I can find in "Wal-mart style" stores are those generic cheep coolants which I think is just water with colorant. I'll check with a Cummins dealer wich I think has some Valvoline coolants. What should I look for in the labels?

I also have a 2005 Grand Vitara (original Suzuki but Chevrolet / GM in my Country). It has Rexcool from the factory and they say that's the only coolant they approve and will last 5 years so I thougt I could be a good option but after reading what you posted....

BTW, my MB has been running on tap water all it's life but I recently had to replace water pump, heater hose, radiator hose, intercooler (oil cooler?), etc.

Thanks for the info,

Juan

Although may be as difficult to find in Medellin as the MB product.

pd: Mi esposa es de Popayan y Buga.

Didn't notice you were in Colombia! We are not dealing with MB of North America here, that changes things.

Well then there are some other coolants you can probably consider. Whatever the Cummins dealer has is probably find, also try to find CAT coolant thats really good stuff.

>BTW, my MB has been running on tap water all it's life but I recently had to replace water pump, heater hose, radiator hose, intercooler (oil cooler?), etc.

Antifreeze usually is a complex solution that provides lubrication, balancing, corrosion protection and prevents plain tap water from destroying your cooling system, likely all the parts listed by you failed because plain water rotted/corroded/destroyed them. It also changes the boiling point of water depending on how what mixture you run to let you run a system at upwards of 120C without difficultly, or which likely does not apply for you to survive temps of -45C.

which antifreeze to use is depended on what engine you have since antifreeze for iron blocks is different from ones made of aluminum.

See http://www.theworkshopmb.com/TheWorkshopMB_MBZ_FactoryApprovedServiceProducts.pdf
for listing of approved products.

Any mercedes dealer should be able to order MB Part No. BQ 1 03 0002 for you without complaint, pricing, well who knows...

I'll note the service products guide states any anti-freeze which means MB 325.0 is ok, like say ESSO Long life diesel antifreeze, check the anti-freeze fine print and see if it meets the 325.0 spec.

PS I did spend a summer with Exxon in Baranquilla nearly 20 years back, so the thread brings back memories.

Anti freeze isn't antifreeze?
 

What are the symptoms or issues. What should I see that you are seeing??

I've only used off the self, on sale prestone or even Kragen's store brand. Have never seen issues or problems. I've owned 280's, 380's and 560's since '71. I change it every few years. I've only had one water pump leak at 150K on the 560. Love pulling the balancer.

Having worked with Dexcool for the last 10 years, I can tell you that it makes leaks. :mad:
Have seen items on cooling systems leak, that I've never seen before.
The tell-tale signs are usually little pink streaks, where the "damage" has been done.
I swear that garbage acts like acid.

I did heads on my vehicle when I had the dexcool in it. Keeping in mind I COMPLETELY flushed my system, and ran with Dexcool for only ~6 months...
- The cylinder walls (coolant pathways) were COATED with red goop (not rust) from the dexcool
- The head coolant passages were coated with red goop
- The radiator had red goop in it

I flushed my engine block out with a pressure sprayer.

Fleetguard options?
 

I talked to the Cummins dealer and they have Fleetguard ES Compleat EG Concentrate coolant. It looks like a better option. See technical info on bottom of page 4: http://www.cumminsfiltration.com/fleet/pdfs/product_lit/americas_brochures/LT15070.pdf

They don't mention any MB approval but the list of approved performance requierements is interesting. What do you think?

Thanks again !

Por favor, haga un gran favor a la comunidad de usuarios de Mercedes-Benz en la ciudad de Colombia donde usted vive y reporte el dealer que le dijo semejante estupidéz a DaimlerChrysler en Alemania.

Estoy seguro que muchos se lo agradeceran de antemano.

Totalmente de acuerdo A.Rosich. He tenido otros problemas con ellos en el pasado, e incluso alguna vez lo reporté a las autoridades gubernamentales pero no pasó nada. Escribiré a la gente en Alemania.

Translation:
- A. Rosich: "please do a favor to the MB comunity in your city and report the dealer who said such a stupid thing to Daimler Chrysler in Germany.
- Juan: Totally agree. I've had some other problems with them and I did once report to the local goverment authority but nothing happend. I'll write to the people in Germany.

That coolant looks pretty good, if you can't get the MB stuff I'd give it a try.

By all means report them to the Fatherland.