MB Coolant- To Use or Not to Use? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

GradyService · #1 01-01-2007, 08:09 PM

So, the consensus view is that, due to the lack of special anti-corrosion additives, and other specialized items, MB Coolant is the absolutely best choice. Considering the cost and availability issues, however, it seems that the Zerex G-05 is the best choice for most people with older MB's IMO. Do you have to completely flush you system of the old (green) coolant before you put in G-05? And I suppose, that this would be a great time to replace all of the old hoses (Upper and Lower Radiator, Heater Hoses, etc.)? As far as hoses go, regular aftermarket Gates or Dayco is fine, right guys?
Thanks, and God Bless,
Dave.

rchase · #2 01-01-2007, 09:34 PM

My 25 year old 300SD has service records going back to its original owner (im the second owner) and has always been serviced by MB and Ferrari dealers. They always used OEM coolant. I have the original Behr radiator in my car without any modifications or neck weakness that the 126 radiators typically suffer from.

If your too cheap to pay for the correct supplies to service your car consider doing all of the people who really like these cars a favor and finding some other brand of car to drive. The damage you do now because your too cheap to maintain your car to factory specs ends up haunting other owners in the long run. Some of us intend to keep our cars on the road forever.

GradyService · #3 01-01-2007, 09:59 PM

Well, I have no future plans to sell my 560SEL, so the only person whom I will be costing money is me

. That having been said, you probably have a point when you say that the OE coolant has helped the longevity of your car's cooling system. I, on the other hand, have had to replace the radiator, due to a leak. I might add, that at the time, when the radiator started to leak from the core, it had a yellow-gold colored coolant in it, which I assume was MB coolant. It didn't seem to help the situation any, although any radiator lasting almost 20 years seems to be a good record. The green was put in as a matter of necessity and ignorance

. It was the only thing available to me other than dex-cool. I honestly didn't know any better. I intend to replace the green coolant with G-05 in the very near future. I will probably replace all of the hoses at the same time. That having been said, my MB is a gas engine model, your 126 being a diesel would probably run forever on pure water provided it never got cold enough to freeze up

. Anyway, I appreciate your opinion, Mr. Chase. But, no I do not like my Mercedes Benz. I LOVE my Mercedes Benz. And if I truly thought that using something other than Mercedes Benz Approved Anticorrosion-Antifreeze would cause any harm to it, I would run drain it right now, and drive my one of my other cars as fast as I could tomorrow morning to the nearest MB dealership, and buy a case of it so I wouldn't run out anytime soon. I have been riding in and driving Mercedes Benz autos my whole life. The first car I ever rode in was a Mercedes, belonging to my father, which took me home from the hospital after I was born. So, even though we don't exactly agree on what to do as far as coolants go, Mr. Chase, I respect your devotion to Mercedes-Benzes.

Thanks, and God Bless,
Dave.

rchase · #4 01-01-2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GradyService

Well, I have no future plans to sell my 560SEL, so the only person whom I will be costing money is me

. That having been said, you probably have a point when you say that the OE coolant has helped the longevity of your car's cooling system. I, on the other hand, have had to replace the radiator, due to a leak. I might add, that at the time, when the radiator started to leak from the core, it had a yellow-gold colored coolant in it, which I assume was MB coolant. It didn't seem to help the situation any, although any radiator lasting almost 20 years seems to be a good record. The green was put in as a matter of necessity and ignorance

. It was the only thing available to me other than dex-cool. I honestly didn't know any better. I intend to replace the green coolant with G-05 in the very near future. I will probably replace all of the hoses at the same time. That having been said, my MB is a gas engine model, your 126 being a diesel would probably run forever on pure water provided it never got cold enough to freeze up

. Anyway, I appreciate your opinion, Mr. Chase. But, no I do not like my Mercedes Benz. I LOVE my Mercedes Benz. And if I truly thought that using something other than Mercedes Benz Approved Anticorrosion-Antifreeze would cause any harm to it, I would run drain it right now, and drive my one of my other cars as fast as I could tomorrow morning to the nearest MB dealership, and buy a case of it so I wouldn't run out anytime soon. I have been riding in and driving Mercedes Benz autos my whole life. The first car I ever rode in was a Mercedes, belonging to my father, which took me home from the hospital after I was born. So, even though we don't exactly agree on what to do as far as coolants go, Mr. Chase, I respect your devotion to Mercedes-Benzes.

Thanks, and God Bless,
Dave.

Keep in mind that there is a lot of real engineering involved in deciding what chemicals to use in coolant. I have a friend that does engineering work for MB here in the USA on the ML line of cars which is assembled in the USA. You would not believe the level of testing that is involved in some of the simplest aspects of their vehicles.

I personally am not a chemist nor have I done any tests to determine what chemicals will prolong the life of my radiator and head gasket so I use the suggested fluid. If the MB fluid was $100 a bottle I would still use it as you can't buy a radiator for $100 nor have your head gasket replaced that cheaply. Fluids and oils are always cheaper than OEM parts and the highly skilled labor to replace those parts.

If you truly love your car get out the manuals and read over the parts about the suggested fluids. Next time you have to change something spend the extra money and get the appropriate fluid. That is of course assuming your not more qualified than MB engineers to make decisions about what kind of fluids your car takes.

I completely can relate to some of the "logic" that is involved with second guessing the cost of the MB fluids. There are a lot of after market automotive shops that jack up the prices on MB cars "just because" there is a three pointed star on the hood. Mercedes is making a ton of money on the OEM parts they continue to sell to us owners. Do you honestly think they make a killing making their own fluids and selling them to a small market of owners that actually use the correct fluids?