Lately my temp gauge has seemed to show that my car is slow to warm up. It doesn't overheat it just take a while to get up to temp. Today after a short trip it was still reading 60c. It eventually reaches 80-90c. I felt the upper radiator hose and it was quite hot. I believe this indicates the thermostat is not closing all the way.

Second question: I am going to buy the Zerex G-05 for my C230. I figured I could also put it in the old truck (1988). However the bottle said this stuff is only for 1996 and newer vehicles. Could this possibly harm an old car/truck? Like maybe it is good for aluminum but bad for copper/brass?

Thanks,

Mike

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

I think you are right about the termostat. It's a cheap fix.

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Juan
1995 E320 Sedan
2008 Ford Escape
RC Helicopter

I'm getting ready to change the coolant on my '81 300 SD. From all that I have read here, I was going to put in the Zerex G-05. How can it be that it's not recommended for cars earlier than 1996, or is that just for American built autos?

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Pictures of the MB: http://s230.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/EricandRobyn/1981%20Mercedes/

1981 300 SD with a Goldenrod water block and Injetor line heaters. EGR is missing

1999 F-350 with HP X-over, Dahl 100 Fuel Filter, Coolant by-pass filter, CCV mod, Tymar intake.

Both on single tank WVO blend

Well I just looked at the Mfg specs:

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

They seem to indicate it is good for everything although they don't come right out and say that. But they say it is good for all metals and they have some test data. And the specs say it is yellow, so I imagine that means bright yellow, not the usual MB pale straw yellow.

Mike

__________________
1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

Well I changed the coolant and the thermostat. Now the temp gets to about 85 C vs about 70 C before. I have a hard time believing my MPG will improve any since I was getting 31 in mixed driving already. I thought when I took out the old one it would be partially stuck open but it was not. Maybe the spring got weak?

The G-05 coolant is the same color as the OE, straw yellow.

__________________
1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra