300TE Running hot, sound like radiator? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

benzme · #16 06-09-2011, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sptt

Benzme...where did you find out that the single hash mark between the 80 degree and 120 degree mark is a 90 degree indicator? I count the next one above 80 as 90 but can't find anything that says what the marks actually indicate...

You mean this mark? It's 90 degrees. After someone suggested it was 100 I asked my (40 year exp) MB mechanics and they said it was 90. They showed me by putting a digital temperature reader on the sender.

My car runs in all conditions about halfway between 80 and this mark. The aux fan cuts in at 107 which is about half way between this hash mark and 120 and always drags it back quick smart.

You can prove it to yourself, as I did by using a digital multimeter with a temperature reading function.

Apologies to ps2cho for the little hijack

.

Hit Man X · #17 06-09-2011, 07:52 AM

MB updated that plastic cooling fan for the M103s. 1032000423 should be the PN... my '90 has it so it was probably a running change around '89/90 area. I wish I could find an even larger fan that came on the late BMW M30s to pull even more air.

This place does: http://fanclutch.com/custom_fan_blades.asp

Your temps are a bit warmer than mine here in Texas and I typically have temps around 90°C with the A/C on (obviously slightly higher if I have to sit in standstill traffic). I use the updated fan that came on my car, 79°C thermo, and some no-name-brand aftermarket radiator.

Not to worry, my 300SEL is an absolute TURD in the heat with the A/C on... I mean it can barely get out of its own way.

ps2cho · #18 06-09-2011, 10:30 AM

I've spotted there was a design change in fan clutch attached fan, but unless you update the fan clutch, you can't get the later design so when my fan clutch fails to work I'll get the 9 blade over 11. I think its probably only a minor cooling benefit.

benzme · #19 06-09-2011, 08:24 PM

I stand corrected. Apparently the mark between 80 and 120d denotes 100c. Apologies for the wrong information. I now must reassess how my car runs in the hot weather.

ps2cho · #20 06-09-2011, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benzme

I stand corrected. Apparently the mark between 80 and 120d denotes 100c. Apologies for the wrong information. I now must reassess how my car runs in the hot weather.

Thought it was because like I said with 87C tstat, it sits right between 80C and the "100C" mark. Made sense...

Got the Nissens radiator today. Will do it in the next few days and report back with hopefully successful news.

ps2cho · #21 06-11-2011, 12:16 AM

Replaced Radiator....

Unplugged the drain plug on the head, drained coolant, flushed it with garden hose to get rid of all the brown tinted coolant til it came out clear. Put in ~1.25gal zerex and .75gal distilled water (since there was still water left in the system, so 1.25 + .75 + .75 = 2.5gal).

Topped it up until it started coming out of bolt hole in head, tightened that then ran the car for 15mins with the coolant cap off to rid of any excess air bubbles. Ran heater too....

Seems to still be running around 90C tonight with my 79C thermostat, so I don't see a difference right now. It should no doubt be running at 80C, not 90C tonight. I'm sure tomorrow after a drive it'll be in the 100C range again.....

Any other ideas?

Can the fan clutch blade be put on backwards or does it only go on one way? I'm not convinced this is a pump flow issue -- I just can't believe a pretty much brand new pump cannot handle 95F ambient temps.

sptt · #22 06-11-2011, 04:08 AM

ps2cho...I got my car back yesterday from the shop with the new engine installed and it is running midway between the 80 and next dash mark in 75 degree weather! Has the Zerex in it and runs good but when I sat at the carwash waiting to go through, it started climbing over the dash mark (100 degrees) until I got through it, put it into drive and pulled forward. My previous engine ran a little above the 80 mark and when hot, right under or at the next has mark. What the heck??? I'm scared to death to overheat this thing again!

Ferdman · #23 06-11-2011, 05:04 AM

sptt, a proper functioning thermostat is essential to maintain proper engine operating temperature. Recommend either Wahler or Behr thermostats of the temperature rating MB specifies for your engine. As you know a malfunctioning thermostat restricts coolant flow causing engine temperature to increase, possibly to the point of overheating the head and warping it.

A few years back our 1992 300CE's engine suddenly started running at a higher temperature than normal. Replacing the thermostat resolved the problem immediately.

nestorb98 · #24 06-11-2011, 09:05 AM

Only because ALL the problems you've mentioned happened to me and because someone on this very forum mentioned that perhaps my "coolant fan connector" might be plugged in backwards...and I didn't listen to him!

Turns out in my case...that's what it was.

Somebody, somewhere along the way unplugged the fans and plugged them backwards. So after replacing every part...well I now have a cooling system that will last me until 500,000 miles and a very well learned lesson.

I sold my 91 wagon three years ago to someone ho did not understand what they were buying. A year later I saw it on Craigslist and bought it back. It had always been a reliable vehicle for me and my family and I'd owned it from 1998 to 2008 and it never let me down. I found a 95 wagon and so decided to cut the '91 loose...that was my first mistake.

So when I took it to Schultze's here in Phoenix and he told me "Hey your fan plug is on backwards...that's why your car is overheating!", I gladly paid the bill and drove away from there...and that was about a year ago...and the temp has never risen above where it is supposed to be.

I know your pain!...I hope that's all it is...those head gasket jobs can be pricey!

I never really thanked that poster who mentioned it to me but I am going to go back and let you know who it was.

300 Tango Echo...out!

ps2cho · #25 06-11-2011, 11:09 AM

Which connector plug is this?

nestorb98 · #26 06-11-2011, 11:26 PM

the cooling fans...the two fans in front of the radiator. For some reason they can be rasily plugged in backwards.

Somebody on this forum pointed that out and like I mentioned Schulte's on 7th in Phoenix found it. That's what happened to me...and I think that's what's going on with yours...by the way, you've answered some of my postings in the past...and for that I thank you.

sptt · #27 06-12-2011, 01:39 PM

Ferdman...can you dive me a link to what you recommend for the t-stats so I can get the right one?

ps2cho · #28 06-12-2011, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sptt

Ferdman...can you dive me a link to what you recommend for the t-stats so I can get the right one?

87C is OE, 79C will work perfectly fine as well. Just make sure you get Behr.

tjts1 · #29 06-12-2011, 04:04 PM

With a 79c thermostat mine runs anywhere between 80c and 90c depending on air temperature. It never drops below 80 and never gets over 90. Ambiant air temp and speed are the crucial factors. I don't have a clutch fan.

ps2cho · #30 06-12-2011, 10:57 PM

Drove a more full day today and this time I never saw over 100C and on the freeway it was considerably better. Definitely a step in the right direction.

Something weird I noticed though -- from a stop, when I accelerate the temps go up right away about 5c before returning. Normal?

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