coolant flush question...
 

Hi,

The previous owner used Prestone. How do I flush the system before using the MB coolant. What do i flush it with?

thanks,

until you get adult responses, try searching under key words citric acid.

According to the E-Class Owner's Bible, use MB alkaline cooling system cleaner (P/N 001 986 21 71). Using a 3% solution is supposed to work well.

I recently had a head gasket replaced and the dealer used this stuff and flushed it twice to make sure they got the oil out of the system.

great info...
 

Thanks for the info...

Yes, the flush agent above is the correct thing to do. The only thing I can add is that once you have used the flush, you can rinse everything away very thoroughly on these cars with a garden hose.

Begin, by removing the hose at the drivers side rear of the cylinder head and the hose from the auxilliary water pump. Rig up a way to connect your garden hose, or if you don't mind the possibility of getting a little wet, simply hold the garden hose to the hose that you removed from the head. This will reverse flush the heater core. Flush it thoroughly until good clear water is coming out and all flush agent is removed.

Then at the passenger side rear of the engine behind the exhaust manifold is a drain port that will accept a piece of hose. Open it, and open the bottom drain of the radiator at the passenger side front of the radiator. Make an adapter for your garden hose that will fit over the block drain. With the engine off and the radiator drain open, apply garden hose pressure here for a little while to flush everything out.

Do everything you can to flush alot of water through. Remove your hose and drain out as much of the water as possible. You can blow into the heater core a little to flush out most of the water that is in there.

With everything back together, for 50-50 antifreeze/water, pour in about 4.5 quarts of antifreeze, then top off with water. Run the engine with the pressure tank cap off and let the level drop after the thermostat opens. Top it off with water and you should be all set.

Good luck,

great
 

You're the man Larry... many thanks...

Check the label on the MB antifreeze bottle. It will give you the proper ratio to use for your climate. 50/50 is not correct for all climates.

MB alkaline cooling system cleaner (P/N 001 986 21 71)
 

Where can i buy this?

thanks,

Re: MB alkaline cooling system cleaner (P/N 001 986 21 71)
 

Your local MB dealer should stock it. It's an MB part.

dealer item...
 

I called one here and they don't have such thing. This avail in the net?

thanks,

Re: dealer item...
 

That's a valid p/n. I'm sitting here looking at an Invoice from my Mercedes dealer in Scottsdale, AZ and that part is shown on it (cleaning compound @ $18.70).

If you are near California, call Caliber Motors at 1-800-252-8877 and have them ship it to you UPS ground. You could also have your local dealer order it for you.

in stock
 

Just called and they do have it in stock for $14.30, coolant is $13.65 and t-stat is $28.60.

According to him, the cleaner is a degreaser.

Do I still need to flush with citric acid before or after the degreaser????

thanks,

Actually, you probably don't need the degreaser. The citric acid is probably the right thing to use.

Incidently, I just bought MB anti-freeze for $10.50 and a T-stat for $15.29 from here.

http://www.***************/

Since I spent over $75 shipping was free. It was supposed to be sent UPS ground but I got it in three days Atlanta to Phoenix.

great
 

thanks for the great info...

I will go ahead and buy the things i need for coolant flush, oil change, etc... and get the free shipping...

thanks again....