is it SAFE to pour coolant into a styrofoam cup?
 

Hi all!

This morning I checked my coolant level on my '90 190E (cold). I see that the level is about 1 inch from the "arrow pointing at the line" mark. I remembered during my last major service, the tech told me to add water if the coolant level is a little low. Using a styrofoam cup, I poured about 8-10oz of (filtered) water into it and then poured it into the resevoir. I then decided to add some coolant. Again, using the same cup, I poured about 5-6oz of M-B orange coolant into it and then poured the coolant into the resevoir. The coolant level was now just slightly above the arrow mark.

For some reason after I had done this, I remembered something about how styrofoam cups tend to melt, degrade, or deform when they come in contact with certain chemicals. I immediately inspected the cup I was using but didn't see any degradation or deformity. The cup looked and felt no different than in its unused condition.

I used a styrofoam cup because it was disposable and allowed me to eaily add water/coolant without spilling. Does coolant have any effect on styrofoam? And is it SAFE and OKAY to pour coolant into a styrofoam cup and then pour it into your resevoir? Thanks in advance.

No problem whatsoever.

Just don't use it for your morning coffee.

Just don't try that with gasoline! Or, do try it with gasoline just to see what happens, but be careful.