Well, I don't know...I never have used anything but MB coolant. Four radiators exploded anyway. And, the motorist I mentioned that I stopped to help...his coolant was not green, either.

__________________
2012 E350
2006 Callaway SC560

What color is the MB coolant anyway and how much does it cost?

__________________
Gerry

59 Ranchero
83 928 Euro S
84 928 Euro S
87 300D Turbo-Frybrid "WVO, Tastes Great - Less Filling"
90 750 IL
91 560 SEL

pale Amber colour. It costs something like $11 from your local friendly mercedes dealership.

I believe you can also use Zerex G05.

__________________
1993 320TE M104
---------------------------------------------------
past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
----------------------------------------------
"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys

Ph is the critical factor with MB coolant. A 50/50 coolant and water mix will result in a ph around 7 or neutral. When, and if, the ph reaches 8 it should be replaced ... every 3 years according to the Owner's Manual. Check the ph with a swimming pool ph test strip. High ph coolant causes embrittlement of plastic parts and erodes the internal alloy engine parts.

__________________
Fred Hoelzle

I just put in my third Behr on my '85 W201 due to cracking at the top hose outlet. I've never had a leak in the core, just failures where the hoses attach, probably due to stress. My tech says it's a common fault on the Behr and Nissen radiators. He told me that MB once made a radiator with a metal sleeve, but the sleeve didn't go all the way to where the hose clamp, so it was prone to failure as well. Luckily, if you can call it that, when they pressure tested the new radiator, they also found a tiny leak in my water pump, so that go swapped out, along with a new metal housing for the thermostat, replacing the plastic one.

I had the same problem with my original radiator after 11 years / 62K Miles. The upper flange split in half and the hose was left disconnected. I changed the radiator myself and did some cleanup while in there, whole thing cost me $385 I think for a new BEHR OEM Radiator with metal insert on both flanges. I filled with Zerex GO5 since it is readily available and approved for use in MB engines.

Anything less than 10 years or 100K miles on these radiators sounds excessive and I'd probably start checking other components in the cooling system to make sure it's not being over pressurized.

__________________
Afshin

Current:
02 C32 AMG

Previous:
92 500E
84 190E 2.3 5 Spd