Heat problem and coolant issue

[meltedpanda]

I am with army, do the pressure test, and if clear, just drive it
water pump , if it is bad, will 9/10 leak from weap hole and or make noise and or have movement when you grab the fan. ( or all three)

[230/8]

All the previous advice is fine and relevant and you should follow-up on their suggestions to top off and just drive it in the absence of other visible mechanical problems. Here's another suggestion...install a coolant recovery bottle and a sealed radiator cap. These cars can be troublesome to get the air purged when changing coolant, and once done they can be touchy on temperature management during hot weather if you have and use the AC. In order to get the maximum efficiency from your radiator it helps to have the coolant recovery bottle to purge those small amounts of remaining dissolved air from the coolant. This raises the efficiency of heat transfer from the engine to the coolant to the radiator to the air flowing through the radiator. Summer operating temperatures will become more stable once you have done this. The sealed radiator cap should have a 15# rating to match the original "100" (1 bar) specification for your engine. I would not recommend using the higher pressure rating 120 caps specified for later model Mercedes.

All that said, you should always remain on the lookout for any signs of coolant leakage and try to keep your oil and water topped up to prevent future problems.

[D&W]

His suggestion is to look at a recored radiator and new waterpump to help keep temps down in summer and know the system is up to scratch if i REALLY want to go all out.

I am getting the car back today after he does the brake fluid and tune up only.

I'll keep driving it as is and see how I go into the new year, Ill check all the fluids weekly and see how i go.

if things become troublesome Ill look more into the radiator and water pump if required but for now it seems like it might have just needed a top up/air release after the coolant change to set it right for now

thanks for all the advise its really helped my understanding of the system

im looking to buy a daily early 2011 so this girl will only see weekend driving really so the current workload of 1200 miles a month may be a distant memory

[Stretch]

Originally Posted by D&W

...
im looking to buy a daily early 2011 so this girl will only see weekend driving really so the current workload of 1200 miles a month may be a distant memory

Sorry to hear that - unless of course the daily is going to be older and classier!

[D&W]

Originally Posted by Army

Sorry to hear that - unless of course the daily is going to be older and classier!

It will be a shame but I have ALWAYS wanted to own and daily drive a classic benz.. so glad I had the opportunity to do it for a full year, looking forward to enjoying the beast on the weekends though

hope i dont dissappoint but the new daily will be 'newer and faster'

but still MB. no doubt.

[D&W]

So system is holding coolant, pressure is good and all looks to be OK. Seems top up just didn't completely fill the system

Tune up did wonders and it is running great

[Benz Dr.]

I've seen this many times. Rad looks full but block has some air in it. That's why I always test drive cars before they leave. Sometimes for a 1000 miles on full restorations.
If there's something wrong, I find it.

[have mercy]

If you look in rad you should see a bent or a mark, On the pressues system if it full some time's it leaks down for a area to expand. And if all fuild was drained MB tend to have air traped fill to line in rad.see if it happen's again and yes the heater should be on when refilling.

[Stretch]

Originally Posted by D&W

So system is holding coolant, pressure is good and all looks to be OK. Seems top up just didn't completely fill the system

Tune up did wonders and it is running great

Glad to hear it!

[layback40]

Originally Posted by Army

Glad to hear it!

X2

If the temp continues to go up in traffic, get the fan clutch checked. It may not be pulling enough air through the radiator when the car is stopped or going slow.

[t walgamuth]

Your mechanic did not get all the air out the first time. A simple mistake. The fact that he started talking about replacing things instead of admitting the simple mistake is troublesome.

That is an all metal radiator. If it gives trouble it can be cleaned. Don't even think of replacing it unless it gets crushed in an accident!

[alabbasi]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Your mechanic did not get all the air out the first time.

I'm with Tom here. Everything that i've read indicates this. Now that you have added coolant, drive it as normal and see if you run into the same issue.

[D&W]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Your mechanic did not get all the air out the first time. A simple mistake. The fact that he started talking about replacing things instead of admitting the simple mistake is troublesome.

That is an all metal radiator. If it gives trouble it can be cleaned. Don't even think of replacing it unless it gets crushed in an accident!

He only mentioned this after pressure testing/test driving and saying it would be fine for now as it was looking much better after top up, he was surprised it happened as he made sure to top it up the first time. Guess it wasn't enough top up. He said the system was all looking fine.

The suggestion was for down the track if more problems were to happen with overheating he gave me the heads up that these elements would be the items to look at.

I've driven the car a few times since picking it up as i went on holiday but so far so good!

I replaced fan clutch a few months ago as the old one was shot