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  #1  
Old 12-14-2004, 02:28 PM
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Location: Santa Clara, California
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1.2 or 1.4 Millibar Radiator Cap for '72 280SE 4.5?

Ok. I can't seem find a right answer. I need to know the correct radiator cap to get or does it make any difference? I was told by a mechanic that I had one "too strong" in there and that was my problem w/ welds leaking. Should I get one w/o a spring in it?

Lemme know.

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Thomas Viano
'72 280 SE 4.5, over 100,000 miles
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  #2  
Old 12-14-2004, 08:02 PM
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Location: Evansville, Indiana
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Stock cap is 14 psi, I believe. Later MBs (same cape) are 18 psi.

Leaking seams are more likely a corrosion problem than the wrong pressure cap. It would have to fail completely and never vent for it to damage the rad.

Peter
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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
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1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
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  #3  
Old 12-14-2004, 10:34 PM
carson356
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radiator cap

the one mercedes recommends is 123-501-02-05 which is a 1.2 bar cap
Ray
mercedessd@cox.net
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  #4  
Old 12-15-2004, 02:55 AM
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Hello,
The cap your car needs is marked 100 or 1.0 bar, as psfred pointed out a 14psi rating.
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  #5  
Old 12-15-2004, 05:33 AM
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Does it make a big difference?
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  #6  
Old 12-15-2004, 10:27 AM
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The difference between a 14 and 18 psi cap is about 28%. A 28% increase in system pressure can certainly be significant if there is a weak spot in the system, i.e. radiator solder joints that are old and fragile.

For what it's worth...

230/8
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  #7  
Old 12-17-2004, 12:40 AM
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Location: Raleigh, NC currently residing in KL, Malaysia
Posts: 460
Quote:
Does it make a big difference?
Hello,
I try to stick with the stock rated cap, as pointed out, from the 14psi to 18psi rating, it is a large percentage increase in pressure. It is not difficult to destroy a well used radiator by using the incorrect rated cap, my friend's W114 250 had a 1.4bar cap on it and it blew every single seam at the top tubes of the radiator whne running along at 70-80mph and fried the engine. With 100F/100% humidity here everyday, there was no safety margin when the radiator began leaking at high pressure.
BTW, his shop fitted the 1.4bar cap to his car after pronouncing the 1.0bar cap as the *wrong one*. Those guys are thieves, every car that goes to them for work invariably develops other problems AFTER it leaves the shop.
Have a good week

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