Ok, I have a new thermostat, and the lower radiator hose block heater coming from DieselGiant. Now this seems like it should be a pretty straightforward thing to do, but I do have a couple of questions.
1 How much coolant does an 82 300SD take?
2 Is there anything that I am going to need to do aside from the obvious? Drain radiator, pull hose, replace, open t-stat housing, replace, close it all up make sure drain plug is in and secure, fill.
3 Since I am not filling the radiator directly is there anything I need to do, or do I just pour properly diluted coolant into the expansion tank to the proper level?

I guess that is all I have for now.

__________________
Chris

82 300SD

I'm not sure what you mean by the "lower radiator hose block heater". Normally there's no need to drain the radiator just to replace the t-stat and catching any spills underneath the car is good enough. In any case when you're done with the t-stat replacement you will need to fill the block first through the upper radiator hose, then the radiator through the expansion tank and bleed the system.

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

1) According to my Haynes manual the car should take 11 L of coolant. I would use Zerex G-05 as it is much less expensive than the Mercedes coolant

2) I would drain the radiator using the drain plug on the bottom. If you are just replacing the T-stat and the coolant looks good you can just collect it in a clean container and reuse it. If it looks scummy don't forget to drain the block using the drain plug above the starter and the heater core.

3) can't help there...I don't have an expansion tank and always fill through the radiator cap.

__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

I finally got a chance to try to replace the thermostat today. I was going to drain the radiator, but the plug won't budge.
So my new question is this...
If I just open the thermostat housing how much coolant is going to come out? It looks to me like its more or less at the top of the system. Is the upper hose going to drain? I'll have a pan under the car to catch the fluid, but just wondering what to expect.

__________________
Chris

82 300SD

Yes, the upper hose does drain, loss is about 1/2 to 3/4 of a gallon. You still need to "burp" the system.

Even though the T-Stat housing is a bit above the head, it is lower than the expansion tank and top of the radiator. Raising the front of the car up help reduce some of the loss, but it with still drain out to it's lowest high point.

__________________
RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

I hate to sound like a newbie here (I am) but how do I "burp" the system? This is not the kind of thing I want to screw up.

__________________
Chris

82 300SD