Broke in my hand while doing a citric flush.

The neck broke off very easily, and the plastic is super brittle. My car probably had green coolant in it since 1987...and it finally took its toll. I've never been so happy to have a $200 part break, knowing that could have been at 70 mph with my coolant emptying. At best stranded, at worst blown engine.

So be warned...if you have a long history of green coolant, you may want to give that neck a good tug.



It's new radiator time...should I still do the citric flush? I probably will since I am 1/2 way through it.

dd

__________________
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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

Radiator necks have broken off with the correct coolant so thats not really what does it. it just the combination of time and the differences of temperature that make the plastic brittle, one day it will just snap.

The coolant probably has little to do with that. Its 20 year old plastic + heat.

Smack the bottom tank with a hammer, it will be rock hard. The top takes all the heat.


If you have a 15-20 year old plastic radiator, its on borrowed time.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Absolutely!

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2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

Well my radiator was the original Behr, I didnt realize these plastic radiators had a certain life expectancy until reading today further. Makes sense now...

New one on the way from radiator.com (Valeo brand, I was assured it would drop in) for $245 delivered 2nd day. Reports on that brand seem good from the archives...the Behr would have been at least $50 more shipped ground...way more 2nd day.

Get it in Wednesday and stick with my citrus flush schedule for next weekend :-)

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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

ARINUTS,

Couldn't U have just replaced the top tank? That's what I'm going to try to do.

P E H

Is there a part number for the top tank? Mine is getting a chalky appearance. I suspect that it may be about to break.

__________________
Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

FYI - the citric acid flush is only to be done after a deoiling is done whether there is evidence of oil in the system or not.

__________________
Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

welcome to the club..

I would say do not try to repair a 20+ year old radiator, like a lot of posters suggest and have put up their $2 repairs in this forum. The system is too crucial to engine operation.

Spend the $250 on a new radiator and hoses, jeez.

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85 300CD Turbo "Das Polluter" 230K sold for $3,000

98 BMW 323is

Part of owning an old car. On a 2 year old car, "normal maintenance" is an oil change. On a 20 year old car, its the radiator, water pump, heater hoses, etc.

Cost saving vs buying a new E320 CDI $55,535.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Hatterasguy,

Replacing water pump and radiator is repair, not maintenence.

P E H

The line gets gray.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Hair gets grey !

The archives have info on shops that repair radiators with new tops. I imagine
they clean the core etc.

All depends on the owner's budget.

My w126 had that problem about two years ago. I opted to get it fixed fast with a new radiator even tho it patched well. The neck edge was broke, not the whole neck.

I kept the old radiator because it had not seen that much milage just years.

Do whats best for ya.

__________________
1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

I had an all metal custom radiator made for my 190D for $300 locally. I love knowing it wont fail for any reason other then stabbing it with a screwdriver. The goofy electric clutch fan is in my sights next.

Dubyagee,

Was the custom radiator made from copper and brass?

P E H