odds are good that you will find no thermostat in your car. also good odds, are you will find a cooling PROBLEM once you get in there. it's possible there is a bad thermostat, as they do fail open often, but odds are not in your favor here. if you JUST picked up the car, it's likely it was "patched" to sell. I'd take it in PRONTO, and have it noted if there was a thermostat in there or not. and go back to the seller if it looks hinkey!

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Skippy,

Dad insisted on an overhaul, even though there was nothing found to indicate one was needed. Our summer temps are above 100°F and in the winter, it may go as low as +28°F, but usually, it doesn't get much below freezing here in the valley.

Again, I suggest you use a thermostat. However, I think 194,000 miles is proof sufficient that you will not destroy your engine by driving it at 60°C to 70°C as some would postulate herein.

When I bought my 1978 300SD from the original owners, it had a 60°C thermostat in it and when I went to the parts counter and asked for a thermostat, they gave me a 60°C, so that is what I used for the 87,000 miles that I put on the car before I rebuilt the drivetrain at 311,000 original miles...Robert

Not really....

The 60°C is shown for high ambient temps and the 80°C is for lower ambient temperatures, so either one would be correct for the application (617.950) and the difference would be in ambient temeprature in the theatre of operation.

As far as oil is concerned, 15/40 will work in just about any climate...Robert

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Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership

That is also incorrect.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Based on the chart you posted, 10w-40 or 10w-50 would work over the widest range of ambient temperatures...Robert

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Did you just pass my 740 at 200 kmh in a 300SD?????

1978 300SD 'Phil' - 1,315,853 Miles And Counting - 1, 317,885 as of 12/27/2012 - 1,333,000 as of 05/10/2013, 1,337,850 as of July 15, 2013, 1,339,000 as of August 13, 2013



100,000 miles since June 2005 Overhaul - Sold January 25th, 2014 After 1,344,246 Miles & 20 Years of Ownership