After searching Pep Boys, Autozone, and Kragen here in the San Fernando Valley CA, I found Zerex at Napa Auto Parts. I went to one Reseda and found a lonely G-05 bottle. The clerks asked me why I needed such a coolant (when they had cheaper coolants like prestone and whatevers). I love my car and I want to give it the best it deserves. Hopefully it lives long enough for my grandchildren....but hey! you never know right?

Anyway, my scenario is that I see there is green or yellow coolant in the tank. I want to give the cooling system a [citric acid] flush on the ol' 603. BUT, from what I was told, it's a different procedure on the 603. I looked at this DIY (Great pics by the way) at dieselgiant (I think it's a 240D).

http://dieselgiant.com/mercedes_citrus_flush.htm

My question is: Can I just take out the radiator and the thermostat and flush from the top radiator hose to come out the bottom? There are other hoses that I have to disconnect to get it out I'm sure, but I'd rather not fiddle with that stuff if I don't have to.

Can it be as simple as flushing the top hose (with the heater on) to go out the disconnected bottom hose?

What is the significance of Zerex over any other propylene glycol fluid????

__________________
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

It's similar to, if not the same, as the MB coolant. These two are formulated to work with aluminum parts, whereas most other coolants do not have the anti-corrosive properties.

Or so I'm told!

__________________
Dan
2005 E320 CDI - 246k
1987 300SDL TD05-16g, Herlevi pump, Elbe manifold, 2.47 LSD - 213k
Past: 1987 300D - 264k

Gotcha...

Not like the 2 gallons of Dex-Cool that have been sitting on my bench since 2001????

__________________
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

Is chemically the same as the MB coolant.(Same,Same.)

Using anything other than the MB or the Zerex product puts you in the "Pool"
for Darwin awards.

Abadjay,

Follow the DG instructions.
(or the FSM instructions)

Do Not Let the Citric Acid solution inhabit the cooling system for too long!
[Driving around for a week or even 24 hrs is Stupid!]

HINT: "Short Cuts" in this procedural maintenance WILL come back to bite
someone in the Stern!

__________________
'84 300SD sold
124.128

After doing the flush and refill, I would recommend using distilled water with the G-05 mix.

I have used distilled water with my antifreeze for ever it seems. My datsun PU in my Sig. has the original radiator with 450700 miles on it. the interior looks pretty good after 27 yrs. It has never been taken apart and cleaned at a radiator shop.
I did take it in in Nov because the side bracket unsoldered and had to be fixed, did notice some of the fins starting to flake off . and a couple weeks ago the upper tank has started to leak some. maybe time to replace and retire it.

Tap water can have mineral deposits that can attach to the water jacket and the radiator with time and affect the cooling. our water here seems to have rocks in it since it is so hard.
I also flush with distilled and not tap water, maybe over kill.

I use G-05 in everything, just simpler, and mix it in a 2 1/2 gal container with the water, 50/50.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

GEEEZZZ , where do you get that much distilled water ? They call for like three full flushes ...

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=156207&highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

I'm still lost on the subject though. Let me just say that Pictures do the best job of boosting confidence. That's what I like about that link I put up is that it's pictured. It's hard (at least for me...yes...call me a dumbbutt if you will) to just take words. I didn't take out any ALDA pump on my car till I saw GSXR do it with pictures...

There's a block coolant drain under the turbo. From the aft end of the engine you'll see the plastic cover for the block heater, the oil hard line going to the turbo, then a petcock with 19mm wrench flats and a nipple for a garden hose (just the hose, no fittings). Give the petcock a few CCW turns, no need to remove it, as an additional drain and flush point.

On cars without a convenient block drain, I let the engine idle with a garden hose into the upper radiator fitting and collect what comes out of the upper engine fitting until it runs clear.

Sixto
87 300D

http://www.puretap.ca/drum.html

Whoops,Ontario customers only!

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

http://shopping.yahoo.com/search;_ylc=X3oDMTFwNDVuZzVhBF9TAzc4NDcxNjU2OARrA2Rpc3RpbGxlZCB3YXRlcgRvbW0DQnJvYWQEc2VjA2tiBHNsawN0 aXRsZQ--?view=1&sem=google&p=distilled+water&sp=pall&no_truncation=1

__________________
'84 300SD sold
124.128

It is fairly easy to make a slant glass distillery ...I have some big glass ... will post pictures if I do...

__________________
1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=156207&highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

I picked it up at Walmart, been a while since I bought some, not sure what I paid. wasn`t that bad since I don`t like our rocky water here. makes a lot or racket with the rocks going through the cooling system .

Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I am mapping out my strategy on how to drain the coolant system of the green stuff and put in the good ol Zerex.

However I'm looking for a drain plug....any drain plug... so I tried to look for this blue screw on the bottom of the radiator and found a small blue one...(picture 1) Is this it? It doesn't look like I can unscrew it with anything.

My next question is the block drain. I'm looking for the block drain from the top. I don't know if it's accessible, but I'm looking for what it looks like. 19mm right? What is this "sound panel" that I remove? (Picture 2)

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The block drain is accessible from under the car. You don't have to remove anything.
I think 19mm is correct. It's easy to spot because of the small hose nipple on it. Not certain of the nipple size but it is is too small for garden hose. At least the hose I have.

__________________
Joe

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1980 300SD - 495k miles - 'The Ambassador'
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Former Family Members
95 C280
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86 560SEL
84 300D
80 300SD