W124 Coolant Hoses, 40% Zerex, Water Wetter

[Oldwolf]

I preparing to change the coolant and hoses in my 93 300D and use Zerex GL-5.

But before I do that I need to put together the hoses I’ll need. The upper and lower radiator hoses are easy to find. It’s the other smaller hoses for the heating system that have me stumped. There are some Tee hoses that don’t show up in any of the online part houses. I hope I don’t have to get them for MB. Has anyone with a W124 300D put together a list of all the hoses needed and sizes?

Back to the GL-5. I’m thinking that rather than going with the typical 50-50 mix, I might use a 40% mix which will protect to -12F and also use Water Wetter for the additive package it has. It rarely falls below 15F in my part of NC. This will give me better heat transfer during the pretty hot summers we have here in NC. What do you guys think of that? Am I risking anything by decreasing the antifreeze concentration? I could probably go to a 30% mixture and be safe. I think that will protect to about 0F…but that might be too risky.

Thanks!

[lee polowczuk]

40 percent and Water Wetter is what i use in Greenville, SC

one gallon of zerex does it for me. 10 dollar water wetter is either great insurance or a great placebo

[Squabble]

i replaced all of my hoses in my W123. i got all the hoses as a kit from a competitor: w w w . p e r f o r m a n c e p r o d u c t s 4 b e n z . c o m

maybe they have a kit for you too?

[Oldwolf]

Thanks Squabble for the link. They have a lot of nice diagrams That will help me a lot. I never realized how many heater hoses their were on the 124 300D!

[a2t]

well, idk if your 93 300D will be anything like my 87 300D but I found the only place I could buy both the upper and lower rad hose AND HAVE THEM ACTUALLY FIT was the MB dealer. All the parts house hoses were slightly off, a real pain in my ass (esp. on the lower rad hose, that 1 is a chore).

as for water wetter, we used that on the race team i worked on, when i asked the pit crew cheif he explained that it was needed because they could not use glycol based coolant during races - its too slippery if it ever got on the track surface. But glycol would actually have done a better job. We only used water wetter because we could not use glycol. Since you probably dont have that restriction, G-5 would do better. Anyways, that was how it was explained to me.

[sixto]

I saw a U:ro brand upper hose for an 87 300T that didn't fit. Would have stressed the radiator neck if you forced it.

Sixto
87 300D

[Chris W.]

Just to correct a misconception - glycol is not a better coolant. Pure water is the best coolant. Glycol raises the boiling point, and reduces the freezing point of water. But a mixture of water and glycol actually is less efficient as a coolant, compared to pure water. In the large engine business, many engines are derated when the glycol percentage exceeds a certain point due to this.

Now I'm not saying that you should forget using antifreeze! Just being pedantic. (and I'm ignoring any corrosivity issues which pure water has)

Rgds,
Chris W.

[tangofox007]

Originally Posted by Chris W.

Just to correct a misconception - glycol is not a better coolant. Pure water is the best coolant.

Water may be more capable when it comes to heat transfer. That is a totally different concept than being the "best coolant."

Just to correct a misconception!!!

[a2t]

Originally Posted by Chris W.

Just to correct a misconception - glycol is not a better coolant. Pure water is the best coolant. Glycol raises the boiling point, and reduces the freezing point of water. But a mixture of water and glycol actually is less efficient as a coolant, compared to pure water. In the large engine business, many engines are derated when the glycol percentage exceeds a certain point due to this.

Now I'm not saying that you should forget using antifreeze! Just being pedantic. (and I'm ignoring any corrosivity issues which pure water has)

Rgds,
Chris W.

<212F thats true. Above 212F water becomes steam and can get much hotter. As pressure increases the boiling pt does also, but I think its possible to boil even pressurized water in your cooling system, wheras glycol has higher boiling pt. I agree, less than 212 (and greater than 32) water would be the best option (aside from corrosive issues you pointed out). All that to say, the race outfit I worked for seemed to think water wetter was useless unless you couldnt run glycol.

[a2t]

Originally Posted by sixto

I saw a U:ro brand upper hose for an 87 300T that didn't fit. Would have stressed the radiator neck if you forced it.

Sixto
87 300D

prob the 1 worldpac is selling. had leaks at the rad junction. the lower hose they sold me wasnt even in ballpark. When i connected it, it was kinked 90 degrees. I told them about this, they simply refunded my $ (after arguement about how it was installed), and keep selling the bogus parts. Thanks worldpac. I wonder how many repair shops have been thru that mess. Total waste of their time and angry customers time.

[Oldwolf]

Anyone have experience with performanceproducts4benz...do the hoses fit??????

[a2t]

i dont, I'd like to hear tho.

Just bought new upper/lower rad hoses for my 124 at dealer. Upper 1 fit fine, lower fit, but not as good as what came off - its somewhat kinked. sheesh...MB cant even get this right.

[Oldwolf]

What did the MB dealer charge you for the hoses a2t?

[pselaphid]

I bought a full set of Perf. Prod. hoses a few years ago and they all fit just fine.

[tangofox007]

I have had great luck with the fit of CRP and Elaplast hoses. They are available from some internet vendors. My experience with Uro parts has not left me with a warm feeling about their quality.