Look what the UPS man just dropped off - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Chad300tdt · #1 12-21-2009, 03:44 PM

A brand new Nissens radiator for my 1985 300CD.

Any inside tips on how to make the replacement go smoothly? I'm replacing the hoses and transmission cooler lines too.

snookwhaler · #2 12-21-2009, 03:57 PM

I flushed out mine with the old rad. in the car following the steps over at DG. Then I drained everything and flushed with the old rad. out. After that I installed the new one and flushed it again. I was amazed at the amount of crud that came out of the lines over by the oil filter and heater core. Nasty stuff.

Something to try.... You can remove the block drain by removing the air cleaner and "going in from the top". I did it from underneath and it was a PITA. I got wet 2 times doing it that way.

Also, every one is talking about the 50/50 mix of coolant and distilled water? The manual says to use 40% coolant. So, that is what I did.

Graplr · #3 12-21-2009, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snookwhaler

Also, every one is talking about the 50/50 mix of coolant and distilled water? The manual says to use 40% coolant. So, that is what I did.

No advice from me Chad but snookwhaler's seems pretty good.

As to the coolant blend- I thought you were supposed to blend it to the coldest expected temperature. (Higher coolant % if you are in the arctic areas to prevent the block from freezing/cracking.) For some reason I have the number -34F is what a 50/50 blend is good down to. So if you live in an area that comes nowhere near -34F the a 40/60 is fine. If you live in Northern Canada, one may want to do 60% coolant.

EDIT:
Found it-

bustedbenz · #4 12-21-2009, 05:31 PM

I always use 50/50 unless there's an ultra, ultra, ultra compelling reason to do otherwise simply because it's the only easy way to avoid having odd amounts of coolant floating around. Buying one gallon of antifreeze, splitting half of it into a milk jug labeled "ANTIFREEZE" and adding water to refill both containers is just too simple compared to having to measure out 40% and deal with the leftovers. One jug goes in the trunk for an emergency, the other gets used.

Normally I'm a stickler for manual-specs only but in the case of coolant, there's just simply nothing magical about it. All you're trying to do is keep the engine below a certain temperature, by blending plain water (which might do the job just fine, if it didn't freeze and destroy things) with antifreeze coolant, which changes the boiling points, etc. As long as you're within a range that works for your climate and your auto, which 50/50 is adequate to accomplish 9 times out of 10 if not even more often... it's all good. No magic formula.

tangofox007 · #5 12-21-2009, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bustedbenz

I always use 50/50 unless there's an ultra, ultra, ultra compelling reason to do otherwise simply because it's the only easy way to avoid having odd amounts of coolant floating around. Buying one gallon of antifreeze, splitting half of it into a milk jug labeled "ANTIFREEZE" and adding water to refill both containers is just too simple compared to having to measure out 40% and deal with the leftovers. One jug goes in the trunk for an emergency, the other gets used.

That's a great plan...for vehicles with 4-quart cooling systems.

bustedbenz · #6 12-21-2009, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangofox007

That's a great plan...for vehicles with 4-quart cooling systems.

Well, that's just the mixing recipe. Obviously I use the correct quantity but at the end of the day that's still the easiest way to mix jugs together and get the correct mixture.

JimmyL · #7 12-21-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

A brand new Nissens radiator for my 1985 300CD.

Any inside tips on how to make the replacement go smoothly? I'm replacing the hoses and transmission cooler lines too.

Ewwww! Ahhhh!

tangofox007 · #8 12-22-2009, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bustedbenz

Well, that's just the mixing recipe. Obviously I use the correct quantity but at the end of the day that's still the easiest way to mix jugs together and get the correct mixture.

Does that "recipe" take into account undrainable flushing water?

okyoureabeast · #9 12-22-2009, 11:50 AM

I have so much free time over break. I just got my keyless door lock chad!

Chad300tdt · #10 12-22-2009, 11:59 AM

Bring it over.

daw_two · #11 12-22-2009, 12:04 PM

Chad --- be careful not to bump it.
and
The UPS dropped off an intake manifold at my house this morning at 10:06am --- I had to drop everything and drive home.

JHZR2 · #12 12-22-2009, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangofox007

Does that "recipe" take into account undrainable flushing water?

I rarely flush my newer cars, but citric acid on the older ones is a smart idea.

On newer cars,i make the 50:50 mixtures as was posted above, and then just do some suction out (cleaner, otherwise drain) and refill every so often. keeps things clean and looking great.

IMO, if hoses and whatnot are being replaced, I'd buy a prestone T-backflush system and cut it into the old hoses. Im personally not too keen on installing such a thing on a solid, long-term installed hose, but if flushing anyway, and removing everything anyway, if it makes the flush process simpler and more straigthforward, why not?

Id probably tee-in the prestone backflush kit, utilize a drill pump with fittings to put the right solutions through, and then do the full process.

Or pay the dealer $160 to do it, which may be far easier and a better use of time and money...

bustedbenz · #13 12-22-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangofox007

Does that "recipe" take into account undrainable flushing water?

I've never flushed one. Just drain everywhere there's a drain and then refill is all we've ever done. Coolant usually stays in ours until something goes wrong that causes us to either have to drain to make a repair or else boils out during a catastrophe. Needless to say there aren't too many of those latter. Usually there's a water pump or a thermostat or something or another that needs changing before the coolant gets too grungy. In our opinion. *the classic disclaimer*

We capture what we drain and re-use it in the tractors and things if it's still decent looking, or else store it in the basement and wait till we need it for leak-checking or something. I suppose we'd haul it off to a recycler if we never found another use for it. There isn't a huge collection of used antifreeze down there, so I reckon it all goes somewhere.

What leaks and drips and spills onto the garage floor just gets diluted for the sake of the pets and rinsed out into the gravel and the grass. Not enough to do any harm.

Cr from Texas · #14 12-22-2009, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHZR2

I rarely flush my newer cars, but citric acid on the older ones is a smart idea.

On newer cars,i make the 50:50 mixtures as was posted above, and then just do some suction out (cleaner, otherwise drain) and refill every so often. keeps things clean and looking great.

IMO, if hoses and whatnot are being replaced, I'd buy a prestone T-backflush system and cut it into the old hoses. Im personally not too keen on installing such a thing on a solid, long-term installed hose, but if flushing anyway, and removing everything anyway, if it makes the flush process simpler and more straigthforward, why not?

Id probably tee-in the prestone backflush kit, utilize a drill pump with fittings to put the right solutions through, and then do the full process.

Or pay the dealer $160 to do it, which may be far easier and a better use of time and money...

We could have trained at the same place. I use the Prestone T also. I need to flush my 123 and I'm considering removing the thermostat and the monovalve to flush. Temporarily replacing the monovalve with CPVC plastic pipes and adding a garden hose connection. That would eliminate the need to cut a hose. Comments on this idea?

I also do the split of the concentrate into 2 jugs to get the 50/50 mix. Rule in our family: If the jug has been opened, it's now a 50/50 mix.