It is confirmed. Thanks to the advice of a forum member, my muddy, gritty, brown coolant was caused by the Redline Water Wetter not playing well with whatever brand of coolant the PO used.

I cycled through 5 cycles of distilled water to clean it out and put in the proper coolant. So far so good.

Apparently this does not happen to all cooling systems. Most of the time nothing happens but when it does... brown mud.

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

I use it in both my engines without any ill effects.

do you remember what coolant you used?

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

Zerex G-05.

Remember that if you're adding it to existing coolant, don't pour it in the expansion tank. Park with the left front corner high (on a curb for example) and put it into the upper radiator hose.

I have also used Water Wetter in G-05 in a Toyota Matrix, Cadillac Eldorado and Buick Reatta. Been using it for many years including flushes.

Redline has a great technical services department that can be contacted by on line here.

Or by phone PHONE: (707) 745-6100 or (800) 624-7958

I have contacted them over the years and have found them very helpful

I have no experience with Diesel Water Wetter.

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1999 Mercedes E300TD daily driver sold at 238K miles 106K miles were mine, rust worm got it :-(
2006 Mercedes CDI new daily driver! 56,000 miles May 2016 now 85,625 Apr 2018 and Apr 2019 101,000 miles Apr 2020 109,875. March 2024 135,250

Royal Purple has a similar product called 'Purple Ice' which has received good reviews. The mercedes gear head listed below recommends it and compares it to the Redline Water Wetter (link to Purple Ice is listed on the bottom of his web page):

http://pages.prodigy.net/jforgione/MB_CTS.html

These products warn not to use them in climates below freezing = they can turn to jello/mud in the water pump = cavitation = seriously reduced or no coolant circulation..

If the car is in storage there is no issue.

Is Antifreeze, like Aspirin, "Hype"?
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=142261

Coolant RED vs. GREEN
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=1085656

Antifreeze, Ethylene glycol intoxication, Toxicity, Metabolic Acidosis
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?p=1037466




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Now, I'm good and confused concerning distilled water vs purified water use in the cooling system. Performed a search on the internet and came up with quite a few sites that say to use distilled water. But, on one of the links the poster attributes distilled water to causing rust.

Which is it?

Distilled is what you want to use. If you have a Safeway nearby you can get it for under $1 a gallon.

Most manuals say potable water.. if you will drink it so will your car.

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1996 s10 zr2 with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1996 c2500 suburban with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1981 300sd with a turbo 617
Monte carlo figure 8 car

Washington State has some of the best water in the country. Now California water, I'm not even sure I would put that in my car.

I do like our water, must be all that rain freshening it up. Of course dont put well water or hard water in it but as long as you use the right coolant no need to be anal. i know that is asking allot but it is true.

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1996 s10 zr2 with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1996 c2500 suburban with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1981 300sd with a turbo 617
Monte carlo figure 8 car

Yea these things are pretty much bullet-proof, I mean look at how many survive in Africa and Eastern Europe with little-to-no maintenance. With that said, we do love our classic Mercedes around here so we enjoy spoiling them when ever possible.

Distilled water is called for in the manual IIRC.

Distilled water alone will cause rust in the metals around it, that is why the coolant is in there, the coolant with distilled water will protect the metals.

I've put RedLine water wetter and RedLine Diesel Water Wetter in every liiquid-cooled vehicle I've had (including generators, heavy-duty, and automotive) for 20years, coolant from Caterpillar permanent, to Zerex G-05, etc. I have also lived in a climate that goes sub-zero at times, never a problem.

I have never owned a Deathcool/GM vehicle though, I understand that that stuff can turn to mud/jelly when mixed with other fluids such as regular green eth-glycol anti-freeze, more likely IMO someone has gotten some oil or deathcool in your system.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Gentlemen,

Can't use potable water whose origin is the Colorado river. The chemicals in the water, though good for human hearts, are very bad for engine blocks et al.

If anybody cares, I have used only 100% antifreeze/coolant in all my cars for over 45 years. My 85SD is no exception. In that stretch I have had only one new car. Most of the vehicles were nearly consumed when I got them and yet I have had very few cooling system problems. Fill it up with antifreeze/coolant, that's how we did it on the assembly line when I was a UAW member. Sure, you can step on it with acceptable water, but why? Save the few bucks somewhere else.

Joe Marroso