Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 04-13-2012, 09:44 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TX
Posts: 3,978
Strange mud in expansion tank.

Just being me I noticed that the temp gauge on my car was always eager to touch the 100 mark. So I decided to get things sorted, and also do a citric acid wash as the book says.

So I went to an indian store got me about 350 grams of citric acid for 2 bucks, a bottle of shout, then drove to a freinds house to get some litmus strips, fast forward.

I removed the expansion tank first, and blocked the pipe with a stopper, removed T stat put a shallow cork in the bypass hole and put the housing back with O ring, drain, degreased and acid treated (drove around for 20 mins shift lever on 3 @ 40 mph, which is about 2500 rpm). The stuff coming out was literally yellowish orange and smelled bad too.

anyway - the expansion tank had mud in it - it was kind of a clay that was blocking the port that hose joins to and had also plugged the hose going to the radiator, it was blocking major compartment windows that cause coolant to move from one to another. There was more like a mug full of it - greenish yellow mud - No wonder the car was heating, the expansion tank was not working as an expansion tank. I had to jiggle and wash the tank out a hundred times to get it out. Never seen something like it.

Is this an exploded silica pack or is it some snake oil type thing the PO put in perhaps, because acid did not go into the tank; assuming citric acid would have caused the silica pack to disintegrate.

After flushing the block and radiator from the top radiator hose about 4 times (neutral litmus test) The water cleared with the first flush and neutral anyway but i flushed it 3 more times. - Now I have a strangely stained driveway but a nice running motor with a gauge that actually behaves.

__________________
2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-13-2012, 09:53 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 5,358
I'm confused. You run a "citrus flush" through your cooling system (which probably hasn't been touched in 20 years) and you're wondering about funk which appears? What were you expecting? Solids get hotter than liquids. Heat rises to the highest point. The highest point in your cooling system is where? The hose leading into the expansion tank?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-13-2012, 11:15 PM
E150GT's Avatar
I'm a chicken
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
Posts: 1,148
rust
__________________
1984 300SD Orient Red/ Palomino
1989 560SEC
2016 Mazda 6 6 speed manual
1995 Ford F-150 reg cab 4.9 5speed manual
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-13-2012, 11:19 PM
vstech's Avatar
DD MOD, HVAC,MCP,Mac,GMAC
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mount Holly, NC
Posts: 26,835
um, he's saying the tank was clogged when he removed it from the car to do the flush... he's not saying that stuff showed up after the flush.
anyway, the gunk could be any number of things, rust is likely, but also likely is... stop leak or head gasket sealer... beware...
__________________
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 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-13-2012, 11:23 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TX
Posts: 3,978
I removed the tank before running the flush, and cleaned it separately so the acid never touched the tank. It had mud in it before the treatment, its just that I noticed it when I was cleaning it with plain water.

I made a hose setup like the manual shows, a fitting in the top radiator pipe where I could put a garden hose on.
__________________
2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-13-2012, 11:29 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TX
Posts: 3,978
Quote:
Originally Posted by vstech View Post
um, he's saying the tank was clogged when he removed it from the car to do the flush... he's not saying that stuff showed up after the flush.
anyway, the gunk could be any number of things, rust is likely, but also likely is... stop leak or head gasket sealer... beware...
Well I have driven it for about 30 miles already, nothing out of place yet, system is leak free and I have no air in it either, Gauge remains between 80 and 100 mark.
__________________
2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-13-2012, 11:33 PM
Holmesuser01's Avatar
Holmesuser
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Asheville North Carolina
Posts: 197
I suspect STOP LEAK or some other coolant leak fix.

My little 190E had a plugged expansion tank too. I took it off, filled it with water, and as it was draining back out, I shook it making the water slosh around in the tank, and over a few times of filling and draining, I broke up all of the accumulated glop.
__________________
My first Mercedes Benz. 4/6/07.

1984 190E (201 024) 2.3L four.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-13-2012, 11:33 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TX
Posts: 3,978
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike D View Post
I'm confused. You run a "citrus flush" through your cooling system (which probably hasn't been touched in 20 years) and you're wondering about funk which appears? What were you expecting? Solids get hotter than liquids. Heat rises to the highest point. The highest point in your cooling system is where? The hose leading into the expansion tank?
This hose goes from under the expansion tank to the radiator fitting just above the lower radiator hose.
__________________
2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-14-2012, 09:44 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 5,358
Sorry, I mis-read the part about you putting the housing back on without the tank. I agree with someone trying a little snake oil to fix a perceived problem.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 04-14-2012, 01:16 PM
Unofficial wormcan opener
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Ashland, MA
Posts: 2,602
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike D View Post
Sorry, I mis-read the part about you putting the housing back on without the tank. I agree with someone trying a little snake oil to fix a perceived problem.
I'm hoping I misread where he just let the flush go on his driveway.
__________________
1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 04-14-2012, 06:51 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TX
Posts: 3,978
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bio300TDTdriver View Post
I'm hoping I misread where he just let the flush go on his driveway.
the "stains on my driveway" are just little spots that splashed from the catch pans, Its not that I just dumped the acid on my driveway - that would have been criminal.

__________________
2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:22 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page