Cooling System Issues - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

The Warden · #1 12-17-2003, 12:59 AM

Hello!

I've noticed over the last few days that the engine temperature isn't warming up as usual. It'll get up to 60° Centigrade, and will fluctuate around there a bit, but won't really get up to 80°C. I'm thinking that the thermostat's sticking open.

Also...I've noticed that I'm loosing coolant fairly slowly. A week ago, I noticed that the expansion tank was almost empty, so I filled it up, and today, I noticed that the coolant level has gone down a fair amount.

Given the fact that I don't see any coolant leaking around in the engine compartment, coupled with the extremely high level of humidity that comes into the cabin whenever I set the ACC to "EC" with the heater running, I'm thinking that my heater core may be leaking.

However, while I do smell water vapor in the can whenever the heater's on in "EC" mode, I don't smell coolant, which brings me to my last (and possibly scariest) issue. While I do detect a faint trace of coolant smell from the expansion tank cap, I have a bad feeling that my cooling system's filled with water. Bad me, I haven't done a coolant flush since getting the car about a year and a half ago; lack of time and finances have prevented it. I saw orange in the expansion tank and assumed that things were okay; however, now, I'm starting to think that the orange I'm seeing is rusty water as opposed to the right coolant.

Anyone have any thuoghts on this? I am planning on doing a long-distance drive in the car on Sunday, and from there for the next couple of weeks, spending some time in an area where the temps are getting below freezing, so, while I guess I should be preparing myself for a coolant flush, is there anything I can do in preparation to confirm my fears?

And no "Bar's Stop Leak" answer regarding the heater core. :p

Any comments would be appreciated...thanks in advance!