Mb Coolant
 

Someone please explain to me the difference between MB COOLANT and anything else. Surely, the engine/cooling components on an MB are not that different then everything else.
Please....Facts not personal opinions.....

The MB type fluid is supposed to be the same as Zerex G-05. I found this 1/2 the price of MB at O'reilly's.

There has been a lot of speculation and opinion that non-MB fluid deteriorates plastic, notably the plastic neck of radiators. I have never seen this proven, there are a lot of plastic parts in engines and on radiators of cars with ordinary radiator fluid from the factory, and I think the real reason that radiator necks break on 107's and the like is a combination of a short, tight upper hose and bad motor mounts.

Just my observation, but the MB/Zerex type fluid seems to contain quite a bit of "salts" that may (may) plug up pinhole leaks. It really cakes up on leaks.

I really can't imagine that a vehicule and its combine parts made 20-30 years ago and designed years before that, can be damaged by todays new and improved coolants with all those intervening years of R&D. Does MB use special plastic, rubber, aluminum or cast iron?

My 300SD has used MB coolant since new (full service records from several Mercedes and Ferrari Dealers) and my 24 year old original radiator is in great shape. MB coolant is cheap. If your going to second guess Mercedes engineers you might want to consider another brand of car. Honda owners typically modify their cars beyond the original factory specs :)

Nobby says, "Surely, the engine/cooling components on an MB are not that different then everything else." Who knows? Radiators are aluminium and copper, which is different.

I presume you own a Mercedes Benz. The car originally cost more than your average everyday car. If you have a cooling related failure, it will cost some money to repair the car. So I offer up the following simple logic.

Why would you question the manufacturer's recommended coolant? It's cheap. The coolant is only changed every two years. You are trying to save what 5 bucks by going with something else.

There are numerous detailed papers on the internet that discuss the chemistry in detail.

Steve

Use anything but DEXCOOL and you should be okay. If you don't believe me, go read the back label on the Zerex G-05 bottle!

So PAGE62 is more of an expert than the MB factory engineers!
Ridiculous advice considering that the cost of the recommended fluid is so cheap.

Seems to me that unless someone has a situation in which he has access to numerous observations over a period of years, their opinions on subjects like
the effects of non-approved coolants are pure opinion and speculation. I have read posts on other lists from MB only shop owners with 30 years experience and observation of thousands of cars that emphatically state that use of non-MB approved coolant causes problems in MB cars, period.

I choose to spend the extra 5 bucks or whatever it is and follow the factory recommendations.

Steve

Read my post carefully. It was merely in response to Nobby's comment. I said you "should" be okay -- I wasn't making a recommendation of any sort. I didn't say you "will" be okay...or "I recommend any old stuff." For the most part, I was trying to warn folks away from using DEXCOOL in their Mercedes.

However, consider this quote from the makers of Prestone: "Prestone® Extended Life Antifreeze/Coolant is compatible with ANY antifreeze/ coolant – regardless of color – for use in ALL makes and models of cars and light duty trucks." So at worst, you "should" be okay using it.

Having said all that, I'm running Zerex G-05 in my 450SL. This is what I use and what I always recommend when people ask.

I just do not believe that O'reilly's has G-05 coolant. I've looked - are you sure the stuff you got there says G-05 on the bottle or just something about extended life, etc.

What exactly is the brand if you remember. I've only found the G-05 at Napa and Pep Boys in my area at $11.99/gal.

I found it on their website. I went in there and not even the counterman knew that they had it until I pointed it out to him, in a corner of the store. This was about two months ago.

I came away with a wrong impression of PAGE62's post. Glad he didn't say what I thought he said.

As to the language on bottole. I would say think Marketing and Legalize.


Steve

Hey, rchase, no need to talk down to me I was just posing a question that ,SEEMS to me, to have literally hundreds of opinions but no real facts.
I use MB coolant, powersteering fluid and whatever else is "recommended" based on everyone's opinion and of course MB recommendations I just want to know why.
By the way, I drive a '93 Honda Civic daily and it is, funny enough, still stock.

You'd be surprised what the bottle says. It shows a photo corroded water pump caused by using DEXCOOL!

Here's a summary from the Zerex website (bear in mind that G-05 is a HOAT):

"IAT, or Inorganic Additive Technology, is the traditional green coolant found in most older vehicles. This solution offers fast-acting corrosion protection, although the additives are quickly consumed, exposing the cooling system to possible corrosion problems if not changed regularly.
OAT, or Organic Acid Technology, is the formula found in DEX-COOL®, and is usually the antifreeze/coolant of choice for VW and many Japanese/Asian vehicles. This updated formula is engineered to offer long-life corrosion protection. The downside of OAT is it is not compatible with other types of coolant (IAT and HOAT). In fact, Ford, DaimlerChrysler and others say not to use this type of coolant in their newer models.
HOAT, or Hybrid Organic Acid Technology, is found in newer Ford, Chrysler and Mercedes vehicles. Using the very best aspects of both IAT and OAT, HOAT is a very protective, long-life coolant."

One final note: Zerex G-05 states very clearly on the bottle that it is approved for use with Mercedes vehicles, and that DEXCOOL is not...

Nice...Page62. Now we are getting somewhere. That is more like "facts" (albeit, self serving, perhaps, for Zerex ). Sounds better than "because" or "thats just the way it is" or "my mechanic said so".

Actually, these are about as close to "facts" as you'll get. Zerex also sells a DEXCOOL product, as well as a traditional green antifreeze (for those on a budget). I think they are merely trying to match their products to the correct end users...

That said, I'm not sure what chemistry Prestone uses. But they do claim "extended life"...so perhaps it's a HOAT as well. Who knows?