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 > Tech Help

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-16-2006, 07:30 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Baton Rouge La
Posts: 2,632
upper radiator neck leaking?

I notice that every few months i have to add in a little water to the coolant tank.

today...i just squeeezed the upper hose and some water oozed around it..

should I

1. Tighten the clamp

2. Take off the hose and see if the neck is leak-ing...

3. If the plastic is cracked ..do the home-made neck saver

4. Plan for a new radiator

I'll bet this has been going on for 8 months...and i really never gave it a second thought..

this is on the CE

__________________
1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

Last edited by lee polowczuk; 09-16-2006 at 09:55 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-16-2006, 07:43 PM
Ron in SC's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 1,095
Quote:
Plan for a new radiator
Lee,
I'd plan on doing that before I drive the car again. It could break and leave you stranded.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-16-2006, 08:19 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Virginia
Posts: 235
If it all possible I'd get it replaced now.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-16-2006, 10:33 PM
Hatterasguy's Avatar
Zero
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Milford, CT
Posts: 19,318
How old is the radiator?

If its original don't tighten it you could break the neck. I'd replace the radiator, heater hoses, and flush with MB coolant. Then forget about it.
__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-16-2006, 11:40 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Baton Rouge La
Posts: 2,632
its a behr. don't know how old it is...

did the ovp on Friday.. i think it was original.

i'll look for some markings tomorrow..

what brand replacement...?
__________________
1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-17-2006, 01:20 AM
Mike Murrell's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 2,580
I'd stick with a Behr radiator, not that there aren't others of equal value/performance.

I've followed a lot of radiator threads here and have yet to find any sort of solid consensus that anyone made anything near as good as Behr.

When mine gave up the ghost, I stuck with Behr. That was 4 or 5 yrs. ago.

You may hear yack here that Behr's upper necks are reinforced with a metal sleeve. They must of left mine out when they built it and I've heard from a couple of local independent techs that the metal sleeve insert hasn't been around in awhile.

Like everything else these days, corners are being cut to save $$$.

One of the things that kills the upper necks in my opinion other than age is overtightening. Back in the early days at this forum, a tech named Benzmac suggested that one use a cooling system pressure tester to adjust the upper neck hose. Refit everything, then hook up cooling system pressure tester. At this stage, your upper neck hose clamp is snug, but not too much. Pump the system up to around 17-20 lbs and gradually tighten the upper hose clamp until the leaking stops.
__________________
Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

Last edited by Mike Murrell; 09-17-2006 at 01:36 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-17-2006, 10:29 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Baton Rouge La
Posts: 2,632
behr radiator-- with a surprise

I have a behr radiator ...with what looks like a factory mercedes sticker and part number on it.

there is also a smaller green sticker with raised braille type lettering...

Here's the kicker-- the neck had a shiny aluminum insert in it.

i took off the hose obviously..and looked for a ..but didn't see anything..

i re-rightened the hose...and now have the car idling... i am going to watch it for about an hour or so..

like i said in the original message-- the water that i was losing was so minimal...i thought it was evaporation...

i'll just have to monitor it for a bit..

i am not opposed to paying a couple of hundred dollars for a radiator..but why if i don't have to...

i do want to get motor mounts in.. i have one in my stock..and have to get the other...
__________________
1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-17-2006, 10:52 AM
Mike Murrell's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 2,580
With the engine cooled off, hook up a cooling system pressure tester. Watch for leaks. If it's leaking at a hose-to-radiator-pipe-connection, gradually tighten clamp until it stops. You can rent these at the mass marketer parts shops like Auto Zone. The one they rent fits perfectly to my MBs pressurized coolant tank without any adapters. I've found these to be invaluable for locating leaks. Much better than trying to eye ball a warm/running motor. That approach doesn't always work.

Another possibility is a small plastic elbow piece on top of radiator(more to drivers side) that has a long/skinny hose connected to it. This hose goes back to the overflow tank. This elbow has been known to leak and it's been mentioned at this forum many times that it's replaceable and available at your local dealer. It's also available here. Photo below.

http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/mercedesshop/sophio/wizard.jsp?partner=mercedesshop&clientid=catalog.mercedesshop&baseurl=http://catalog.peachparts.com/&cookieid=1KU172UOY1WE0NEJEJ&year=1989&make=MB&model=300-CE-001&category=G&part=Radiator+Fitting
__________________
Mike Murrell
1991 300-SEL - Model 126
M103 - SOHC
"Fräulein"

Last edited by Mike Murrell; 09-17-2006 at 10:59 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 09-17-2006, 11:06 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Baton Rouge La
Posts: 2,632
thanks , mike..

i keep one of those plastic things in my spare parts bin..

i also noticed that the radiator is stamped with BEHR and also stamped into the metal with the mercedes star.

I like the idea of the leak tester... i will do that..
__________________
1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 09-17-2006, 11:12 AM
Ron in SC's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 1,095
If you have the metal sleeve and it still seeps after you keep tightening it then maybe the hose is not making a good seal. What I've done in that situation is just get a new hose and it will most likely seal better.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 09-17-2006, 11:17 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Baton Rouge La
Posts: 2,632
thanks Ron.... sometime this fall, i am going to take the radiator out and do the fan bracket.. i may put new hoses on then.. and do a good flush and some zerex and hopefully be good for awhile...

btw... i will probably rent your tools for the valve stem seals and do it myself here... so many projects.
__________________
1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 09-17-2006, 11:38 AM
Ron in SC's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 1,095
Quote:
i am going to take the radiator out and do the fan bracket..
I've done that job on my 300 TE and the radiator does not need to be removed.

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 04:17 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