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]

Lee,
I'd plan on doing that before I drive the car again. It could break and leave you stranded.

If it all possible I'd get it replaced now.

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.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

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]

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"