Coolant: Green or Orange?
 

I went to my local Merc Dealer to get the "recommended" coolant for my 300TE. However when I asked the head mechanic there he told me that because my system is completely drained (I did the headgasket) I could use the Green coolant. He simply instructed me to not mix it with Orange which I already knew. He stated that all of the gaskets/parts will not be affected by the green coolant.
What do you all think of that? Every forum I have read says to not use the Green coolant, but if it is safe for Aluminum parts and more readily available than the Zerex (in my area at least), why not?

Also on a side note: what is the best way to flush my system to make sure I get any leftover junk (or oil that was in the coolant)?

Coolant Thread = the new oil thread...

Dude don't even take the chance. There is too much at stake. Just mail order the Zerex G-05 from ******** or Amazon or someplace. Mixing of coolant types is not the issue: it's all about coolant chemistry and its compatibility with the metallurgy of the engine and cooling system components. There are plenty of documented cooling system failures caused by using the wrong coolant. Make sure you use distilled water for mixing/dilution. Consider yourself warned. The MB factory generally knows what they are doing.

To get the residual oil out of the system, you can use MB de-oiling chemical P/N A.001.986.21.71, 500g container (mix 50grams/liter of water). The citric acid powder for rust and scale removal is is P/N A.000.989.10.25, also 500g container. Blast some water and then some air through your heater core. Be advised your hoses may be compromised because oil in the coolant degrades the rubber in the hoses. Watch out for soft spots and keep an eye on the hoses. Or - Better to just replace the hoses altogether.

What would be the virtue of using the "green stuff?" It's not performance, so it must be cost.

Compare the cost of the one gallon jugs. Then factor in that the coolant life is approximately 24 months . . . how much are you really saving?

Again, when did Mercedes owners turn into cheapskates on basic maintenance?

DIY Geistig mangelhaft
 

MTI,

'Might be why the factory service engineering development team gets so
nervous when the subject of "Amerikaner machend ihren eigenen Dienst"
comes up.

Originally, Mercedes imported into the USA came equipped with a finely crafted
Austrian Brick as part of the Factory tool set in the trunk.
The Mercedes owner was to use the brick as an attitude adjustment tool on
her/himself if the temptation to deviate from Factory Service Procedures
presented itself.
Sadly,the Tool is no longer offered in USA bound Mercedes.

One mail had a interesting bit from a repair shop regarding the coolant: "The elderly gentleman stated that he had never changed the coolant in his seventeen year old MB's life.still with the factory MB coolant.
The cooling system was stripped ,checked and fresh coolant filled . There was no scaling or any detrimental effect on the cooling parts.everything looked as new." The Correct coolant!

We have all heard that the M103 engines is a temperamental beast with a head gasket that gives away and a water pump that leaks. Using the correct M.B. coolant and replacing it at the specified intervals will go a long way to help to alleviate these head gasket and water pump problems.

It's all green down under
 

When I bought a 1991 300E a while ago, I was quick to change out the green coolant in there, assuming it to be trouble waiting to happen. However, I was somewhat surprised to find that the Zerex G-05 I bought to replace it with was also very much the same green colour as pretty much every other coolant on the market, at least in Australia, so going on the colour alone is probably not the most definitive means of determining exactly what is in there.

orange coolant for MB
 

Do you have the Caltex petrol pumps down there? The Caltex ones carry the MB recommended orange coolant with a 5 year life span. Dont know if Chevron does ,though they are both one and same .

I may have to trade vehicles. Where I live, red is Alabama red and Green is Tennessee orange. Can't have that.

Waiter! Bring me a truck that uses red coolant, please..

I use ONLY Zerex G-05 Orange/gold colored coolant in my vehicles.

Wow, that is some kind of illness. I'm guessing the truck you're looking for is a pickup truck with a gun rack and dog slobber on the windows. Shouldn't be hard to find. :)

I like my P.Gycol anti freeze at 100%.Never freezes,won't boil till 325 degrees.Its green.

I always use the cheapest green coolant I can get my hands on and distilled water. Never had a problem. I swear every euro manufacturer has its own proprietary fill in the blank color coolant. I've heard the same story with BMW, Volvo and Audi owners. If you don't use the ultra special dealer only coolant your engine will blow up and your children will be born with hooves. I call BS.

Thats right,my thinking all dealers.I don't want their oils,weights,and ect...
They want to sell a new vehicle to you in 5 years or less.I use oil that will pass thru their screens but protects.Same with other stuff.