I was at the dealership yesterday purchasing a gallon of coolant. The color of the coolant is orange/pink color. However, the coolant inside my 2001 E320 is green color. Did they change the coloring of the coolant?
I probably will only be able to drain the radiator and not be able to flush the whole system. I wonder where is the drain plug at the engine block?
it;s ok, nothing to worry about. last owner probably put it by mistake. shouldn;'t have caused any damage. you should be fine by just draining the radiator and refilling with the mb orange coolant.
it;s ok, nothing to worry about. last owner probably put it by mistake. shouldn;'t have caused any damage. you should be fine by just draining the radiator and refilling with the mb orange coolant.
Yes, you should be fine, but, no, you should not just drain the radiator and pour in the new coolant. If you do that, you'll be lucky to get half of it out. You've got to completely flush the system and then put in the proper amount of the correct coolant and fill with wter, preferably distilled. You should not mix the two different coolants.
Yes, you should be fine, but, no, you should not just drain the radiator and pour in the new coolant. If you do that, you'll be lucky to get half of it out. You've got to completely flush the system and then put in the proper amount of the correct coolant and fill with wter, preferably distilled. You should not mix the two different coolants.
Len
Thanks.
This is the kind of information I was asking. Thanks very much.
So, I should NOT mix the two different kind of coolant. (Are they different? They are both from MB.) According to MB dealership, they only sell the orange/pink colored coolant now. Yet, inside my E320, MB dealership put in green colored coolant about three years ago. Isn't it just a color change with same fluid?
Now I need to learn how to flush the system.
A local MB dealership recommended to flush the system every three years. Sometimes I wonder that it's a waste of time and effort to flush the coolant every three years. Who knows, there is never a clear documentation stating when to change the coolant. Acura is 100K miles (the first flush, 60K miles afterwards).
If it's the bluish-green coolant and not the bright neon-green/yellow (like Prestone) then I think you're okay, they are okay to mix and will provide the proper protection. However, as pointed out, if you're trying to do the changeout you'll need two gallons and a complete drain (radiator, recovery tank, block) and then refill with coolant and distilled water. Unless you've let it go for a long time a flush isn't necessary. Three years is a good interval, some recommend two. This is an inexpensive enough item that it's not worth experimenting with long intervals; corrosion is a really bad thing.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
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No, I don't think it's Preston. It's MB's coolant in bluish-green color.
Part department at local MB dealership located the drain plug of the radiator for me. He claims that there is no drain plug for the block. He said that the only way is to flush the whole system.
Someone here was recently discussing it and they referenced a block plug. I've not yet had to locate mine but they're pretty obvious on every other car I've ever worked on. Pop the little belly pan (same one to drain oil) and it (or they) should be easy enough to find. (I have to think it has them, I've never seen any water-cooled engine that didn't have them.) The only time they're difficult to spot is when they're the "innies" and not the "outies" - or when they're hidden behind accessories.
All the Mercedes coolant I've ever used has been the amber colored stuff. I'd still not mix the two. There is a maintenance interval specified for coolant changes and it is every three years for my car. A flush is not needed if your old coolant comes out nice and clean. Measure how much you get out and compare it to the capacity. When I did mine, I got all but a quart or two, so I refilled it with water a few times a drained it again until it was clear. This time since I know what I did the last time, I'll just drain out the old, maybe rinse it once and then refill. When I refer to "flush," I mean a deoil/descale process - not necessary most of the time.
If you flush with water, you should get a hydrometer and check the glycol water ratio. When you add a 50/50 mix the water will dilute the mix and you will wind up with anti-freeze protection that may not meet your minimum winter conditions. The results will not be pretty when engine blocks or freeze plugs go. The idea of a water flush is thorough but the dilution problem keeps me away from it unless I have pure glycol to add back. Mixing isn't a problem. The two important ingredients are ethylene glycol and the corrosion inhibitors (and, I forgot, the water). For most US conditions the minimum temperatures are met with a 50/50 glycol/water mixture. Since glycol also acts as a corrosion inhibitor that mix aids in helping the other inhibitors that the manufacturer may have added. This topic has been discussed before so you might want to do a search and get the others' viewpoints.
You can get the right amount of coolant in by adding it first. Once you have added the coolant, then top it off with distilled water and whatever water was left in the system mixed with the distilled water and the proper amount of coolant will have you at the percentage you're after. Certainly double check things with a hydrometer, but there is no need to premix your coolant and water.
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