Autozone or Dealer for coolant?

[purplegrog]

I'm going to be changing the coolant in my 2001 E320 soon and wanted to know: Do I need to use MB branded coolant, or can I use prestone or similarly generic engine coolant (typed for my car) from my local autozone type store?

To remove this ad, register today or login if you already are registered!

[ohlord]

you can purchase zerex GO5. Is fine. Call around to your local parts stores or go to the web site and find a retailer.http://www.valvoline.com/products/br.../antifreeze/42
use distilled water to fill 50/50 ratio. Put in a bottle of redline water wetter to lower temps and lube the water pump. O'reilys carries both. They also carry the pre mixed 50/50
Have fun.

[socalsounds]

Apoligies for the hijack, but OhLord... can you tell me if I'll need to bleed my system after a coolant change (not flush). The Bimmer's quite problematic with this, but this would be the first time on the W210. Thanks!

[ohlord]

mercedes like the bmw's that have a vac system and all those bleed screws and open one before the other and pulling vac on the system with a pump. Just flush with plenty of clear water and fill,let engine run and top to mark. If unsure all air is out leave the coolant cap off overnight ?(be sure to return it in the morning) and all the air will percolate to the opening.
Much easier than the bmw's where if you even looked at the cap they over heated

[ejsheltra]

Any good coolant will work fine. I prefer an eco friendly over the standard sweet but poisonous stuff. Must keep the environment in mind. Same for the nitwits that remove their secondary and or primary cats. Kiss good bye to your ULEV rating.

[ohlord]

is not fine. MB spec or GO5 which is the same thing with a different dye pack. Use anything else and you could end up with a 400 lb. bucket of soupy aluminum.
For a few bucks more why risk the downside?

[SpaceCity E 430]

I replaced my radiator recently and bought the MB coolant. Luckily I have a dealership close by, and they treat me right on the price.

Good to know the GO5 will work too.

[purplegrog]

Thanks for the input everyone! It's good to know there is a G05 alternative, as my local dealers are quoting me $22 and $25 per gallon for MB branded coolant. One of them said the MB recommendation if not using MB branded fluid was just straight water. In Texas, that sounds to me like a fantastically bad idea. Does anyone know how many gallons I should expect to need, and how to properly dispose of the waste coolant?

[ohlord]

and most chain stores,oreilys and such take recycle coolant and oils for free.
Now you know where to dump your mobil1 0w40 synthetic when you suck it out the first time
fleece filter of course

the guy that said straight water needs to be shot............
Straight water in a grounded aluminum engine block will dissolve it in a matter of a year or less.
Just as it had many a 215 cubic inch alum v8 buick in the early 1960's and every alum engine since.

[Hirnbeiss]

I think the Zerex is going to run you about $20 a gallon these days anyway, so MB is an OK option. It always sounds like highway robbery, but you do it once every blue moon, and at least you'll know you did everything you could to prolong the life of your water pump.

[Franasia]

For Zerex G05 In NH.

[mistertonyn]

replace or flush the coolant on the W210 ?

[pdttm]

I am about to drain and fill the coolant. My question is where is the drain plug? We use the reserve tank on the side to fill? (I don't see the radiator cap?)
Thanks

[Lancelot]

Lol! I just happened to replace my coolant today! I took off the hoses on the aux-pump and firewall so I could flush out the heatercore and duovalve with the gardenhose. I also removed the thermostat housing, took the thermostat out and flushed through there (into the radiator hose and engine block) Also flushed through the filler opening in the expansiontank (this flushes out the radiator and the large hoses) Mounted a new OEM thermostat and refilled the system with GlycoShell, which is MB approved and suitable for protection of aluminium and cast iron engines.

-edit- added pics

Drainplug on radiator:


Thermostat housing off:


New Thermostat ready:


Connection to heatercore: (at firewall on drivers' side)


Connection coming from auxiliary pump: (coming from duovalve)


Engine bay all cleaned up and drying:

[mistertonyn]

Since yours is a diesel model...is it prettty much the same? I can see that certain hoses are in different areas compared to a gas version.

[pdttm]

Lancelot,

Thank you for the write up and the pictures. I wish yours is the gas version since there are differences between the two. I think I get the idea from your post.

Good job, Lancelot

[Lancelot]

I guess the connection for the heatercore and duovalve to aux-pump is the same on all W210's. Radiator hoses will be routed differently on petrol models. But if you follow the largest hoses coming from the radiator and one of them is connected to a large bulge with held with two screws on the engine; it must be where the thermostat is at....

[tristarblue]

I was told that generic coolants on MBZ especialy 94 up can cause damage to the head gasket by something known as electrolesis damage. I had this happened to my previous 1994 E320 I6 engine and the car blew a head gasket without ever overheating. I recommend the dealer's coolant or an equivilant type.

[ohlord]

is Zerex GO5
50/50 mix

[rennwerkes]

Originally Posted by Hirnbeiss

I think the Zerex is going to run you about $20 a gallon these days anyway, so MB is an OK option. It always sounds like highway robbery, but you do it once every blue moon, and at least you'll know you did everything you could to prolong the life of your water pump.

If I recall correctly, here in Honolulu the dealership is charging $36 for coolant.

[saintz]

NAPA still caries Zerex G05. O'Reillys sometimes will have it, but I think they are phasing it out. It should cost around $10, so about half the cost of the dealer.

[gqmagic]

Originally Posted by saintz

NAPA still caries Zerex G05. O'Reillys sometimes will have it, but I think they are phasing it out. It should cost around $10, so about half the cost of the dealer.

Yep, $10 to $12 here at NAPA in So Cal also