SJH-IV

Is the coolant at the auto parts store marked "WORKS IN ALL CARS" ok to use in a C32? I checked the owner's manual and it refers to "MB 325" but makes it sound more like some kind of coolant additive......

Lenin

I would not use it. Get the Mercedes coolant. Mix it 50/50 with distilled water.

insame1

Please do everyone a favor and do a search before asking questions. this has been covered about a million times but in case someone finds this searching use the MB as stated above or Zerex G05 coolant and distilled water. Nothing else.

On a side note. I am not a firm believer in the mix 50/50 recommendation. Water transfers heat better than coolant and where I live 50/50 is over kill. I have been mixing 80/20 water to coolant for years with no issue.

Lenin

Ever been to St. Louis in the winter? OP should use a 50/50 mix.

tw2

My local dealer sold it to me by the liter. Wasn't expensive at all and distilled water from the local auto store is very cheap. I used 50/50 also.

I believe the additives they put in are important for protection of whatever metal combinations mercedes chose to use in the M112/113. Unless you do very careful research it won't be possible to find an off the shelf product that matches this.

C230 Mulac

Just for the extra reinforcement....NO NO NO NO to OP, do not use those other coolants. If different coolants use different elements in them depending on which you use and mix with the MB stuff that's already been in there you have a wide range of problems that could develop, from corrosion to weird chemical reactions and gunk and other crap that can ruin the engine.

And just for anyone else's reference, the stuff MB uses as I learned this weekend is PentoFrost (the blue stuff). Recommended 50/50 mix but as insame1 says you can vary it depending on your climate and driving style. I'm roughly 65/35 water coolant right now but with winter coming around the corner probably could bring it down closer to 50/50.

Pentofrost: http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0496&ppt=C0059

MB just puts this same stuff in their own bottle at the dealership. But in all reality, it's $25 for a gallon at the dealer so it's not exactly breaking your ***** to just go there and get it.

tw2

I have a coolant question also. Is there any problem driving around for a week with distilled water only? (Its summer here).

I would like to change it with just distilled water (since its so cheap) a couple of times to flush every last bit out. My car has green coolant so probably not benz fluid especially since the last lot I bought was blue. I want to get rid of it all before I replenish it all with a 50/50 mixture.

C230 Mulac

For only one week? You should be fine depending on how much you're driving it, but I would at least give it maybe a quart of the MB mix. Distilled water actually has better heat transfer properties as previously mentioned, so if it were possibly running straight distilled water would actually make your car run the coolest. However, the reason you need coolant is: lubrication of water pump, coolant provides an anti-corrosive substance, coolant raises the boiling point of the water when mixed with it. People who take their cars to the track will often just put distilled water in them for the track day, but add coolant back to drive normally again.

Also, I don't think you would have to drive for a week to flush it. Run the water for a 20 minute drive, then drain it, repeat until there is no green and just straight water coming out. It doesn't take long for it to make a full loop through the cooling hoses. If you were going to run water for a whole week I'd add a little coolant mix as I noted above.

tw2

Just because if I do it in the weekend and don't get a chance to do it again until the following weekend. I will try and do a couple of back to back drain/fill over two days.

C230 Mulac

Makes sense...so in worst case scenario you have to ride it for a week til the next weekend, you'll be fine. Just throw in some of the Benz mix like I said a quart or so and you'll be alright.

People have done much, much worse things and made it out alright haha