Stuttgarten

I'm getting ready to flush my radiator. How many gallons will it take? Will I need to dilute it, like a 50/50 mix. I've got like 2/3 of a gallon which I've had for like 3 years now, does this thing expire?

cmriv

Not sure what the capacity is. However I just use a gallon of MB coolant, fill the same jug up with a gallon of water, so yes 50 50 mix, and fill the system.

Not sure about expiration. I would just buy some new coolant.

Stuttgarten

Do you know where the drain plug is? The last time I did this was on a 1968 280 S. She was a beauty!

cmriv

drain plug located at either side of bottom of radiator. There's a valve you have to turn....

Plutoe

Hey, if you have a 112.949---the coolant capacity is 9.5 L and if you want to go down to -37C add 4.75 L of the old crap---however if you live in CA add the full 2\3 gallon of the old crap and the rest distilled water and you will be just fine!!

PS: don't leave any air in the system, lest you will be back whining about high engine temps!!

Stuttgarten

Thanks Plutoe, yes mine is a 112.949. I found this pic of location of drain plug on PelicanParts website, but applies up to MY '04, and mine is an '05. Does anyone know if an '05 has same set up as older W211? I guess I could open it up and look.

Plutoe

That's it------start draining!!

marc hanna

What are people using to loosen the drain petcock? It's too tight to loosen by hand, and I don't want to chew it up by putting some pliers on it.

Stuttgarten

I haven't gotten to mine yet. Could you use a large size flat screwdriver to open it like this picture below? It comes from an '04.

marc hanna

I thought about that, but on both my cars the petcock is horizontal, not vertical like in that pic. The result is; any normal slotted screwdriver that large enough is too long - the other end hits the motor.

marc hanna

Here's a pic looking down from above:

Stuttgarten

Could you use this type of a tool? I'm sure you could find it at a hardware store, e.g. Rona.

marc hanna

I think that would probably work. The head has to be quite large because the slot in the petcock is quite large. I just tried with the largest stubby screw driver I have, and couldn't get enough twisting force on it. I'm going to take a trip to Princess Auto in the morning and see what I can find.

marc hanna

A couple more pics:

Stuttgarten

It's very tight down there.

I found these tools in my garage which you could easily get: I've numbered them on picture to correspond below:

1. Sears Craftsman part #: 41315, tip size is 0.7 cm.
2. Sears Craftsman part#: 9-4160. Has 4 screwing tips, largest is 0.75 cm.
3. Paint can opener from HomeDepot, you could bend the screw driver tip and it's large enough to work well. Tip size is 1 cm. (This one is like a dollar @ paint dept)

marc hanna

I used the paint can opener. I had a really wide one (from Rona), and I didn't flatten the end out.

It worked really good, and I put a wrench through the eyelet to give me a little extra leverage.

Once you crack it the first time, it screws in and out quite easy.

It turns out it's not a petcock at all, it's just a plug with a couple O-rings, so you have to thread it all the way out until it comes out.

marc hanna

The R-class is done and the E-class is partly done - I'm doing a heavy-duty clean with Preston Flush because it's been quite some time since the E-class had a coolant change.

I only got about 4L out of the E-class, and the coolant didn't look that bad - I was expecting more, so maybe I've got some blockage in there.

One thing I would recommend after looking at both vehicles, it would be a good idea to replace the drain plug when changing the coolant - or at least the lock washer for it.

Stuttgarten

Did E class drain from same opening of drain plug?

Stuttgarten

I just found an article with pics. on Pelican Parts' website which gives step by step directions on draining W211 radiator. Looks like you need to drain about 2 gallons of liquid from radiator. From that article, it appears there're 2 draining spots, one where the red plug that's located on left side of radiator (driver's side.) The other plug, "is on the right side of the block about four inches away from the transmission bell housing."

Here is the link:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...ing_System.htm

nivram13

Just did this job today there is only one drain plug on the right hand side not two. The hardest part of the job was putting the under splash gaurd back on draining and refilling was simple. A simple short flat head screw driver will open the drain plug failing that a pair of pliers will do the trick. Drained around 5 liters out the system.

I've found the engine is running a little cooler after the flush I suspect the old coolant had not been changed for many years if ever.

marc hanna

I think you can get it all out through the rad drain if you park the car on an incline with the front of the car pointing downhill. Otherwise, you can jack up the back end or back it on to ramps - although this will make it difficult to get the catch pan under it.

Yes the drain is in the exact same position on both vehicles, but there's less clearance on the E-class. The paint can remover is just barely short enough to fit in there.

kajtek1

You will never drain all of it. Lucky if you get 90% as plugs will not drain all from the radiator and engine has lot of cavities.
If you really want good flush, buy 8 gallons of distillate water from Walmart and do 4 drain/refills with some driving with heater on.
Don't think you need to do it on W211 that has 15 years coolant intervals.
Anybody worry here about replacing chem pack in the cooling system while changing the coolant ????
For those in Bay Area - Oakland MB sold me coolant for $19.
Unless you plan on driving into really low temperatures, I just pour 1 gallon of MB coolant and top of with DW.

Plutoe

Oh yea please tells about a so called MB recommended chemical replacement pack you think is used---I gota hear this one---I think this is the same mega poster gent advising taking fan blades off diesels so they run cooler---watch out!!

kajtek1

Hi Plutoe.
Missed your irony on benzworld, but looks like you are doing fine here.
FYI the fan-less E300DT after 8 years of flawless service in my family went to fellow forum member in So CA. I think he put the fan on since he likes to push the traffic, but will check for you if interested?