Muddy Intercooler loop
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 113
Likes: 24
From: San Diego
2002 CLK 430, 2005 CL600, 2009 Smart Fortwo
Muddy Intercooler loop
Hi, I have a 2005 CL 600. I haven't had it that long, I checked the intercooler water loop and found no visible liquid when looking under the pressure cap. I filled it up with the blue antifreeze, not much. only a few oz, which is used in the radiator and overrode the pump on with the Xentry tool saw no movement in the liquid. I ordered a new pump, and today set to work. When I removed the old one I discovered reddish muddy looking material in the inlet of the pump, this isn't good, with the pump removed I began pouring clean water into the fill port on top of the engine. I expected it to just run straight through and onto the ground, it didn't, I then disconnected the rubber hose on the other side of the heat exchanger in front of the radiator and will backflush with a water hose tomorrow. The thing I don't get is where this rusty, muddy looking water came from, I wouldn't think there are any ferrous metals in the loop to cause the rusty look of the somewhat viscous water that came out. Has anyone else had similar issues, I think the intercooler loop hasn't been circulating for a long time. Thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,037
Likes: 1,012
From: Miami, FL
2003 CL 600
There shouldn't be rust in it, but as you assume it has probably been non-functional for a very long time, most are unless they are enthusiast driven. Flush it and see where you end up. Your car has a relay for the pump underhood, I jump the relay to run the pump when bleeding/filling, although if you vacuum fill properly it's not too bad. Trying to fill the system without a good filling tool is nearly impossible. Pmercury has a ton of great info on the system.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 5
Likes: 2
From: Austin,Tx
2004 S600
The rust is caused by the black metal intercooler pipes. The black coating inside flakes off and exposes bare metal causing rust. I also ended up with alot of those black flakes stuck in my intercoolers.
