e500slr

Hi guys,

I bought a 2005 S500 about a month and a half ago which was hit from the front. I took off the whole front clip with the intention of replacing it with another. The radiator was damaged so I took off and threw away the damaged ones. The car is NOT inside a garage, it's just in the yard with the bonnet still on. I didn't end up finding a replacement clip in time and had to go overseas for a while. So it's been a month roughly and the car was sitting outside with all the lines open.

Now I ended buying a complete rear ended car which was totalled and took off the radiator/condenser. While I was carrying the radiator, I had the expansion tank still attached and as I was carrying over to lay it flat, a few drops of coolant from the expansion tank hole conveniently went in the hole for the ATF.

I know glycol contamination could ruin a transmission so now I'm worried I stupidly ruined this radiator and if I install it I could contaminate the ATF with coolant.

This is really retarded, I realize this but what do you guys think I should do, from leaving the lines open that long to this stupid problem.

1. Leaving the lines for that long, could enough moisture have found its way into the system to cause issues?
2. What should do about the radiator. Should I just find another one or flush out the ATF part with ATF?

Thanks for the help.

Yuille36

Your going to need a complete coolant flush as well as a complete transmission flush, just to be sure no cross contamination occured.

tw2

I don't think that amount could make any difference. Of course you will be adding brand new fluids anyway. I would give the radiator a good flush out and clean with degreaser anyway (both parts) as you never know what other crap is in there.

e500slr

What kind of degreaser? So basically degreaser in the transmission cooler?

tw2

I don't know if this is suitable but when I get second hand parts I usually give them a very thorough clean with normal engine degreaser inside and out. Then a very good flush with heaps of hot water and leave them to dry for a few days. If you have compressed air to blow water out even better. You never know what foreign material you might find. Of course electronics ie alternator etc you need to use specific degreaser that don't leave residue.

But yes I would clean the inside of the transmission and engine coolant parts of the radiator. I presume your parts car is post 2004?

e500slr

Actually it's not, it's an 03.

tw2

I don't know much about the S-class but if it is a combination coolant and transmission fluid cooler like the C and E class of the same generation then check what the brand is. If it is an original valeo then just buy a new radiator. Behr is fine.