Coolant change

[MIW615]

Going to flush out the coolant on my W210 and the wife's SLK this weekend and replace the antifreeze at the same time.

Simple question, when refilling is their any air-bleed screws on the system to let out any trapped air, or is it just the case of running up the engine with the rad cap off untill the thermostat opens.

 

[BlackC55]

Its dead easy.

Drain and re-fil then take it for a drive for 5 mins withh the heater on.

Then top up resevoir.

No bleed nips to worry about

 

[MIW615]

Its dead easy.

Drain and re-fil then take it for a drive for 5 mins withh the heater on.

Then top up resevoir.

No bleed nips to worry about

Cheers, that's what I was hoping - The cars I'm associated with are a nightmare with air-locks

 

[BlackC55]

That well known Italian brand.

Did you not use a pressure coolant bleeder?

 

[MIW615]

The good old Italian cars are covered with bleed screws at all the highest points and bear in mind a lot of the cars (especially the older ones) have the rad in the front and the engine at the rear. It can take 10-15 minutes to bleed off all the trapped air and then after a roadtest you have to bleed again

 

[television]

A few good squeezes of the bottom hose blows out loads of bubbles with the filler cap off

 

[Rory]

How old are the cars? I thought mine might need changing at 3yrs in my W203, but apparently it's OK for 15 years!

 

[television]

How old are the cars? I thought mine might need changing at 3yrs in my W203, but apparently it's OK for 15 years!

The last time this came up it just fizzled out with no definite answer

 

[MIW615]

How old are the cars? I thought mine might need changing at 3yrs in my W203, but apparently it's OK for 15 years!

My W210 is 5 years old and the SLK is 8 years old - I think it's a personal thing as to when the coolant is replaced. I have tested the antifreeze strength and both cars are okay (I top it up every year), but still will be changing the coolant on both cars this week-end :-|

 

[jberks]

I'm pretty sure my last E was done by the dealer at 4/5 years.
Its cheap enough to do and a clean out of the cooling system is never a bad thing. 5 years may be a tad early but I wouldn't leave it 10.

 

[wireman]

5 years may be too late.
The anti corrosion component in the coolant gets exhausted and then all the mixed metal bits of your cooling system will corrode inside where they can not be seen.
I would give it 4 years absoloute max, the stuff that stops it freezing and changes the specific gravity does not age as rapidly as the inhibitors do so "testing" the A/F soloution with a hydrometer just ain't realy a valid test.
Your owners handbook should give an MB answer to the frequency of change question.
The engine will cost much more to repair if there are parts damaged by corrosion, and it is more likley to need repair if the head/block interface is damaged...

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
Do Mercedes not make a recommendation as to the frequency of changing the coolant?

 

[David Nock]

Bluecol every 3 years on all my cars since I was a lad. We also run a 23 year old rotary Mazda which has aluminium rotor housings with steel "sandwich" plates. No engine problems whatsoever.

 

[MIW615]

5 years may be too late.
The anti corrosion component in the coolant gets exhausted and then all the mixed metal bits of your cooling system will corrode inside where they can not be seen.

That's what I was thinking, when you balance the cost of the antifreeze against engine components there's no arguement as far as I am concerned

 

[MIW615]

As an aside, what make of anti-freeze do you guys use:?:

 

[Rory]

5 years may be too late.
The anti corrosion component in the coolant gets exhausted and then all the mixed metal bits of your cooling system will corrode inside where they can not be seen.
I would give it 4 years absoloute max, the stuff that stops it freezing and changes the specific gravity does not age as rapidly as the inhibitors do so "testing" the A/F soloution with a hydrometer just ain't realy a valid test.
Your owners handbook should give an MB answer to the frequency of change question.
The engine will cost much more to repair if there are parts damaged by corrosion, and it is more likley to need repair if the head/block interface is damaged...

So are MB deliberately trying to get owners to wreck their engines by setting the change interval at 15yrs?

 

[iamamanc]

My Old Merc Man told me that If I use the blue it should be changed every 3 years with mercedese antifreeze, £5 a year - it's a no brainer.
Cheers

 

[Mr Teddy Bear]

My CLK Owners Handbook says 3 years however it is an additional chargeable item. I have VAG 'Purple' antifreez from GSF installed when I got the car. This is fit for life. Not to be mixed up with Halfrauds Red Coolant made from pond water........................
If you dont change it............the water pump bearing will tell you after the corrosion inhibitor has failed.......................