PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - Thinking of doing the hoses and (gasp) radiator

JHZR2 · #1 02-04-2004, 12:36 AM

Hi,

The radiator on my 83 300D is the original one. Seems fine, temperature is always OK, the plastic seems strong, and its only ever seen MB coolant. But Id guess one day something will spring a leak. With 20+ years and 217k under its belt, should I consider replacing it? The system runs under suprisingly low pressure; once I left the cap just sitting in the hole and drove it on the interstate for days without loosing any coolant or having any engine temperature concerns at all. I would have left it that way for years had I not noticed it when tinkering under the hood.

The hoses are who knows how old as well. They look good, no problems seen when looking closely at the ends of the radiator hoses. I am a bit concerned though about the heater hoses. If one of them breaks, will I loose all my coolant, or does the flow through all the small diameter heater hoses entirely depend upon the operation of the aux water pump?

If I was to replace all the cooling hoses and the heater hoses, how big of a job would that be? Im sure that Id have coolant everywhere... If I drain the radiator will there still be coolant in the heater lines?

After doing all the hoses, Im sure there will be plenty of air pockets. How hard will it be to burp it from this point?

Any help would be great.
Thanks,

JMH