Some coolants rated for use in diesel engines have a supplemental additive that reduces cavitation around the cylinder liners.

Thanks for all the info. I've noticed that my temp is getting up to 191 degrees with the outside temp here in Austin getting to 90 degrees. I normally got around 180, with the MB coolant.

I'm moving back to the MB coolant.

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Professional greasecar installer
Austin TX


98 Jetta TDI with grease car kit + veg-therm (totaled)
87 MB 300SDL running on B99 / greasecar kit + 30 fphe
www.austingreaseguys.com

I've often wondered whether I need to test and add the FX16 to the cars cooling system like I have to in the truck. Anybody know?

My car has green ethylene glycol in it now and it came that way from the PO. I'll be switching to Evans coolant in the near future when I do some overhauling on the engine.

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

Our 300D has green in it...and my dad's did but I drained that out and put MB in it. We haven't touched the cooling system on the 300D, it runs at a perfect temp....we might flush it this summer...but the MB stuff is ultra expensive. Perhaps we'll use the Zerex G-05.

Mine has always had MB coolant. Did when I bought it, and I have used it the two times I've replaced it.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

My sdl had 75K miles of green coolant in it by PO. I switched to zerex go5. Noticed no change. over 100K since change over.

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82 300D....went to MB heaven
90 350 SDL....excercising con rods

I think the main issue with the green coolant is that it does not protect the aluminum parts of the cooling system, which includes the water pump impeller, the water pump housing.....thermostat housing....etc... and on the 60x series of engines, the head, which is very important to protect from pitting etc...

On the 61x engines it could cause pitting on the cooling accessories but probably won't hurt the engine itself.

Either way, its MB coolant or Zerex for me.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Essentially nitrates and molybdates.

Cavitation pitting occurs in diesel engines because of the vibration/shock. The vibration/shock causes bubbles to form, and then collapse. Collapsiing a sphere can take/create thousands of psi or localized pressure, which chips away at cylinder lining. On larger (wet-sleeve) diesels it is required to check SCAs (Supplemental Coolant Additives) regularly, every 6months on mine.

Detroit Diesel has some good info on their site, likely others do also. This SCA is now in the M-B coolant recovery tanks, I don't believe that they started installing SCA filter type coolant recovery tanks until the '90s though.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

it happened to me too that my car had green coolant in it from the mechanic. the other day we needed to drain the coolant to work on the tubes, so we drained the green coolant through the radiator plug. when refilling, first we ran some water through to flush it a little, then refilled with a 50/50 zerex G05 and distilled water mix. but we did not drain the engine block ..oops..,

and now im concerned that the new zerex G05 may not be compatible with the green coolant remaining in there. (not sure how much would be left in there due to not draining the engine block??)

..i really dont want to have to drain it all out again! but i really REALLY dont want to have any adverse effects to my car due to the mixed coolants! i have been searching online and on forums, but can't seem to find a straight answer.. any advice? any links to information on this? thanks!

p.s. my car is an 84 300D

The coolant is compatible, half G05 is better than no G05.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

One of the claims of G-05 is that it does prevent cavitation in Diesels without having to monitor or add SCA's on a periodic basis. Which is why Ford has moved to it in their Diesels too recently. It would be an advantage then to use it just to not have to do that monitoring. I suspect it does wear out though hence the change interval of 5 years but I also suspect other things are wearing out too in that coolant.

For those who have Orchard Suppy Hardware in their area I just found they carry G-05 on the shelf.

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1983 300SD
200000miles

Replace it with Zerex G-05 (same as MB coolant). The green stuff will cause corrosion over time.

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1991 350SD (updated rods)
Biodiesel B100 when I can find it.
Dino when really cold outside

There's a sticker on the radiator demanding the use of aluminum-friendly anti-freeze, but I've seen a couple of anti-freezes that swear they are safe to use on any engine type, so I think some of today's anti-freezes are okay to use with aluminum. I just don't believe it strongly enough to use the green stuff myself.