Citrus Coolant Flush? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

bostondiesel · #1 03-23-2009, 04:04 PM

Is this a necessary procedure or can I just flush with water and refill with coolant, if I have no other issues? And also owner's manual suggests ATF for power steering, should I use that or power steering fluid for p/s pump filter change job? This is on a 1983 300D with 280K miles. Anything comparable to MB coolant or should it definitely be used?

tobybul · #2 03-23-2009, 06:17 PM

This might help...

Beware of the citric acid flush - you've been warned

LAbioCars.com · #3 03-23-2009, 10:39 PM

there is no reason to use any product while flushing the system

Oracle12345 · #4 03-23-2009, 10:48 PM

if your cooling sytem has been regualry flushed in the past no need. But if the car has been running on green coolant, rusty it would be a good idea to run the flush on diesel giant.

in refernce to the that thread citurs flush did a good thing, exposed problems in the cooling system in the garage and not on the road.

Diesel911 · #5 03-24-2009, 01:16 AM

I am going to pass this on for the sake of argument.
The Father of the Girl next door where I grew up was an extremely Mechanically Inclined person. What he said about use Radiator Flush was that if the Engine was not having an overheating problem caused by rust and you use a Flush you will loosen all of that crap and it will end up in your Radiator and you cause an overheating problem and the crap will continue to come loose little by little for over a year.
(Not as much of a problem with Cross Flow Radiators but most cars did not have them at that time.) He said if it is rusty inside and your not overheating leave it alone.

He also said the Radiator Flush works best if you already have a clean system and you flush it yearly to keep it clean and never let anything build up inside of your Engine.

If you think the above is not true 1 month ago my Father who owns an 58 Edsel did an flush on his car. Several days later his Radiator became partially plugged up. The stuff that was happy inside his Engine for all of those years now wants to move around.

Ian White · #6 03-24-2009, 02:03 AM

X2 diesel911, if not necessary don't.

babymog · #7 03-24-2009, 10:14 AM

X3

If your car is running any color anti-freeze, it doesn't need nor benefit from flushing with acid unless it has been neglected or had oil in it.

lonewolftek · #8 03-24-2009, 07:46 PM

x4 on if it ain't broke... etc.

You'll find opinions here and elsewhere ranging from citrus flush is godlike to citrus flush killed my puppy. It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish and what condition your cooling system is in.