MB Coolant- To Use or Not to Use? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

GradyService · #1 12-29-2006, 11:46 AM

I know that this may turn into a long, drawn out, post, but I am curious, what exactly does the mercedes benz coolant do that regular coolants dont? The coolants I have used forever (Pureflo and Texaco) both cite a Mercedes Specification on the back of the bottle. Why then is the MB Coolant so superior to the standard coolant? I live pretty far from a dealer, so if I needed coolant, I couldn't get it unless I drove 50 miles, save if I use an aftermarket brand. I do not like the GM Dex-Cool and would not use it in anything that wasn't cursed with it from the factory, but I would like to get a clear and final answer to this question. For what particular reason or reasons is MB coolant superior and worth the trouble to get for a Mercedes Benz rather than using a quality aftermarket alternative?
Happy New Year,
Dave.

juribe2 · #2 12-29-2006, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GradyService

... The coolants I have used forever (Pureflo and Texaco) ...

I do not like the GM Dex-Cool ....

I'm pretty sure Texaco's Extended Life Coolant is Dex-cool formula.

PM me with your e-mail address and I'll send you some good documentation about aftermarket coolants and MB coolant.

mctwin2kman · #3 12-29-2006, 02:26 PM

Mercedes coolant is designed for an Aluminum Radiator so it does not corrode it or the aluminum internals of the engine. It is identical to Xerex G-05.

ProV1 · #4 12-29-2006, 02:31 PM

mb coolant is $$, $22/jug. go buy the zerex fliud, it's $11/jug.

GradyService · #5 12-29-2006, 03:08 PM

Well, the green Texaco or Pro-Cool or Wal-Mart antifreezes all say that they meet SAE standards for aluminum protection. I just wondered if MB uses a different alloy of aluminum than other automakers which necessitates the use of either the G-05 or the MB Antifreeze?
Thanks, Dave.

lkchris · #6 12-29-2006, 05:51 PM

Mercedes are GERMAN cars, i.e. NOT built to SAE (society of american engineers) standards.

Try DIN.

You can mail order Mercedes coolant so "50 miles" is a spurious argument.

manny · #7 12-29-2006, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkchris

SAE (society of american engineers)

It's actually Society of Automotive Engineers.

GradyService · #8 12-29-2006, 06:11 PM

Well, as I understand it, even German cars use imported aluminum, and that aluminum is similar to the aluminum used in american or japanese cars, I believe

. But the point is, what is the need of 30 dollar per gallon (with tax and shipping)antifreeze if an quality aftermarket product serves the same purpose, and is more readily available. From personal experience, between myself, my mother, and my father, and my grandfather, we have had 9 Mercedes Benz autos ( 1965 230, 1968 280S, 1973 450SE, 1974 240D 1977 280SE, 1977 450SLC, 1986 300E, 1986 560SEL, 1995 E420), and not a single one of them has had anything other than regular green antifreeze in them. The average mileage of the cars when we sold them was 210,000 miles. Only one of these cars ever had a cooling system problem ('86 300E, which ran hot when the water pump failed and my dad kept on driving toward home with the car), and even that is arguably not the fault of the antifreeze. I understand that some on this forum have investments in their MB of upwards of $50,000.00. For them, it probably makes good sense to run to the dealership every time the car says Low Washer Fluid. For those of us who drive 10 year old MB's and older, and have around 10k in the car, it starts to be spending more than the car is worth. I have read most of the post on this board with regards to anti-freeze. Many of the professional mercedes techs disagree with the exclusive use of MB Anti-Freeze. I, just wish for everyone to try to save a little money when they can, because the times that we can use a part that doesn't come from the dealer is rare, and plenty of people on the forum live as far from a MB dealer as I do, or further.
Thanks, God Bless,
Dave.

sokoloff · #9 12-29-2006, 06:17 PM

The G-05 you can get for about $10/gallon. People have choices to make. It's your car. If it's worth saving five bucks every three years, then use whatever antifreeze you wish. For me, there is enough support for the proper coolant that I'll continue to use it. I believe that the Mercedes engineers know more about it than I do.

Len

autobahnauto · #10 12-29-2006, 06:49 PM

I use genuine Benz coolant in all Mercedes even if it comes in with the green crap. I use genuine BMW blue coolant in all my BMW's. I use genuine Red and Blue coolant in all my Audi's and VW's. I use genuine Porsche coolant in all my Porsches...(even though in my opinion, a real Porsche doesn't use coolant. LOL).
Get the point????
p.s. I use genuine Benz coolant in my 450hp Pontiac Fiero GT

Dave

GradyService · #11 12-29-2006, 06:49 PM

Well, the G-05 sounds much more reasonable to me than the MB coolant, so I will try it the next time I change my antifreeze.
Thanks, God Bless,
Dave.

Brett San Diego · #12 12-31-2006, 03:35 PM

Questions like these are very good ones. For me, it's not a cost issue at all, but an issue of blind faith. If someone tells me that I absolutely must use product A for something, my natural response is "Why?". I find the answer, "Because I said so," not to be satisfactory. There is either a very good explanation why, or there is no reason that you must use product A.

Hopefully someone can provide a very good explanation why one MUST use MB factory coolant versus other brands that are formulated for aluminum engines.

Brett

GradyService · #13 12-31-2006, 03:59 PM

Well, Brent, truth be told, thats why I asked the question in the first place. I didn't expect everybody to just clam up and say, "MB says so, so do it." But, basically, that was the consensus at the time. I have seen other post here that said, well MB coolant is good, but not really a whole lot better than other competitors. I expected at least some representation from that side in this debate. The most sensible debates I heard were that, G-05 was compatible with MB's, but that being said, the Valvoline-Zerex site shows the following diagram, which is posted here
http://www.valvoline.com/zerex/pdf/Zerex_CoolantChart.pdf
It says, among other things, that G-05 is approved by Daimler Chrysler, and Mercedes Benz, as well as Ford Motor Company. It is shown to be "Phosphate Free" and uses a HOAT chemistry, rather than the standard Green Ethylene Glycol base used for years. Thats fine. I got a few answers from Zerex-Valvoline's site. So, according to Zerex, G-05 is for everything that doesn't use Dex-Cool, unless it originally used Green Antifreeze. It sounds like good stuff. But, as good as it is, Ethylene Glycol, Green, Standard Antifreeze by Zerex has the following description:

Zerex Original Green is a patented low silicate formula that provides superior cooling system protection for passenger, light-duty & heavy duty* vehicles. Used for decades by many automakers worldwide, the formula is proven to provide unsurpassed corrosion protection in vehicles that specify traditional green coolant.

For convenience and protection try Zerex Original Green Ready To Use. Zerex Original Green Ready To Use combines the excellent temperature and corrosion protection of Zerex Original Green with de-mineralized water to help reduce the risk of cooling system deposits. The 50/50 mixture provides protection down to -34°F.

*Low-silicate chemistry for heavy-duty applications with use of SCA.
Excellent rust and corrosion protection
Helps prevent boil-overs and freeze-ups
Excellent aluminum protection

Anyway, all I was trying to do was create some intellgent discourse, on the scientific reasoning of why MB or G-05 is superior. Of course, I could have just accepted the reasoning of MB, that since they build the cars, they always know whats best. Then, I would also have to accept that I could only use MB DOT4 Brake Fluid. Or MB Windshield Washer Fluid. Or MB Power Steering Fluid. Or MB Fan Belts. Or a multiplicity of MB branded items that are manufactured for MB by outside suppliers and sold at a high markup because they are in a MB box. I understand why MB recommends MB parts. It helps MB's bottom line. I love my Mercedes-Benz. However, I do not wish to part with all of my hard earned money to pay 2 extra layers of overhead that I can cut out by buying, say, Elring gaskets from Rock Auto rather than the dealership, or Bosch Starters from Autozone rather than MB.
Thanks, God Bless,
Dave.

sokoloff · #14 12-31-2006, 05:56 PM

A couple of years ago before G-05 was approved for Mercedes use, there was a similar discussion about a Valvoline-Zerex antifreeze that touted by many as being the same or just as good as the Mercedes branded coolant. I called Havoline-Zerex and talked with a chemist there and asked him the question. He said that even though they made both, absolutely there is a difference in the Mercedes coolant and he would use nothing else. Why not call them yourself and see what answer you get? His answer was enough to convince me what to use.

Len

GradyService · #15 12-31-2006, 07:42 PM

Well, I will call Zerex on Tuesday and see about all of this. In the meanwhile, I wanted to share with everyone some of my resource material. The following thread expresses the official opinion of Daimler-Chrysler AG, and Mercedes-Benz North America. http://www.w124performance.com/docs/mb/other/antifreeze_article.pdf

It states that, among other things, that Mercedes Benz only wishes for MB Coolant or an "aftermarket equivelent". Pureflo coolant states on the back that, not only is it a Low Silicate Forumla, that it meets Mercedes Benz Specification DBL7200. I'll admit, I've never heard of it. But, maybe someone else has. Also, the exact wording of the Lubricants and Gasolines Pamphlet that comes with Mercedes' states the following,
"The use of aluminum components in M-B engines requires that the Anti-corrosion/ Antifreeze used be specifically formulated to protect the aluminum parts. Failure to use MB Anti-corrosion / Antifreeze may result in a significantly shortened service life. While there may be a number of products available which will provide the required protection, all such products have not been tested for Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The above product is suitable for our engines and can be mixed with the original Anti-corrosion/ Antifreeze filled in at the factory." Excerpted from Factory Approved Service Products, Copyright Mercedes-Benz of North America, Inc. Service and Parts Literature MBNA/MBC Rev. B (11-89). As best as I know, this has not been materially revised in the last 18 years, so it still stands. MB will not prohibit the use of aftermarket coolants. MB does not say that aftermarket coolants will hurt MB engines, only that they might. MB says that the reason that they don't know is that they haven't tested the aftermarket coolants. IMO, MB don't want to test the coolants. They can convince enough people to buy their product, by creating official doubt on all aftermarket coolants, including G-05. Also, cite the official instruction on the use of a 50/50 mix of MB Coolant and Distilled Water. Very Interesting.
Thanks, God Bless,
Dave.