can i mix the Blue with Yellow anti-freeze? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

throne7 · #1 01-08-2009, 02:02 PM

My 1987 260e threw me the coolant light the other day when I was driving. I hurried home and popped the hood to see where the anti-freeze went. It appears to be the water pump because i can see the area surrounding the water pump is wet with the blue fluid. So anyway I haven't got around to get it fixed but still need to occassionally drive the benz. I called the dealer and they said no we don't have blue fluids, the antifreeze has been superseded by the yellowish fluid (as per Mercedes-Benz). So I ask can I mixed it in with my 260e blue fluids because I only need to top it up for awhile. He says yes no problem I can just go and mix the two, but get and get the pump fixed asap.

Should I believe the guy that I can mixed their Yellowish anti-freeze with the blue stuffs that's in my benz? Or is he just trying to ensure I come by for a big big engine job in a few months time???

PS: HOw do I diagnose that it is infact the pump?

Tomguy · #2 01-08-2009, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by throne7

PS: HOw do I diagnose that it is infact the pump?

You can tell because

Quote:

Originally Posted by throne7

i can see the area surrounding the water pump is wet with the blue fluid.

Telltale sign the pump is on the way out. It will get worse and eventually fail. It failed catastrophically on my dad's truck (driven every day since it started leaking) about 3 months after it began. Could take a day, could take a year. The fan was mounted to that WP and when it failed it nearly took out the radiator (it didn't because the plastic fan broke first).

Depending on where you live (if it's freezing or not) I'd add water before mixing antifreeze, but if you must - well, not like you have an alternative!

pawoSD · #3 01-08-2009, 03:17 PM

MB has always used a golden color Antifreeze....the "blue stuff" you speak of is not the correct fluid for that engine....

HarryM · #4 01-08-2009, 04:33 PM

My wife's 2000 C230K came new with blue antifreeze. For the first two coolant changes I used BMW (blue) antifreeze, then switched to Mercedes antifreeze the third time.

Other than color, BMW and Mercedes antifreeze may well be chemically identical.

pawoSD · #5 01-08-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryM

My wife's 2000 C230K came new with blue antifreeze. For the first two coolant changes I used BMW (blue) antifreeze, then switched to Mercedes antifreeze the third time.

Other than color, BMW and Mercedes antifreeze may well be chemically identical.

Huh, I've never seen BMW antifreeze. Blue sounds cool though.

I'd bet they are similar.....since they use similar metals in their engine designs....

throne7 · #6 01-08-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomguy

You can tell because

Telltale sign the pump is on the way out. It will get worse and eventually fail. It failed catastrophically on my dad's truck (driven every day since it started leaking) about 3 months after it began. Could take a day, could take a year. The fan was mounted to that WP and when it failed it nearly took out the radiator (it didn't because the plastic fan broke first).

Depending on where you live (if it's freezing or not) I'd add water before mixing antifreeze, but if you must - well, not like you have an alternative!

I live in Toronto, Canada and it does get cold enough that occassionally the water outdoor would freeze over. MOst of the time it just rains ugly cold rains here. What happens if you don't mix with water at the correct ratio? Some guy I talked to before told me that you are always safe to use higher ratio of antifreeze than water. But I am not sure it that means its safe to use no water at all; or some crazy ratio like 80% water, 20% antifreeze

ps2cho · #7 01-08-2009, 08:31 PM

The correct coolant for your car is yellow. The Zerex G-05 is apparently the best you can get. I use nothing less.

86560SEL · #8 01-09-2009, 01:53 AM

Yes, I have heard that Zerex G-05 is excellent for MB.

My car was slightly low on coolant, enough to make the warning light come on when I was up steep hills. Dealer said I could use Prestone yellow. I bought it at Walmart for $9.00 and only needed very little to bring the coolant level up to par.

On the bottle, it also says its safe for any make, any model, any year and can be mixed safely with any color anti-freeze without damaging your cars engine/cooling system.

babymog · #9 01-09-2009, 09:34 AM

They all say that, but does it come with a blank check to cover your risks/costs?

Buy the correct fluids, they're cheaper than the parts they protect.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 86560SEL

On the bottle, it also says its safe for any make, any model, any year and can be mixed safely with any color anti-freeze without damaging your cars engine/cooling system.

86560SEL · #10 01-09-2009, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babymog

They all say that, but does it come with a blank check to cover your risks/costs?

Buy the correct fluids, they're cheaper than the parts they protect.

True, but I was assuming since the Mercedes dealer said it was OK then there would not be an issue. Mine has green coolant in it anyway. I do not know why they made these cars anyway to have to have a special coolant than other cars.

pawoSD · #11 01-09-2009, 09:56 PM

The Zerex G-05 bottle is almost completely identical to the "MB antifreeze" bottle. Except for the color!

86560SEL · #12 01-10-2009, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

The Zerex G-05 bottle is almost completely identical to the "MB antifreeze" bottle. Except for the color!

Thats probably what I will get when I change the coolant on my 300SEL.

msethk · #13 01-10-2009, 06:37 PM

i would make sure to get the leaks fixed as soon as possible, nothing like being stranded with a broken down car. Then I would go to the dealer and get som MB coolant for your car. it might be $5-$10 more than anything else but its not like fuel you have to keep putting in, its only once every year or two. If you need to run something else i would say go with the Zerex g-05, its gonna be about the same.

and by the way, mercedes isnt the only manufacturer that uses special anti freezes, many foreign and domestics use different anti freeze depending on the engines and radiators they have in them. Someoone can chime in on this but I'm sure its to protect the metals in the radiators and engines.

babymog · #14 01-10-2009, 07:49 PM

GM's "Death-Cool" comes to mind.

86560SEL · #15 01-10-2009, 08:43 PM

Yep - Lexus does too. They only recommend the Toyota red or pink coolant. Mine has pink coolant in it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by msethk

and by the way, mercedes isnt the only manufacturer that uses special anti freezes, many foreign and domestics use different anti freeze depending on the engines and radiators they have in them. Someoone can chime in on this but I'm sure its to protect the metals in the radiators and engines.