Coolant issues #shameless idiocy

[500 DXB]

Hello all,

I need some urgent advice. Tonight on the drive home during some hard corning the coolant light flickered on and off once or twice.

Once home like a moron I lifted off the reservoir cap on the engine while still fairly hot (engine off obviously). I'll be open and honest here and mention my mechanical knowledge is pretty useless hence massive school boy error in doing this.

All the coolant came bubbling magnificently out of the reservoir tank and on to the floor.

Left the car for 20mins to cool slightly.

Came back down to move it and when running the car for 5 mins moving it into a parking space the temp shot up to over 115c.

I went and bought Prestone Precision Blend (one gallon Yellow pack and Blue coolant cover).

I wanted to ask in terms of next steps do I need to "burp" the air from the system?

Can I simply fill the reservoir tank and run as normal again or will I need to do a proper system flush.

Car previously had a full tank of MB coolant.

Thanks in advance for advice on this.

 

[Glen]

You should be able to just add coolant to the reservior, however, I don't know if Prestone Precision Blend is suitable or not. If possible, get MB or Zerex G05.

 

[JordiC]

You may be inclined to just top off the coolant, but you might as well do a full drain/flush with properly mixed fluid, change the thermostat and check or replace the hoses. You are, after all, in a very hot environment. It's better to err on the cautious side. Do a search on the subject here and you will find various posts on the procedure that should answer all your questions including the "burping".

 

[Jelmer]

I found that the coolant light goes on when there's already quite a lot of coolant missing. Your do-it-yourself volcano eruption didn't help, so I'd expect to add 1.5 to 2 liters of coolant.

The 115C is definitely too high. Your aux fans ought to be engaged at that temperature.

I'd say fill her up (or drain as Jordi said, your call), start the engine, put the heater on full heat and let it idle a bit. When the dash needle reaches 80C, the upper hose should start getting hot. After that the radiator. If you see the temps climbing very quickly from 60 to 110, I'd say there's something really wrong.

 

[500 DXB]

The above help is great and very much appreciated.

Apologies I forgot to mention the reason the engine went to 115c so quick is that the car was moved whilst the engine was about 85-90c and in an underground car park with little heat and 35c external temp.

 

[195910]

That wasn't toooo bad! but the rule is never do any DIY in the afternoon ..the summer heat boils away half the fluids in your brain cell...he he he

Must burp the system, just unplug the return hose to the expansion tank after refilling the system and start the engine. Once flow in return hose is constant, plug it back into the tank and close cap.

 

[500 DXB]

Thanks for the above - got the correct Merc juice from the garage today (FOC as Gargash look after my car well) will fill it up tonight.

 

[bing]

Apologies I forgot to mention the reason the engine went to 115c so quick is that the car was moved whilst the engine was about 85-90c and in an underground car park with little heat and 35c external temp.

...and because you lost a lot of coolant!

You must have been REALLY throwing it around corners for the coolant to tilt below the sensor. Usually happens to me in a S/class with brake fluid warning light flashing when I give it some beans on roundabouts.

 

[500 DXB]

...and because you lost a lot of coolant!

You must have been REALLY throwing it around corners for the coolant to tilt below the sensor. Usually happens to me in a S/class with brake fluid warning light flashing when I give it some beans on roundabouts.

Light would come on when the car was cold from start for 1 sec then go off when the car moved.
Light would then come on on hard left hand corning (not mental g-force on the wing mirrors corning now, fairly hard but not mental)
The washer bottle was 1/2 full though - is the sensor connected to both?

 

[bing]

sounds like your coolant was already low in the beginning. Of course when cold and no pressure level will drop but should not be below sensor. Considering ambient temp in Dubai, have you ever had to top it up?? In Europe, never! Unless there's a leak. I'd have it check while flushing the system.

Washer bottle completely seperate, has it's own sensor and that includes seperate dash warning light.

 

[gsxr]

A flaky coolant light could be a bad sensor, or a bad connection in the wiring. The coolant level has to be very low in order to trigger the dash light. If you ever replace the sender, make sure you only buy the OE dealer part, or Hella. The rest are junk (Uro, Meistersatz, etc).

 

[500 DXB]

The radiator had on occasion come on once when the car was cold about 8 months ago and immediately took it the garage to let them take a look. Tested the radiator once it was "sweating" slightly - tested it twice and it was still sweating a little from a tiny leak so at the point the work shop manager there (good friend of mine who treats the car like it is his own) gave the radiator repair shop a massive bollocking and they had a 3rd attempt it. Since then the radiator has been fine.
With temps touching +50c here this summer I've no doubt there has been some evaporation and loss purely though environment.

But and it's really big but see the pictures I've attached to this reply and it shows a snot like solid dribble of coolant from the radiator (back) that was about a 6cm long and 9mm wide when I looked it. That's the source of the leak. Very saddening the shop (not the dealer) had 3 attempts at getting it right.

 

[gsxr]

Are radiators that expensive over there? We can get a new OEM Behr in the USA for less than $250 USD. Just replace it!

 

[500 DXB]

On a happier note the old girl sucked down 3 litres of MB coolant and 3 litres of distilled water and pumped lovely hot air into the cabin after about 20mins. Car then ran solid at 80c-85c for about 20mins no issue. So coolant refill a success.
Possible radiator leak not. With the old girl "burping" her cooling system and "sweating" her radiator it's not in keeping with the behaviour of such a classy old bird.
As Dave pointed this leak could be the cause of the warning light coming on.

 

[500 DXB]

Are radiators that expensive over there? We can get a new OEM Behr in the USA for less than $250 USD. Just replace it!

For USD$250 Dave sure you' be wasting money by not buying it!! Let's see what the dealer says as the work is still under warranty so might be getting a new one FOC. Let's wait and see.

 

[500 DXB]

This is a little more expensive than the OEM Behr part mentioned. http://www.parts.com/parts/1993/MER...roup=RADIATOR & COMPONENTS&component=Radiator

 

[gsxr]

Try this instead:

AutohausAZ, $230 USD, free shipping:
http://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=k255rp55cmvitlvibpweaem2&partnumber=1245000302

 

[bing]

:-o:-o I'd definitely replaced that! I'm surprised, given the heat there, it held all this time.

 

[Jelmer]

I still don't get that my car suffered so badly with ~20C, and your hums around nicely at 50C. I'd expect it to explode!

Glad you found the problem. I'd suggest replacing it ASAP!

 

[195910]

I still don't get that my car suffered so badly with ~20C, and your hums around nicely at 50C. I'd expect it to explode!

Glad you found the problem. I'd suggest replacing it ASAP!

HA HA, Jelmer I told you to bring the car here... we'll fix all the cooling issues

 

[bing]

Oooh...I wouldn't push the Dutchie, he might just take you up on this offer. He's already calculated the distance..lol!

 

[Jelmer]

Yep. And you're next, Bing.

 

[195910]

Sadly its not a scenic drive to the Gulf... back in the 80s People Used to buy cars from Germany and drive to Kuwait, drive was 3 days.

But now the region is war torn.. No way to drive here..I wouldn't even drive near the boarders N nor S !!

 

[500 DXB]

It's not cross country the Gulf but the above thread brings back memories of the great article below

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/CAR-Fe...at-drives-Ferrari-F512M-to-the-Sahara-Part-1/

You can reach the Saudi border here easily from Dubai but the question is why would you want to? There's a reason they call it the "empty quarter"

 

[195910]

You can reach the Saudi border here easily from Dubai but the question is why would you want to? There's a reason they call it the "empty quarter"

Use sentence above but Q8 instead of Dubai

 

[500 DXB]

Thanks for all your advice gents very useful and deeply appreciated as always. Found a decent nearly new Nissen e500 radiator for about Dhs750 and will investigate if Gargash (dealer) won't stand over their work.
In the meantime I have an interesting parts story on HID (don't-think-they-are-EURO-lights) which I will post in the electrical section as not to muddy up this thread.
Cheers