Chuck,
Be cautious about the mechanic's advice. He is probably RIGHT about build-up. But may well be WRONG limiting it to the radiator.
These cars have build up of gunk in the engine cooling system, including the block and the heater core and all associated pipes and hoses.
Happily, this is a problem that can be easily addressed, WITHOUT replacing a perfectly good radiator. Mercedes even has a factory specified flush product to do it.
But the basic solution is to flush, and then flush again, with CITRIC acid. Citric acid can be found very cheaply at baker's supply stores. Sometimes it is called "sour salt".
Get a big bag of it. Drain the entire cooling system (drain at the radiator bottom or bottom hose). Refill with a solution of citric acid in distilled water. FILL. Drive around the block or to the supermarket. Drain. Repeat. Make sure that you have the heater on full bore when doing this to ensure flushing that part of the system.
The citric acid will react with schmutz in the system. You will see horrible gunk comiing out when you drain the flush water.
When it has cleaned up the system, and you are getting relatively clean flush water, DO NOT put in anti-freeze! Fill it with distilled water, then drive around. You want to flush it for at least a couple of cycles with distilled water, to ensure that you get all the residue citric acid out.
Then refill with your choice of anti-freeze and drive happily for another 250,000 miles.
Tom
In a message dated 7/2/2012 12:35:26 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, jcrcpa@tx.rr.com writes:
The overheating was caused by the heater hoses splitting, cracking, breaking, etc. Anyway new hoses, and back on the road at a cost of 300 plus 70 for 2 day rental car. Mechanic says it is still running hot because it has buildup in the radiator.
So before I shell out 3-400 for a new radiator, any quick tips, magical cures? I may just replace the radiator, it may be the original one.
Thanks
Chuck
84 300sd
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