JHZR2
Staff member
My 82 MB 300CD turbo diesel had an orange Rotella ELC of some sort when I bought it out in LA, CA. I used the rest in a maintenance routine around 2013. The car has sat since then due to kids, but I want to start driving it again...
OE coolant was G-05, now superceded to G-48. I'm not a huge fan of going to G-48 due to the 2-eha. Ive had a lot of these cars that all keep original cooling systems on Oe coolant. They all have aluminum radiators and the nitrite content of g-05 hasn't been an issue over 35+ years, so... I'd rather take continued chances with nitrite than 2-eha in the nitrite free g-48.
I have no reason to think poorly of the ELC, I just don't know what I have. It seems that there are many types of ELC and EC-1 coolants out there, even under the rotella name. The stuff in my car is a pleasant, solid orange color. It may well be a gen-1 ELC that has 2-eha in it. But I'd rather not, if possible.
So, any opinions on what to do? I just got some G-05 on sale at Napa. I'm thinking of going to JD Coolguard II in my 91 350SD. But the 82 is not a mixed metal engine, so...
My 240D (one less cylinder) runs G-05. I'd prefer to have at least the 240d and 300cd on the same coolant, but in reality another coolant in the garage isn't a big deal given that I already have Dex, g-05, g-48 and Honda blue...
Rotella ultra ELC? G-05 via a lot of draining and refilling? Cool guard II? Something else?
Thanks!
OE coolant was G-05, now superceded to G-48. I'm not a huge fan of going to G-48 due to the 2-eha. Ive had a lot of these cars that all keep original cooling systems on Oe coolant. They all have aluminum radiators and the nitrite content of g-05 hasn't been an issue over 35+ years, so... I'd rather take continued chances with nitrite than 2-eha in the nitrite free g-48.
I have no reason to think poorly of the ELC, I just don't know what I have. It seems that there are many types of ELC and EC-1 coolants out there, even under the rotella name. The stuff in my car is a pleasant, solid orange color. It may well be a gen-1 ELC that has 2-eha in it. But I'd rather not, if possible.
So, any opinions on what to do? I just got some G-05 on sale at Napa. I'm thinking of going to JD Coolguard II in my 91 350SD. But the 82 is not a mixed metal engine, so...
My 240D (one less cylinder) runs G-05. I'd prefer to have at least the 240d and 300cd on the same coolant, but in reality another coolant in the garage isn't a big deal given that I already have Dex, g-05, g-48 and Honda blue...
Rotella ultra ELC? G-05 via a lot of draining and refilling? Cool guard II? Something else?
Thanks!