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Author Topic: Air Lift to fill coolant system?  (Read 1897 times)

specracer

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Air Lift to fill coolant system?
« on: April 17, 2020, 00:57:30 »
So has anyone used an Air Lift to fill the coolant system of a late 280? Ive used it on several cars successfully. Getting ready to change all the hoses as I have some leaks, due to improper hose sizes, so may as well do them all while the circuit is dry.

Search, only one thread mentions it (7 years ago, unsuccessful, but could have been other issues), and didnt see anything in tech manual.

 
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Benz Dr.

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Re: Air Lift to fill coolant system?
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2020, 01:30:26 »
Sometimes we drill a small 3 mm hole in the thermostat so that air can bleed through. It works well.
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1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

mbzse

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Re: Air Lift to fill coolant system?
« Reply #2 on: April 17, 2020, 08:08:42 »
It is useful after re-filling the coolant system to park the car with the front wheels raised,
and run the engine until thermostat opens. This will allow air to escape via the little valve on the thermostat itself
(see pic).
Then top up coolant in header tank as needed
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/Hans S

Pawel66

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Re: Air Lift to fill coolant system?
« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2020, 09:57:22 »
Is it safe to raise the car by the subframe, in the middle, and run the engine to do this?
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Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

specracer

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Re: Air Lift to fill coolant system?
« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2020, 10:00:00 »
Thank you for the replies, did anyone use an Airlift to initially fill the system?
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Shvegel

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Re: Air Lift to fill coolant system?
« Reply #5 on: April 17, 2020, 14:32:43 »
I have.  Worked fine for me.  One of the dirty secrets of air lifts is you can use them to change sending units etc without draining the coolant.  You just hook the airlift up to the overflow tank and put the end of the exhaust hose in a bucket and turn it on.  After pulling a vacuum you slowly remove the affected sending unit or switch and replace it then turn off the airlift.  I first tried this when I was a dealership mechanic and it is even more handy now that I work on a large yacht where "Draining the coolant" requires removing 110 gallons.
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specracer

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Re: Air Lift to fill coolant system?
« Reply #6 on: April 18, 2020, 12:20:22 »
Thanks, Ill use it.

Nice trick on a sending unit!
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specracer

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Re: Air Lift to fill coolant system?
« Reply #7 on: May 07, 2020, 23:19:21 »
UPDATE, the airlift worked like a champ. 5 min done. Drove the car today for the 1st time, temp was perfect.  I have used this tool many times on other vehicles, not sure why I questioned, why not on an SL. Tool is brilliant

If anyone is not familiar with this tool (available at lots of other places other than amazon)

https://www.amazon.com/UView-550000-Airlift-Cooling-Checker/dp/B0002SRH5G
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