The Mercedes group, uses and recommends Citrus Acid to clean the cooling
system. It is available from MB dealer, or local pharmacies. This includes
cars with alum in the cooling system.
Larry
Bob Palmer wrote:
> Paul, Listers
>
> My first reaction is that using Cascade in the cooling system sounds like
> pretty strong medicine. It is something I definitely would not do if you
> have any aluminum parts in the system. The chemical ingredients are very
> corrosive to aluminum, as anyone who has run aluminum repeatedly in their
> automatic dishwasher can attest to. As for just exactly what all those
> chemicals are, refer to the Materials Safety Data Sheet at the following
> URL:
>
> http://www.herc.org/library/msds/cascadepwdr.htm
>
> I assume the "gentleman" you refer to uses the Cascade as you would use any
> of the usual products for flushing radiators followed by a thorough rinsing.
> I would use very little of it, maybe a tablespoon full; it's amazingly
> powerful. I use the liquid version for cleaning up oil stains in the
> driveway. Also, if I were going to use Cascade as a radiator flush, I would
> follow up with Curtis Fisher's suggestion of adding, if I understand
> correctly, one gallon of white vinegar in the system and then rinse again
> till clean. The complementary action of these two quite different chemicals
> would surely leave the system (or what's left of it) squeaky clean. (If the
> left one don't get you, the right one will!)
>
> You might consider boiling a piece of aluminum in a stainless pan with some
> Cascade added to it just to get a feel for how corrosive it is before trying
> it on your F4B and Ron Davis radiator - I know I would. Of course, the
> gallon of vinegar is corrosive too, but probably not as bad as the Cascade.
> Of course, there are organic detergents that might work almost as well and
> be a lot less corrosive. These are my thoughts.
>
> Bob
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