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I was changing the coolant in my wifes Mercedes and in the manual it states that the engine plug should also be opened to let engine coolant out. Due to the position, I couldn't get to that plug, so I just emptied at the radiator, then filled with plain water, then ran the car and emptied at the radiator again (so some of that engine coolant has circulated and came out the radiator, leaving a more diluted solution left in the engine). The entire coolant system holds about 12 Qt and about 6 Qt comes out of the radiator. So after all this, I think I am now left with about 6 Qt of pretty much clear water & dilute solution in the engine. Now the manual indicates the mixture should be 50/50 water/coolant. So in order to get about 50/50 in the entire system, I assume I now need to add close to 6 Qt of 100% coolant (6 Qt water is already left in the engine, plus 6 Qt added pure coolant = 12 Qt total of 50/50 in the entire system). True??

I guess there is some Pantera related question here. When changing coolant on the Pantera, is a good portion also left in the engine as in the example above? If so, then adding 50/50 to a flushed system may not really give 50/50?? Somehow this feels like one of those trick math questions.
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The coolant is actually anti freeze. Water is the best coolant, but has a low freezing/boiling point. You need to be more worried about the temputure that the mixture in the radiator will freeze at. The 50/50 mixture is a guide. It would not hurt to add the six quarts, even though you still have a mixture in the engine. The best way to flish the engine is to take it and have a power flush completed. That also cleans aout the garbage in the engine. You can also flush through the heater hose with the radiator hose disconected. Also remember to burb the radiator after draining the radiator.
Mark, not sure if you are joking or not about your title. Funny if so. If not, the Mercedes is just an 1985 300 Turbo Disel, and in the manual, it just calls for regular antifreeze. I am going into freezing teritory soon, so I was concerned.

Not to make this into an Mercedes post, but I was just wondering about the math on the first post above for my Pantera, as I always thought I was putting in 50/50, but since a large amount of water may be left in the engine after a flush, I may need to add 100% antifreeze instead? Sorry in advance for the dumb question to the real gearheads.
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