My 240D starts to get a little hot when pulling a long hill, or at high speed (70-80 is fast for this car). The temp guage stays at 80 during normal driving, but will creep up a little above 80 when you push her.

I'm thinking the radiator is partially clogged. I really don't know the history of the radiator, and assume it must be origional. I'm thinking of replacing it just on that principal, but wondered if anyone has had a similar condition with their 240D. Could it be normal? My 300SD NEVER gets over 80.

Any thoughts???

 

First off, it sounds normal. On principal, I would replace the radiator cap, could be weak. Also the wrong ratio of coolant to water will affect temperature. When I hear of an engine running warmer as it goes faster, I first think of restricted flow or restricted air thru the radiator. So, take a garden hose and spray water from the engine side of the radiator to push out any debris off the fins. Lower radiator hoses can collapse at hi speed and restrict as well. My 81 300cd will on a 105 degree day run 95 to 105 on the gauge. Never looses water. So I dont worry about it.

 

When I first got my 240D running, I started commuting to work at 68mph. My temp needle got jumpy around 80 to 90c so I repleced the thermostat which cured that. Now a year later, I cruise to work the same 37 miles at 75mph. I never got great mileage like everyone brags about as my average is 26mpg. On an excessively hot summer day, I may attain 90c. but you have to remember that 100c is the panic point.
Just my two cents and opinion.
drujinin

 

Exactly! During the winter my 1981 300D T runs between 80 and 84C, which is great. During the summer, with AC on it runs around 90C... which is still great!

That said, I strongly suspect those of us who drive the older Mercedes are always on the look out.... Not wanting to harm our babies... we're always alert and maybe sometimes we get a tad obsessive.