Coolant Colour

[settloe_99]

Hello,

I'm new to this forum but hoping someone can help me. I've just bought a 2014 E220 AMG Sport CDI Convertible and the check coolant warning has come on. After a bit of searching online it says that Mercedes changed the colour of the coolant in April 2014 from blue to pink. My car was registered on 30th April 2014. When I've looked I can't work out if the coolant is blue? It's definitely not pink but would anyone know if the coolant looks like genuine Mercedes coolant or just some generic coolant from the picture I've posted?

Thanks for your help.

Matt

 

[LostKiwi]

Colour means absolutely nothing.

Look in the owners handbook for the required spec. It will be a number like 325.2

Then go here:

Mercedes-Benz Betriebsstoff-Vorschriften

Die Mercedes-Benz Betriebsstoff-Vorschriften zeigen eine Übersicht der Anforderungen der im Fahrzeug benötigten Betriebsstoffe und der empfohlenen Produkte. Betriebsstoffe sind alle zum Betrieb eines Mercedes-Fahrzeugs / Aggregats erforderlichen Flüssigkeiten bzw. Schmiermittel z.B. Kraftstoff...

bevo.mercedes-benz.com

Select the number from the owners manual and will give a list of approved manufacturers and products.

 

[EmilysDad]

unless you need to add gallons rather than a cup or so of coolant or have to frequently top it up, then a small amount of water will be OK

 

[settloe_99]

Thanks for the quick replies.

I've had a look in to the manual and the only reference I can find is to 310.1 which doesn't give you the list of approved coolants?

Thanks

Matt

 

[settloe_99]

Scrap that. I've found a table of engines online now.

Thanks for your help

 

[LostKiwi]

No problems. Generally MB use 325.0 (G48) but yours is possibly 325.5 or later (G40).

It's important to make sure the correct one is used and if unsure drain and refill from scratch to avoid mixing incompatible coolants.

A simple way to test colour is to use a drinking straw. Put it in the header tank, close the top end with a finger then lift out and drip into a glass sat on a piece of white paper.
You can also use a strip of white kitchen towel dipped into the coolant.

 

[Dogday]

No problems. Generally MB use 325.0 (G48) but yours is possibly 325.5 or later (G40).

It's important to make sure the correct one is used and if unsure drain and refill from scratch to avoid mixing incompatible coolants.

A simple way to test colour is to use a drinking straw. Put it in the header tank, close the top end with a finger then lift out and drip into a glass sat on a piece of white paper.
You can also use a strip of white kitchen towel dipped into the coolant.

I've just checked my coolant for the first time since I purchased my car (2012 E220cdi 81,000m) a month ago and it's yellow. Is this also correct ? The only info I can find is that yellow antifreeze is of the HOAT (organic) type?

 

[EmilysDad]

I've just checked my coolant for the first time since I purchased my car (2012 E220cdi 81,000m) a month ago and it's yellow. Is this also correct ? The only info I can find is that yellow antifreeze is of the HOAT (organic) type?

PRESTONE is yellow/green

 

[Dogday]

PRESTONE is yellow/green

As the car had a full MB service history until last year I assume that MB use Prestone coolant in their servicing then?

 

[LostKiwi]

It's not listed on the compatibility list so I'd be surprised.

 

[Dogday]

It's not listed on the compatibility list so I'd be surprised.

The previous owner had the car serviced by MB so would be surprised if he had just gone to an independent garage to have a coolant change ? Could the coolant be original ? Prestone say their coolant is good for 300,000 miles.

 

[LostKiwi]

Looking on the MB bevo website it's says G48 is correct for your vehicle (generally blue/green colour but colour is not definitive).

To be certain drain and refill with the correct coolant.

Original coolant will be blue/green in my experience.

Just checked my 2011 R350cdi (same engine as yours near enough assuming yours is 265hp) and the coolant looks to be G48.

 

[EmilysDad]

As the car had a full MB service history until last year I assume that MB use Prestone coolant in their servicing then?

I was just kidding .... but know that Prestone is yellow

 

[Dogday]

Looking on the MB bevo website it's says G48 is correct for your vehicle (generally blue/green colour but colour is not definitive).

To be certain drain and refill with the correct coolant.

Thanks for the info LostKiwi and sorry for hijacking your thread Settloe_99.

 

[AMGeed]

Only just bought a ltr of anti freeze for top ups for my 64 plate E class.
The parts guy specifically asked if mine was Blue or pink. Its blue and cost £12+ for 1 ltr

 

[LostKiwi]

Only just bought a ltr of anti freeze for top ups for my 64 plate E class.
The parts guy specifically asked if mine was Blue or pink. Its blue and cost £12+ for 1 ltr

If it's original MB blue is G48, pink is G40.

 

[Blobcat]

Only just bought a ltr of anti freeze for top ups for my 64 plate E class.
The parts guy specifically asked if mine was Blue or pink. Its blue and cost £12+ for 1 ltr

Boy car or girl car…

They’ll be making 50 different colours next…. Anyone for rainbow antifreeze ?

 

[Blobcat]

Only just bought a ltr of anti freeze for top ups for my 64 plate E class.
The parts guy specifically asked if mine was Blue or pink. Its blue and cost £12+ for 1 ltr

It could have been worse… He could have asked “Pink or Brown”…

 

[mioba]

Use a srying to see colour or a turkey baster.
How much coolant is lost - check when cold.
If alot, be checking the circuit for leaks.
If a leak then you may well need to change it all, a good time to do the stat.
If changing it all, just get latest spec from MB.

 

[Dogday]

From reading other forums some have said that the Zerex G-05 antifreeze/coolant is MB approved and was used in MB cars and is yellow in colour. From my limited understanding the G-05 (yellow) is an earlier version of the G-48 (blue) used by MB after 2014 ? So, would it be OK to top up with G-05 or would it be better to use Prestone (yellow) which says compatible with all cars ??