DIY: M271 coolant drain/fill
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,175
Likes: 24
From: Boston, MA
'14 ML350, '13 C220 CDI, '07 C280, '98 ML320
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 7
From: Va Beach, VA
05 C230K SS (sold), 06 C55 (sold), 08 Yamaha R1 (sold), 16 X5M
ya...well im doing a Tstat install this week and i ordered the zerex g05 coolant since it was half the price MB wanted for a gallon. and its 50/50 so i'm not gonna worry about mixing in distilled water...
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 331
Likes: 9
From: Bangkok, Thailand
W124, W203, W204, W251
Just to give you an additional information!
M271 also have an engine block drain plug right under the exhaust manifold (red circle in the picture)...drain that too to get everything out!
M271 also have an engine block drain plug right under the exhaust manifold (red circle in the picture)...drain that too to get everything out!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8,384
Likes: 800
2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
My car has been giving me erratic "Coolant Check Level" messages since August. They're pretty constant, now, though and it is not the washer fluid. As was mentioned earlier in this post - I am pretty sure that was a pre-05 thing and that the 05+ are fixed. Perhaps it was somewhere after production began on the 05s, though, as Phil has a pretty early build 05.
I can't find Zerex G-05 anywhere.
I can't find Zerex G-05 anywhere.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 7
From: Va Beach, VA
05 C230K SS (sold), 06 C55 (sold), 08 Yamaha R1 (sold), 16 X5M
lol that is a horrible location. How in the world did you drain that plug? just duct tape a tupe to it or something and let it drain down under the car to a pan?
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
Likes: 192
From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
My car has been giving me erratic "Coolant Check Level" messages since August. They're pretty constant, now, though and it is not the washer fluid. As was mentioned earlier in this post - I am pretty sure that was a pre-05 thing and that the 05+ are fixed. Perhaps it was somewhere after production began on the 05s, though, as Phil has a pretty early build 05.
I can't find Zerex G-05 anywhere.
I can't find Zerex G-05 anywhere.
It's a better product than Zerex G-05
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 331
Likes: 9
From: Bangkok, Thailand
W124, W203, W204, W251
There is actually a special tool that goes in there with a tube, but I don't have one. So, I just put a pan under it and catch whatever I can.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8,384
Likes: 800
2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 7
From: Va Beach, VA
05 C230K SS (sold), 06 C55 (sold), 08 Yamaha R1 (sold), 16 X5M
anyone have a good suggestion for removing this Tstat...i pulled the bolts out and removed the hose from the black elbow that i guess houses the tstat, but that darn thing will not come out of the engine...it will turn 90deg to either side but it will not come out of the engine block...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 7
From: Va Beach, VA
05 C230K SS (sold), 06 C55 (sold), 08 Yamaha R1 (sold), 16 X5M
got it out...but now 2 things...
1) the one i pulled out looked just fine.
2) a gallon wasn't enough coolant and thats all i ordered. Can i buy another gallon (different brand) from the local auto shop and add that on top? I'm 20 miles from the closest dealership and I'm afraid to go really far w/o enough coolant. I mean i can see it in the canister but its at the bottom and the light is on telling me it is low.
1) the one i pulled out looked just fine.
2) a gallon wasn't enough coolant and thats all i ordered. Can i buy another gallon (different brand) from the local auto shop and add that on top? I'm 20 miles from the closest dealership and I'm afraid to go really far w/o enough coolant. I mean i can see it in the canister but its at the bottom and the light is on telling me it is low.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 331
Likes: 9
From: Bangkok, Thailand
W124, W203, W204, W251
What is the reason you pulled the tstat? Did you get CEL?
Mine looked just fine too when i pulled it out, but I changed it because I got P0129. I boil my old tstat after i took it out and it started to open at 80dec.C when it's designed to open at 90dec.C......and that's how you test it, outside appearence doesn't tell you anything!
You can just top the coolant with distilled water...a little less than 50 percent mix is fine because you live in FL.
Mine looked just fine too when i pulled it out, but I changed it because I got P0129. I boil my old tstat after i took it out and it started to open at 80dec.C when it's designed to open at 90dec.C......and that's how you test it, outside appearence doesn't tell you anything!
You can just top the coolant with distilled water...a little less than 50 percent mix is fine because you live in FL.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,175
Likes: 24
From: Boston, MA
'14 ML350, '13 C220 CDI, '07 C280, '98 ML320
if you are still haven't bought the second gallon of coolant, you can actually fill the engine with distilled water and drive without any problem. Since you are only going for 20 miles and coming back. It shouldn't be a problem.
After you come back with the second gallon of coolant, you can drain the water and fill with coolant.
After you come back with the second gallon of coolant, you can drain the water and fill with coolant.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 331
Likes: 9
From: Bangkok, Thailand
W124, W203, W204, W251
You actually need less antifreeze in hotter climate. If you buy an antifreeze that require mixing it will say on the bottle...the higher percentage of antifreeze, the better protection against negative temp. In Thailand, we only use 35% to 40% antifreeze...it's just there to protect the radiator and engine against rust build up, it doesn't make your engine run cooler. Hence, the term "antifreeze".
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 7
From: Va Beach, VA
05 C230K SS (sold), 06 C55 (sold), 08 Yamaha R1 (sold), 16 X5M
good point...well im just happy that it finally got the cel to go off today...not sure how a bad tstat can throw 2 errors but it was.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,537
Likes: 8
2006 C350 Sport 6MT
Thanks everyone, I too recently started to get the coolant message. Not the wiper fluid so I guess it's the coolant. I'm thinking of doing a full flush. At 60k is this overkill? Should I top it off or just go ahead and do it. I read somewhere that fluid flush is 15years or 150k miles??
I noticed Glyn mention 325.3 but this one that I see is a 325.1? http://www.rmeuropean.com/Part-Numbe..._5C1313F8.aspx
I guess I can go with Glyn's recommendation (Chevron/Texaco) Havoline Extended Life Antifreeze Coolant.
I noticed Glyn mention 325.3 but this one that I see is a 325.1? http://www.rmeuropean.com/Part-Numbe..._5C1313F8.aspx
I guess I can go with Glyn's recommendation (Chevron/Texaco) Havoline Extended Life Antifreeze Coolant.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: California
2005 1.8 B/B
So i'm going to be performing this today or tomorrow.
I'm not sure where to find this "cap" on this step:
-What I did is flush the old stuff out with tap water...just open the cap and put the garden hose in there and wait for a few minutes.
-Wait for the tap water to drain out, then tight the plug back on.
Any one have a pic or can guide me where to find this cap?
I'm about to flush the system out since i have to replace my auxiliary pump tonight or tomorrow. Any suggestions or add-ons tips that any one wants to give me on top of what was posted on the step by step by the OP.
Thanks!
I'm not sure where to find this "cap" on this step:
-What I did is flush the old stuff out with tap water...just open the cap and put the garden hose in there and wait for a few minutes.
-Wait for the tap water to drain out, then tight the plug back on.
Any one have a pic or can guide me where to find this cap?
I'm about to flush the system out since i have to replace my auxiliary pump tonight or tomorrow. Any suggestions or add-ons tips that any one wants to give me on top of what was posted on the step by step by the OP.
Thanks!
I have a similar question as he did.
Do we have a radiator cap like other cars ( please see picture below)
Or do we just drain out the coolant and fill it up from the reservoir?
Thank you!
