Radiator fans full blast, temperature low, coolant leak?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6
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From: USA
2013 C250 (M271 1.8L T)
Radiator fans full blast, temperature low, coolant leak?
Morning!
Last night I was driving on an interstate at a constant 70 MPH for about an hour. When I glanced down to my dashboard when I was getting off from the highway, I noticed my temperature gauge was only at about ~60C instead of its usual 90C. I pulled over and was able to hear my fans going full blast. Ambient temperature was ~40F. I popped the hood and noticed a little smoke from my exhaust and some coolant leak, but couldn't determine the source.
This morning, I checked the coolant reservoir and it is full. Oil is not milky, it is completely normal.
Any ideas what all these conflicting symptoms might point to?
Last night I was driving on an interstate at a constant 70 MPH for about an hour. When I glanced down to my dashboard when I was getting off from the highway, I noticed my temperature gauge was only at about ~60C instead of its usual 90C. I pulled over and was able to hear my fans going full blast. Ambient temperature was ~40F. I popped the hood and noticed a little smoke from my exhaust and some coolant leak, but couldn't determine the source.
This morning, I checked the coolant reservoir and it is full. Oil is not milky, it is completely normal.
Any ideas what all these conflicting symptoms might point to?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: USA
2013 C250 (M271 1.8L T)
Thanks for your replies. AC was not on as it was pretty cold outside (40F). I have a more complete picture now that I put the car up on jackstands but the confusion persists.
The fluid leaking onto the exhaust seems to be a blue oily substance. I drove the car yesterday and today and was not able to see any new leaking going on and the temperatures were perfect (I even did highway driving).
The only thing that comes to mind was that my thermostat was stuck wide open, and for some reason the fans decided to kick on full blast. What would cause this, I don't know. Now regarding the fluid leak, I am going to have to see what caused that and if it is related.
The fluid leaking onto the exhaust seems to be a blue oily substance. I drove the car yesterday and today and was not able to see any new leaking going on and the temperatures were perfect (I even did highway driving).
The only thing that comes to mind was that my thermostat was stuck wide open, and for some reason the fans decided to kick on full blast. What would cause this, I don't know. Now regarding the fluid leak, I am going to have to see what caused that and if it is related.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: USA
2013 C250 (M271 1.8L T)
Great question, forgot to mention no codes pulled from OBDII.
Car is running normal and I will buy a dipstick and the seals to see what my tranny oil level is at. Car is at 60,000 miles so I might just do my next transmission fluid change right now.
Car is running normal and I will buy a dipstick and the seals to see what my tranny oil level is at. Car is at 60,000 miles so I might just do my next transmission fluid change right now.
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C204
Thanks for your replies. AC was not on as it was pretty cold outside (40F). I have a more complete picture now that I put the car up on jackstands but the confusion persists.
The fluid leaking onto the exhaust seems to be a blue oily substance. I drove the car yesterday and today and was not able to see any new leaking going on and the temperatures were perfect (I even did highway driving).
The only thing that comes to mind was that my thermostat was stuck wide open, and for some reason the fans decided to kick on full blast. What would cause this, I don't know. Now regarding the fluid leak, I am going to have to see what caused that and if it is related.
The fluid leaking onto the exhaust seems to be a blue oily substance. I drove the car yesterday and today and was not able to see any new leaking going on and the temperatures were perfect (I even did highway driving).
The only thing that comes to mind was that my thermostat was stuck wide open, and for some reason the fans decided to kick on full blast. What would cause this, I don't know. Now regarding the fluid leak, I am going to have to see what caused that and if it is related.
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Newbie
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 14
Likes: 1
From: Houston
2008 C350 with S550 5.5L V8
My thermostat is in the open position and I notice that it will reach the normal operating temperature, but if I drive in windy cold weather around 60MPH, it will drop drastically from the norm 90C to temps as low as 75C. Thermostats typically crack/break on the M272 I heard, but Im just happy mine is stuck open O_O
