E-Class (W212) 2010 - 2016: E 350, E 550
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Which engine coolant?

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Old Oct 16, 2022 | 04:10 PM
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E Class
Which engine coolant?

Hi guys,

my coolant light has come on and not sure which coolant I need.

any suggestions please?

thanks
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Old Oct 16, 2022 | 04:27 PM
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what year/model car and which engine? IIRC, they changed coolants part way through the W212

this page explains the coolant categories, MB-Approval 325.x is concentrate, MB-Approval 326.x is ready-mix. and if you mix the concentrate, it gives the specs for the water (can't be too hard, etc... always safest to use distilled water).

the 320.1 link here is a PDF listing which standards for what engines, mostly its 32x.0 or 32x.6. same URL has the listings of approved 32x.0 and 32x.6 products. you can upgrade a .0 car to the .6 coolants after first fully flushing the cooling system (in other words, don't mix!)

The .0 stuff is known generically as G48, and is dark blue.
the .6 stuff is known generically as G40, and is purple.

In the USA, Zerex G48 and G40 concentrate is probably the easiest to find, but this will still be special order at most parts chains, and its NOT the old school gold Zerex G05 you can find everywhere (Mercedes used that stuff back in the 90s)

Last edited by Left Coast Geek; Oct 16, 2022 at 04:40 PM.
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Old Oct 16, 2022 | 05:36 PM
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| 2011 E550 | M273 | 4Matic NA | W212 |
I just go into the dealership and buy their coolant jug. Then I mix it half distilled water and half coolant in another bottle at home.
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Old Oct 16, 2022 | 11:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Left Coast Geek
what year/model car and which engine? IIRC, they changed coolants part way through the W212

this page explains the coolant categories, MB-Approval 325.x is concentrate, MB-Approval 326.x is ready-mix. and if you mix the concentrate, it gives the specs for the water (can't be too hard, etc... always safest to use distilled water).

the 320.1 link here is a PDF listing which standards for what engines, mostly its 32x.0 or 32x.6. same URL has the listings of approved 32x.0 and 32x.6 products. you can upgrade a .0 car to the .6 coolants after first fully flushing the cooling system (in other words, don't mix!)

The .0 stuff is known generically as G48, and is dark blue.
the .6 stuff is known generically as G40, and is purple.

In the USA, Zerex G48 and G40 concentrate is probably the easiest to find, but this will still be special order at most parts chains, and its NOT the old school gold Zerex G05 you can find everywhere (Mercedes used that stuff back in the 90s)
Is it just me or is thereno engine listing? It shows the specand what fluids which match the spec but dont see which engine the spec applies to.
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Old Oct 16, 2022 | 11:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Quint22
Is it just me or is thereno engine listing? It shows the specand what fluids which match the spec but dont see which engine the spec applies to.
The 320.1 pdf lists all the modern engines and which coolant specs. If your car has blue, then it's 325.0 or 326.0, if it's violet, it's 325.6 or 326.6
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Old Oct 18, 2022 | 04:15 AM
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E Class
Originally Posted by Left Coast Geek
what year/model car and which engine? IIRC, they changed coolants part way through the W212

this page explains the coolant categories, MB-Approval 325.x is concentrate, MB-Approval 326.x is ready-mix. and if you mix the concentrate, it gives the specs for the water (can't be too hard, etc... always safest to use distilled water).

the 320.1 link here is a PDF listing which standards for what engines, mostly its 32x.0 or 32x.6. same URL has the listings of approved 32x.0 and 32x.6 products. you can upgrade a .0 car to the .6 coolants after first fully flushing the cooling system (in other words, don't mix!)

The .0 stuff is known generically as G48, and is dark blue.
the .6 stuff is known generically as G40, and is purple.

In the USA, Zerex G48 and G40 concentrate is probably the easiest to find, but this will still be special order at most parts chains, and its NOT the old school gold Zerex G05 you can find everywhere (Mercedes used that stuff back in the 90s)
i have a 2015 e250 Petrol facelift saloon. If that helps.
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Old Oct 18, 2022 | 11:32 PM
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I don't know when they stopped putting blue (325.0, G48) in and switched to purple (325.6, G40). Look at what is in your overflow tank.
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Old Apr 28, 2023 | 06:01 PM
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I think someone replaced my 14 E350 coolant with the gold colored coolant. Will flush and replace soon.
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Old Apr 28, 2023 | 06:24 PM
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the gold (G05) is good for 3 years, the blue (G48) is 5 years, I think. G05 and G48 are compatible. tjhe newest spec is the pink G40 stuff thats even longer life, that requires a thorough rinse/flush before changing from an earlier fluid.

I believe Mercedes switched to G40 circa mid MY 2014.
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Old Apr 28, 2023 | 07:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Left Coast Geek
the gold (G05) is good for 3 years, the blue (G48) is 5 years, I think. G05 and G48 are compatible. tjhe newest spec is the pink G40 stuff thats even longer life, that requires a thorough rinse/flush before changing from an earlier fluid.

I believe Mercedes switched to G40 circa mid MY 2014.
Yes, I plan on a thorough flush, and replace radiator, water pump, and thermostat all at the same time as this is a new to me car, but I have other maintenance items to accomplish first.
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Old Apr 28, 2023 | 08:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Rickman30
Yes, I plan on a thorough flush, and replace radiator, water pump, and thermostat all at the same time as this is a new to me car, but I have other maintenance items to accomplish first.
Is this car over 100,000 mi? If not, I wouldn't be replacing all that stuff unless you know it's bad.

As I understand it, the water pump is a major project on a m276 engine
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Old Apr 28, 2023 | 08:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Left Coast Geek
Is this car over 100,000 mi? If not, I wouldn't be replacing all that stuff unless you know it's bad.
Yeah, it has 138k. Looks like mostly highway miles from the first owner, but the second appeared to use quick lube places.
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Old Apr 28, 2023 | 08:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Rickman30
Yeah, it has 138k. Looks like mostly highway miles from the first owner, but the second appeared to use quick lube places.
Well all my previous cars, I've only replaced the water pump when the shaft seal starts to weep. And those cars had water pumps that were a lot easier to change. I change the radiator on much the same. Thermostat with new water pump.
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Old Apr 28, 2023 | 08:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Left Coast Geek
Well all my previous cars, I've only replaced the water pump when the shaft seal starts to weep. And those cars had water pumps that were a lot easier to change. I change the radiator on much the same. Thermostat with new water pump.
That's why that job is on the back burner, I need to change intake camshaft adjuster, spark plugs, transmission service, diff. oil. Soon as doc releases me 22 of May, and I get stamina back, I'm a busy boy. I may need to pay someone for the Cam Adjuster, It doesn't make noise all the time, once in a while, you can cold start, at first it's quiet then a dull clacking a couple seconds then quiet again. Sounds like Drivers side intake. Got sample bottle for Blackstone testing oil coming.
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Old Apr 28, 2023 | 11:20 PM
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here's a nicely done how-to on swapping the water pump on a M276.
https://www.leighsr.com/coolant-pump-replace-m276 ... factory says 3 hours labor, but thats for someone trained who does it all the time, it would probably take me twice as long as I would be extra careful about each step.

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Old Apr 28, 2023 | 11:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Left Coast Geek
here's a nicely done how-to on swapping the water pump on a M276.
https://www.leighsr.com/coolant-pump-replace-m276 ... factory says 3 hours labor, but thats for someone trained who does it all the time, it would probably take me twice as long as I would be extra careful about each step.
I was a tech 12 years ago, not near as fast as I was back then especially with all the body ailments. Looks easy enough, drain, pull radiator to make more room for pump, Was looking, may as well change idlers too as word is they wear easily. Thermostat and radiator because I've seen my share of brittle plastic from many heat cycles. Which my info is fully and impeller on pump is plastic too, so... Oddly enough techs I know say the plastic in the hoses hold up fine, just replace the o-rings. I'd like to replace the seal on the oil cooler too, but that's a bear to get to, motor mount and mount trunnion removal.
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Old Apr 29, 2023 | 11:40 AM
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while you're in there, unplug and inspect the connectors to the camshaft actuators. apparently early M276 camshaft things are prone to an oil leak, that leak gets into the wiring harness and can migrate all the way to the ECM and then get into the ECM, destroying it. if caught early, you don't need to replace the harness, just install these isolators (basically a properly sealed plug and jack on a short pigtail). Later M276's have camshaft things that dont' leak.
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Old Apr 29, 2023 | 03:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Left Coast Geek
while you're in there, unplug and inspect the connectors to the camshaft actuators. apparently early M276 camshaft things are prone to an oil leak, that leak gets into the wiring harness and can migrate all the way to the ECM and then get into the ECM, destroying it. if caught early, you don't need to replace the harness, just install these isolators (basically a properly sealed plug and jack on a short pigtail). Later M276's have camshaft things that dont' leak.
On top of it, already installed the pigtails Mercedes designed to block oil wicking, and I've replaced cam sensors as they were leaking at connector. Barely a trace of oil on pins in PCM, cleaned and flushed with Brake Clean, then applied liberal amount of Dielectric Grease in PCM connector. I still have one sensor to replace as the Plenum needs to come off. They don't make pigtails for the Camshaft sensors, I found some for the V8, Look the same, but not factory, so I doubt it has the wick block in the middle. So I have an extra set so I will change at first sign of oil leakage. The magnets look like an updated set with a glue like substance around the pins.
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