Hi guys,

I'm new to the G-wagon world. I bought a 2016 G550. I am loving everything about it, but I've noticed that after shutting it off (even in cold temps) it sounds like there is an engine compartment fan (pretty loud) that runs for a while (5 minutes?). Is that normal? Why is that necessary? I haven't driven it in warmer weather yet (above 60) but it doesn't seem to be running hot. I do smell what I think is coolant but see no drips and when I mentioned the smell to the dealer they said a faint smell is not unusual with these cars. Let me know if that is correct or BS...

Thanks!
Dan
2016 G550

 

I have an '18 and it does the same thing, its normal to keep the engine cool, i think because of the Bi turbos in the "hot V" im assuming

 

I had a MY '16 that did the same thing. With a turbo it is important that it be cooled down gradually otherwise you get "coaking" in the turbo that will shorten its life. There are two turbos on the G so it is doubly important. Hope this helps. I would do further investigation of the coolant smell. That doesn't sound right to me. You may not notice dripping but there could be a small leak that allows the coolant to burn off or evaporate before hitting the ground. The warning light for low coolant s very sensitive in the G. I had mine come on once and required only a slight amount of added coolant to have it go off and remain off. Good luck and welcome to the forum.

 

completely normal

 

Even the slight coolant smell right after operation..typically when parked in a garage?

 

Exactly what I had. A small amount of coolant was getting ingested into the combustion chamber. I hated that sickening sweet smell of the coolant after driving and parking it, then shutting her down. Took to my MB dealer, and sadly they diagnosed a cracked cylinder head. Holy cow, talk about an expensive top end job! Sold that Merc, and glad I did. Surely hope my 2019 G63 never suffers the same fate. That’s one expensive repair, and if you do nothing, over time, it will only continue to get worse and worse. Eventually, you will begin to notice your coolant level ever so slightly falling in the overflow reservoir. You’d be surprised how even a very tiny amount of hot coolant gives off that telltale gross stinky sweet smell.

 

Whoa...that's not a very rosy outlook, JetRanger, but I appreciate your feedback. I am still under warranty for a while so it sounds like that is something I should have them check out even though I would not look forward to having that kind of intensive work done. I am assuming based upon your comment that you never addressed it?

 

I had my MB dealer repair it, and then I sold it. Currently awaiting my 2019 G63, ordered in Oct 2018, my dealer expects it in abot Nov/Dec 2019, with a good chance it will need to be re-ordered as a MY2020. I’m perfectly happy, either way it plays out. If it needs to be re-ordered as a 2020, that’s perfectly fine by me, as maybe I can get MBUX, and/or auto lock/unlock with keyfob in pocket. It’s all good!

 

Was it a major repair and did it solve the problem once they made the repair? Congrats on the purchase of the 2019!

 

It cost me just over $9,000, as they had to replace both heads. After it was repaired, I drove it home and parked it. Sold it a week later, never to drive it again.

 

It wasn't a warranty claim??

 

No, it was out of warranty. This is why I was urging you not to dilly dally around, hoping that it "is nothing," etc. You need to get it into your MB dealer like pronto, before you are out of warranty. Moreover, don't let them dismiss it as NTF, because that sweet stench of coolant stink says you absolutely have a coolant leak, be it internal (like mine was), or external, possibly dripping even just a bit, whilst underway so you don't necessarily easily see clear evidence of the slippery green fluid on the ground, or somewheres else inside the engine compartment. Your MB dealer will introduce a dye (that turns color under UV light) into the overflow reservoir to trace the leak, in the event they are unable to overtly find it during their initial diagnosis. Either way, follow up on it, and whatever you do, just don't drive home FDAH, thinking there is nothing wrong. That stench is the telltale sign there is definitely a coolant leak going on somewhere in your car.

You may want to take something akin to a "Marks-A-Lot," and strike a mark on the overflow reservoir to show the coolant level, whilst the car is cold on a flat surface (wait 24 hours after the last time you drove it, and do this on your flat garage floor, for instance). Even a very small coolant leak will soon be detected this way, by closely monitoring the coolant fluid level in the overflow reservoir. Using a nice LED flashlight, check the fluid level against the mark each day, before you start the motor and leave for your office in the early morning. This can be extremely helpful to your MB dealer. If the fluid level goes down, measure the amount of the drop, and note the elapsed time evolved and mileage driven so you can establish the amount of fluid loss per miles and time driven. Maybe have your MB dealer's service dept technician mark it, and drive it back in say a few weeks, so they can see it has gone down. Remember, the coolant system is a sealed system, and that coolant level should remain constant.