emma060905

Hi Guys,
Could someone provide advice with my coolant issue? Thanks in advance.
My car is 2014 gl 450. It indicated to check coolant level. The dealer told me the coolant was all gone and there is no leak. They said it's normal the coolant is gone when the weather is cold. It makes no sense to me at all. I have this car for 5 years now and never got this problem in the past even under colder weather.
Does anyone have insight? Or anyone has had the similar issue.
Thanks
Lei

cadetdrivr

Um, there's a BIG difference between LOW coolant and "ALL GONE" (empty). I can't believe that any dealer would say it's normal for the coolant to be all gone. An empty coolant system would likely result in total engine failure which could potentially cost more to repair than the value of a 2014 GL.

That said, yes, spurious error messages can occur during extreme cold that are considered normal, including potentially LOW COOLANT. The volume of the coolant will shrink and expand with temperature so differences will occur with ambient temperature and engine temperature (when the coolant is heated by the motor.) In addition the sensors that measure the level can either become more sensitive or produce errors at extreme temps.

FWIW, although MB uses a very specific coolant, it is readily available and can easily be topped off if necessary, if the coolant level is actually low with no leaks.

So which problem do you have?

emma060905

The dealer said the coolant is all gone and said that's normal, which totally doesn't make any sense to me. And he said I will get the same problem twice a year. Can you believe it?

cadetdrivr

No, I can't.

I think you totally misunderstood what was said. Your truck will destroy itself if the coolant is all gone.

Was this at a Mercedes-Benz dealer, or a different dealer, or at a repair shop?

emma060905

that's exactly what he said. I discussed with him for a few minutes. he said the coolant was all gone because of the cold weather all coolant was pushed to the reservoir. how could that be? I would believe it if some of cooler was lost, but all?
and why I did not have this problem in the last several years when I was living in Cleveland oh, where the weather was even colder? he can't explain at all, but just kept telling me it's normal and I will get it again.

cadetdrivr

Ahhh....

If there is fluid in the reservoir (that's where the fluid is kept), then it's not "all gone."

emma060905

ok, thanks. I will double check with him. It really scared me when he said it was all gone. The engine may be burned without coolant. So if the fluid is in the reservoir, then does it mean it's still safe to the engine?

cadetdrivr

Yes. I doubt he would have let you drive away with an empty reservoir.

It sounds like your coolant level is either borderline low (but still OK), or you might have a particularly sensitive sensor, or both. In theory, if everything is 100% perfect you should not be getting messages like that when everything is fine.

However, there might even be a specific "known issue" with cold weather and that engine, but I could not say one way our the other since I am not familiar with that motor.

You could throw some money at it for repairs, but if he thinks it's fine you are safe to drive it.

emma060905

he did add the coolant for me and let me leave. just can't tell exactly what's going on based on what he said. what I am struggling is that why I never got this problem when the weather was even colder in the last several years.

DaveW68

These motors run pretty hot and it's not unusually for some evaporation of coolant. I get the "low coolant" message about twice a year....then add about 2 cups of coolant mixed with distilled water to get the level back to normal.

cadetdrivr

If he added the coolant and let you leave then you are fine.

I'm gonna assume at this point that it has more to do with the truck being 4-5 years old and needing a touch of coolant than anything associated with the cold if it was fine in worse weather.

It sounds like it's all fixed and there was a miscommunication, or misunderstanding, of the problem and solution.