Coolant leak
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
2015 ML350
Coolant leak
Hi guys, I recently took my car into my indy for service (85k miles). Needless to say, I will not be going back as he missed some critical things (brake squeal and brake fluid is dirty) which I was hoping he would pick up on. I have been using him for a while and he does great work, but maybe there were some changes I was unaware of. He did mention that I do have an active coolant leak (I will upload photos shortly). At first, I thought he was bluffing, however I did recall that in December of last year the coolant light came on. I topped it off with about 4-5 oz of Zerex purple coolant and it has not come back since. There were and still are no leaks under the car and the engine temp has always stayed at around 90C when fully warmed up.
Today on my way back from the grocery store I noticed a slight fluctuation in temp, the thermostat dipped to 80 for a minute then went back up to 90. The car has 85k miles and I will be replacing the thermostat and waterpump as recommended after a pressure test. A few questions:
1. How serious is the leak because the car has been operating normally ever since.
2. Is this normal wear and tear after 10 years and 85k miles (bought it brand new in 2014)
3. Indy quoted me $1450, other shops quoted me $1200 and change. Is this a fair price for parts and labor.
4. I am not driving the car long distances but plan on getting this addressed by the end of next week after I return from work.
Today on my way back from the grocery store I noticed a slight fluctuation in temp, the thermostat dipped to 80 for a minute then went back up to 90. The car has 85k miles and I will be replacing the thermostat and waterpump as recommended after a pressure test. A few questions:
1. How serious is the leak because the car has been operating normally ever since.
2. Is this normal wear and tear after 10 years and 85k miles (bought it brand new in 2014)
3. Indy quoted me $1450, other shops quoted me $1200 and change. Is this a fair price for parts and labor.
4. I am not driving the car long distances but plan on getting this addressed by the end of next week after I return from work.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14,666
Likes: 4,568
From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Hi guys, I recently took my car into my indy for service (85k miles). Needless to say, I will not be going back as he missed some critical things (brake squeal and brake fluid is dirty) which I was hoping he would pick up on. I have been using him for a while and he does great work, but maybe there were some changes I was unaware of. He did mention that I do have an active coolant leak (I will upload photos shortly). At first, I thought he was bluffing, however I did recall that in December of last year the coolant light came on. I topped it off with about 4-5 oz of Zerex purple coolant and it has not come back since. There were and still are no leaks under the car and the engine temp has always stayed at around 90C when fully warmed up.
Today on my way back from the grocery store I noticed a slight fluctuation in temp, the thermostat dipped to 80 for a minute then went back up to 90. The car has 85k miles and I will be replacing the thermostat and waterpump as recommended after a pressure test. A few questions:
1. How serious is the leak because the car has been operating normally ever since.
2. Is this normal wear and tear after 10 years and 85k miles (bought it brand new in 2014)
3. Indy quoted me $1450, other shops quoted me $1200 and change. Is this a fair price for parts and labor.
4. I am not driving the car long distances but plan on getting this addressed by the end of next week after I return from work.
Today on my way back from the grocery store I noticed a slight fluctuation in temp, the thermostat dipped to 80 for a minute then went back up to 90. The car has 85k miles and I will be replacing the thermostat and waterpump as recommended after a pressure test. A few questions:
1. How serious is the leak because the car has been operating normally ever since.
2. Is this normal wear and tear after 10 years and 85k miles (bought it brand new in 2014)
3. Indy quoted me $1450, other shops quoted me $1200 and change. Is this a fair price for parts and labor.
4. I am not driving the car long distances but plan on getting this addressed by the end of next week after I return from work.
Photos are not good, sorry to say. Please post larger photos.
Fluctuating temperature gage is not "operating normally". You have issues with your cooling system.
Better, larger photos will help people to offer suggestions.
Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 215
Likes: 65
From: Georgia
2016 GLE350 4MATIC
I agree that larger photos will help, and I almost always agree with Chassis in general. However, I have noticed that the W166 temperature gauges do not appear to be damped (or as damped?) like many modern vehicles where the needle stays pegged at a specific temperature once the engine is warmed up and barely ever moves unless something serious is wrong. Maybe it's just my car, but I definitely see the temp gauge needle on my W166 make small movements throughout a drive. I will have to check to see if it's in the 80-90 degree range the OP described though.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14,666
Likes: 4,568
From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
The temp gauge normal needle position is 50% of full scale. Note this is not in the "middle" of the white zone.
Many posts on this site asking "is my engine overheating" because of MB's chosen nominal indicator needle position vis-a-vis the red and white colored zones.
Normal operation means the needle fluctuates very little, or not at all. And not rapidly.
Many posts on this site asking "is my engine overheating" because of MB's chosen nominal indicator needle position vis-a-vis the red and white colored zones.
Normal operation means the needle fluctuates very little, or not at all. And not rapidly.
Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 215
Likes: 65
From: Georgia
2016 GLE350 4MATIC
The temp gauge normal needle position is 50% of full scale. Note this is not in the "middle" of the white zone.
Many posts on this site asking "is my engine overheating" because of MB's chosen nominal indicator needle position vis-a-vis the red and white colored zones.
Normal operation means the needle fluctuates very little, or not at all. And not rapidly.
Many posts on this site asking "is my engine overheating" because of MB's chosen nominal indicator needle position vis-a-vis the red and white colored zones.
Normal operation means the needle fluctuates very little, or not at all. And not rapidly.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
2015 ML350
Thank you all. I did notice some coolant sitting on top of the block near the belts. I called a few places and they all quoted me around $1500 give or take a hundred. Turns out I have multiple leaks so I decided to get it replaced. Is this normal wear/tear for 10 years 85k miles?
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Member
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 89
Likes: 34
From: New England
2004 E 500 4MATIC Wagon; 2015 ML 350 4MATIC; †2003 C 240 4MATIC Wagon (2003-2022)
Thank you all. I did notice some coolant sitting on top of the block near the belts. I called a few places and they all quoted me around $1500 give or take a hundred. Turns out I have multiple leaks so I decided to get it replaced. Is this normal wear/tear for 10 years 85k miles?
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14,666
Likes: 4,568
From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
Thank you all. I did notice some coolant sitting on top of the block near the belts. I called a few places and they all quoted me around $1500 give or take a hundred. Turns out I have multiple leaks so I decided to get it replaced. Is this normal wear/tear for 10 years 85k miles?
The photos are of no use.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
2015 ML350
Its a gasoline engine. Turns out I also had a leak in one of the hoses that runs to the heater core. All in all it was about $6xx for parts (Water pump, hose, thermostat, coolant and looks like he replaced the belt too) and about $7xx for labor (He had the car for a day and a half)
Member
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 89
Likes: 34
From: New England
2004 E 500 4MATIC Wagon; 2015 ML 350 4MATIC; †2003 C 240 4MATIC Wagon (2003-2022)
Its a gasoline engine. Turns out I also had a leak in one of the hoses that runs to the heater core. All in all it was about $6xx for parts (Water pump, hose, thermostat, coolant and looks like he replaced the belt too) and about $7xx for labor (He had the car for a day and a half)
Newbie
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Australia
ML400 BI TURBO V6
Guys,
My ML 400 was using water and i could never trace it........!
leak #1 After i added x2 small food dye bottles to the cooling system, i diagnosed the heater core Y piece (engine bay side of the firewall) had a hairline crack
Leak#2 Then a few months later the water pump took a dump..........
Rattle on start up is next on my hit list,,,,,,,,,ughhhhh
My ML 400 was using water and i could never trace it........!
leak #1 After i added x2 small food dye bottles to the cooling system, i diagnosed the heater core Y piece (engine bay side of the firewall) had a hairline crack
Leak#2 Then a few months later the water pump took a dump..........
Rattle on start up is next on my hit list,,,,,,,,,ughhhhh
