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So yesterday and when I started the car I got the Check Coolant Level message. The car has been parked for 8 hours and there's no trace of leak under the carriage. I popped the hood and it seems like the Coolant Level is indeed below what it should be. From my research, Zerex G-05 50/50 coolant fits MB specs. So I thought about topping up the coolant and see in a few days/weeks if the coolant still go below MB level. Also, from reading the manual, it says the coolant should be at the black cover level. Am I right here? The thing is I have bought the car only a week ago so I'm not sure what kind of coolant there's currently and wondering if it's OK in the case I get two different coolant mixed up? Sorry for being such a novice!
*This can't be the intercooler pump as it has been changed for a brand new one just last year.
+1 for intercooler leak being the likely culprit. The OEM unit is notorious for leaking -- mine gave up after installing the Johnson CM30 IC pump.
The repair won't be cheap, but it's the only way to really fix it. And if you don't address it soon, you'll gum up the MAP sensor and the car will run like crap (that's how I discovered mine was NG).
Here's a link to a good price on them. Speedriven also makes one, but it's a custom unit with a few weeks leadtime (IF they still make it).
+2 on the "charge air cooler" leaking coolant into your intake. Mine failed, and $1000 plus a day of work, got it replaced with an aftermarket one. Stock one fails all the time...no need to replace it with another stock POS. Does not seem to affect the V8, only the V6.
To find out if that really is your issue, you need to pull one of the intake manifolds on one side of the engine. If full of green/brown slime - you have a leaking charge air cooler.
Give them a call and see if they will still support... that thread seems to have died
For now, I'm just going to top up and observe, I will also take the car to have it diagnosed for any leak. I have been able to locate a used intercooler in A condition for $230.
I have this aftermarket IC and no problems at all. I had an OEM one fail on me TWICE!!
Good to know (and good to hear from you again!)
Do you know if SD is still cranking these out? I'm looking at picking up another SRT, and with the mods I have planned, IC replacement will be inevitable
Do you know if SD is still cranking these out? I'm looking at picking up another SRT, and with the mods I have planned, IC replacement will be inevitable
I'm pretty sure SD still makes these...they may not have one in stock right now, but they should be able to make them since they do everything in house.
Here's what my intake plenums looked like when my IC failed about 2 years ago and I replaced with a SD unit..
coolant leaked into intake plenums from my cracked OEM intercooler. Replaced with the Speedriven unit and no problems
coolant leaked into intake plenums from my cracked OEM intercooler. Replaced with the Speedriven unit and no problems
My coolant looks kinda of dark blue and the previous owner bought it from Mercedes, but in my area Mercedes coolant is yellow/clear. Is there any risk for me to top up with a 50/50 mix of yellowish coolant such as from Zerex G-05? Or I'm better off to top up with distilled water?
My coolant looks kinda of dark blue and the previous owner bought it from Mercedes, but in my area Mercedes coolant is yellow/clear. Is there any risk for me to top up with a 50/50 mix of yellowish coolant such as from Zerex G-05? Or I'm better off to top up with distilled water?
I would only top off with distilled water once; if nothing else, just to calculate the rate of loss. But I wouldn't do that for an extended length of time because it will dilute your coolant too much. I've always known OE MB coolant to be blue.
I would only top off with distilled water once; if nothing else, just to calculate the rate of loss. But I wouldn't do that for an extended length of time because it will dilute your coolant too much. I've always known OE MB coolant to be blue.
That's what have just done. Thanks all for your help. Love this forum/community!
Do you know if SD is still cranking these out? I'm looking at picking up another SRT, and with the mods I have planned, IC replacement will be inevitable
Not positive, but pretty sure they sill make them. Just contac them through this link: