Coolant MessageThe warning message

So a warning message has popped up on your screen, that reads something like this: “Top-up coolant: see owner’s manual for warning message”. Don’t panic, it is as simple as it sounds. It is just time to top up your coolant. Here, we run through a few top tips for topping up your Mercedes with the specially formulated Mercedes-Benz C-Class coolant.

How to top up your coolant

Find the red lever under the panel on the driver’s side of your car. Pull this down until you hear a ‘pop’. This will loosen the bonnet and allow you to open it safely. Locate a small black container which has the coolant logo embossed on it. If you are unsure what this logo looks like, refer to the warning message on your dash screen, or the owner’s manual. Wait until the engine and the container are completely cool, and then open the container cap. Fill the container with coolant. The white meter inside the container should let you know when you are at the top. It is important not to overfill, as this could be dangerous. Secure the cap, close the bonnet carefully, and get ready to drive away! This couldn’t be simpler.

This guide could be found here:

The coolant

So why is coolant important? Coolant is necessary for transferring the heat of the engine in a safe way. It prevents engine damage by limiting the range of temperatures an engine has to endure. If the engine is exposed to either freezing or boiling, then excessive damage might occur. A good coolant will include an antifreeze so that even in very cold temperatures, your engine is protected.

Which cars does show Top Up Coolant See Owner's Manual warning message?

The error message does apply to every single Mercedes-Benz vehicle with diesel or petrol engine (except Electric Vehicles in short EV), so if you have mercedes benz in your garage sooner or later, this message will pop out on the car's dashboard.

Below some cars, which does require coolant:

  • A class W168 W169 W176 W177
  • B class W245 W246 W247 MPV
  • B class B160 B180 B200 B220 B250 BlueEFFICIENCY 4MATIC CDI
  • CLA C177 W177
  • CLA180 CLA200 CLA220 CLA250 CLA45 AMG CDI 4MATIC
  • CLS class C218 X218 2011 2012 2013 2014 with LED HIGH PERFORMANCE headlamps
  • CLS class W218 C218 X218 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
  • CLS class CLS350 CLS400 CLS500 CLS63 AMG CLS220 CLS250 CLS350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY BlueTEC
  • C Class W205 Saloon Sedan 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 2018 2019
  • C Class S205 Touring Estate 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 2018 2019
  • C Class C205 Coupe 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 2018 2019
  • C Class A205 Convertible Cabriolet 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
  • C Class C180, C200, C220, C250, C300, C350, C45 AMG, C63 AMG, BlueTec, 4Matic
  • E Class W213 S213 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
  • S Class W222 X222 2017, 2018, 2019
  • E Class Coupe C238 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
  • E Class Convertible A238 2017, 2018, 2019
  • E Class E200 E250 E300 E350e Hybrid E400 E450 E43 E53 E63 AMG
  • E Class E200d E220d E300d E350d E400d 4Matic
  • E class W212 Facelift Saloon Sedan
  • E class S212 Facelift Estate Wagon 2013 2014 2015 2016
  • E class C207 Facelift Coupe
  • E class A207 Facelift Convertible Cabriolet 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
  • E class E200 E220 E250 E300 E350 E400 E550 4MATIC CGI BlueEFFICIENCY CDI BlueTEC
  • GLE ML W166 2015 2016 2017 2018
  • GLE Coupe C292 2015 2016 2017 2018
  • GLS GL X166 2015 2016 2017 2018
  • GLC X253 W253 Hatchback 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
  • GLC C253 Coupe 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
  • GLC63 AMG GLC43 AMG S GLC300 GLC350e 4Matic GLC250 GLC200 GLC350d GLC250d GLC220d
  • CLS Class Coupe C257 2018, 2019
  • G Class W463 2018, 2019
  • SLK-class R172 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
  • SLK SLK200 BlueEFFICIENCY SLC200 SLK250 CDI SLK300 SLK350 SLK55 AMG
  • S Class C217 Coupe 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
  • S Class A217 Cabriolet Convertible 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
  • S Class W222 Saloon Sedan 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
  • Vito W447 Van Bus 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
  • Sprinter W906 Van Bus 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Getting the right coolant

Choosing the right coolant is a minefield. If you use the wrong kind of coolant, with the wrong type of additives, then corrosion to engine components might be a problem. Unfortunately, it can take up to a year for this kind of corrosion to become obvious to the driver, and even then is generally misidentified by drivers as a radiator problem. The right coolant is therefore important for the health of your car. Start by identifying which coolant is designed for your make of car: Mercedes-Benz offers a range of coolants designed specifically to the specifications of their cars. These are ideal and offer great peace of mind for the careful driver. Make sure that the coolant also has either a type of silicate or a silicate-alternative present to prevent corrosion over the long-term.

Get your colour right

Coolants now come in the full range of colours, and it is essential to get the right colour for your car. This is not an aesthetic decision, instead, the colours come with different chemical formulas, each one with its own set of reactions and benefits. The first step is to identify the make and model of your car. The owner’s manual is a great place to start out: they should specify the colour and make of coolant you need. A great rule of thumb, though, is that if you have an older model Mercedes, with a copper core radiator, then the traditional green or yellow coolant is going to be your best choice. If you have a newer plastic expansion tank, with an aluminium core, then you should go for the blue coolant.