Coolant Replacement E300TD '99

[pat201]

I drained the existing coolant from the radiator (measures 6.4 liters). After closing the drain, I place new 50//50 replacement coolant into the reservoir (measures 4.3 liters). Then I drove the car for 10 minutes. The temp gage reads 90 degrees C. I opened the hood and added more fluid into the reservoir (it took only 0.5 liters).
Am I doing something wrong? Out 6.4 liters vs. in 4.8 liters. Is this possible?

[Ali Al-Chalabi]

It could be that there is some trapped air in the system that is not allowing you to fill the entire system with coolant.

[pat201]

After I drove the car again for about 1 hr. a digital message showed up in the dashboard that coolant level is low. I added another 1.7 liters - exactly.

[jcyuhn]

It must be a little bit tricky to get the coolant on this engine completely full. I had my '98 E300 done at the dealer only $50 for parts/labor, so what the heck.

The next day, the low coolant message came up. We made them send the roadside assistance car out to my wife's office to top it off.

[loubapache]

Do you have to remove the belly panel before you can see the radiator drain plug?

I just got the MB fluid and will do a change in the next few weeks.

Thanks.

Bo

[Ali Al-Chalabi]

You will definitely have to remove the belly pan to get to the engine block drain plug. It's under the exhaust manifold on the passenger side of the block.

[pat201]

The bottom panel is kept in place by 10 flanged screws. After I secure the car once lifted on jack stands, it took only 5-10 minutes to remove the bottom panel. Be careful when you remove it - has lots of sand and pebbles. I washed with a hose for a while. I got almost one pound of sand and stones out of it.
The drain plug is red made of plastic (acetal I believe) which has 2 o-rings. The dealer said they need not to be changed first time - but later on. The drain plug can be unscrewed by hand. It is located on the driver side of the car. It takes about 10 minutes or so to fully drain. To make sure that it fully drains make sure the filler cap is removed (it is near the air filter on the passenger side of the car). Good luck.