Can You Still Drive When the Mercedes Coolant Warning Light Comes On?
2 Answers
Mercedes coolant warning indicates insufficient coolant and the car should not be driven further. Below are relevant introductions about insufficient car coolant: 1. Let the engine idle: If the coolant warning is caused by excessively high engine temperature, it's best to pull over, keep the engine running at idle, open the hood to allow it to cool down until the water temperature warning disappears. 2. Add an appropriate amount of purified water: If the issue is due to insufficient coolant and there's no coolant available for immediate replenishment, you can add an appropriate amount of purified water, preferably soft water, also known as distilled water. However, do not use hard water like tap water, and do not add too much, as it could alter the boiling point of the coolant.
Just helped a client with this issue two days ago - when your Mercedes coolant warning light comes on, don't push your luck. If you see white smoke under the hood or the temperature gauge keeps climbing, pull over and shut off the engine immediately. I've seen too many drivers think they can make it to the shop, only to blow a hose, warp the cylinder or bend valves halfway there. For emergency measures, cranking the heater to max can temporarily draw away some heat, but this trick won't last more than 10km. If you have bottled water in the trunk, add it slowly after pressure drops (wait before opening the cap). Honestly, towing fees are much cheaper than an engine overhaul - don't gamble with a tens-of-thousands-dollar engine.
