Coolant to MB 325.3, MAN 324 and VW TL 774 D/F: standards, mixing and products
Coolant is specified by manufacturer standard – MB 325.3 for Mercedes-Benz, MAN 324 SNF or NF for MAN, VW TL 774 D/F for the Volkswagen group. This page explains what these standards mean, how to mix coolant concentrate correctly and which Elat coolants list them on their labels.
What MB 325.3, MAN 324 and VW TL 774 mean for your coolant
Coolant does more than stop an engine freezing. The inhibitors in the concentrate protect the metals in the cooling circuit and have to suit the materials the engine maker uses. So instead of a universal product, there are manufacturer standards that define composition and testing. The consequences of a wrong choice rarely show straight away; they tend to appear later as deposits or corrosion.
MB 325.3 is a sheet of the Mercedes-Benz specifications for operating fluids that covers coolant. MAN 324 distinguishes several types, including MAN 324 NF for nitrite-free and MAN 324 SNF for silicate- and nitrite-free coolants. VW TL 774 is a Volkswagen group technical supply specification; its letters identify different versions, and newer engines sometimes require letters other than D or F.
Elat coolants list these standards on their labels as specifications. What counts is the standard and version that your vehicle documentation or the manufacturer’s approval lists call for – if anything is unclear, we will work it out with you.
In brief
Engine coolant is a mix of water and a glycol-based concentrate whose inhibitors must match the manufacturer’s standard, such as MB 325.3, MAN 324 or VW TL 774. According to their labels, Elat concentrates protect down to -40 °C at 50 vol.% concentrate, and the E12+ ready mix comes pre-mixed for -40 °C. For truck fleets, note that MAN 324 SNF and MAN 324 NF are not the same.
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Mixing coolant concentrate: the ratios on the label
Coolant concentrate is mixed with water before it goes in. For E12+ Pink/Violett Full concentrate and NF 40 Blue Full Concentrate, the label gives three ratios: 33 vol.% concentrate for frost protection down to -20 °C, 50 vol.% down to -40 °C and 67 vol.% down to -70 °C. Some manufacturers also set a minimum concentration, because corrosion protection depends on the share of concentrate as well.
More is not automatically better: undiluted concentrate protects less well against frost than a correct mix and transfers heat less effectively. Use water of the quality the vehicle or engine manufacturer specifies; very hard or contaminated water can leave deposits.
E12+ Pink/Violett -40 °C Ready Mix is a ready-mix coolant that goes in undiluted. It saves measuring out, and adding water would only reduce its frost protection.
| Frost protection down to | Concentrate | Water | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| -20 °C | 33 vol.% | 67 vol.% | both concentrates: E12+ and NF 40 |
| -40 °C | 50 vol.% | 50 vol.% | both concentrates: E12+ and NF 40 |
| -70 °C | 67 vol.% | 33 vol.% | both concentrates: E12+ and NF 40 |
| -40 °C | ready to use | do not add water | E12+ Pink/Violett -40 °C Ready Mix |
Elat coolants with manufacturer standards
Two concentrates and one ready-to-use coolant: you can see at a glance which standards each product lists, with manufacturer standards, inhibitor claims and frost protection values colour-coded.
E12+ Pink/Violett Full concentrate
Full concentrate · Antifreeze
Silicate-free concentrate listing MAN 324 SNF, MTU MTL 5048 and VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda TL 774 D/F.
E12+ Pink/Violett -40 °C Ready Mix
Ready Mix · Antifreeze
Ready to use with frost protection down to -40 °C, free of nitrite, amine, phosphate and silicate.
NF 40 Blue Full Concentrate
Full concentrate · Antifreeze
Concentrate listing MAN 324 NF as well as Cummins, Volvo and Ford entries.
Approval or specification?
Only expressly stated manufacturer approvals are marked “Approval”. All other entries are specifications and recommendations as printed on the product label; the entries relevant to this topic are highlighted. For your vehicle or machine, the owner’s manual and the manufacturer’s approval lists always take precedence. If in doubt, we are happy to advise you.
Silicate-free, nitrite-free, amine-free: reading the inhibitor claims
Claims such as “silicate-free” or “nitrite-free” tell you which inhibitors a coolant does not contain. They are not a quality mark in themselves; they have to match the manufacturer’s standard. Some standards call for silicate-free coolant, while others deliberately use silicates.
According to its label, E12+ Pink/Violett Full concentrate is a silicate-free coolant, and E12+ Pink/Violett -40 °C Ready Mix is free of nitrite, amine, phosphate and silicate. Both are based on ethylene glycol and list MB 325.3, MAN 324 SNF and VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda TL 774 D/F; the concentrate also lists MTU MTL 5048 and ASTM D 3306 / D 4985.
NF 40 Blue Full Concentrate is free of amines, nitrites and phosphates and lists MAN 324 NF, along with Ford, Cummins and Volvo entries. It also names general standards from the US, the UK and France: ASTM D 3306, SAE J 1034, BS 6580 and AFNOR NF R 15-601. These set minimum requirements for glycol-based antifreeze coolant; for an individual vehicle, the manufacturer’s standard still decides.
| Product | Base and inhibitors | Manufacturer standards | General standards |
|---|---|---|---|
| E12+ Pink/Violett Full concentrate | Ethylene glycol, silicate-free | MB 325.3, MAN 324 SNF, MTU MTL 5048, VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda TL 774 D/F | ASTM D 3306 / D 4985 |
| E12+ Pink/Violett -40 °C Ready Mix | Ethylene glycol, free of nitrite, amine, phosphate and silicate | MB 325.3, MAN 324 SNF, VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda TL 774 D/F | – |
| NF 40 Blue Full Concentrate | Ethylene glycol, free of amines, nitrites and phosphates | MAN 324 NF, Ford ESD-M97B94-A, Cummins 85T8, Volvo 128 6083/002 | ASTM D 3306, BS 6580, SAE J 1034, AFNOR NF R 15-601 |
Truck coolant for buses and mixed fleets
Fleets often run engines from several manufacturers side by side. For MAN vehicles, the difference between MAN 324 NF and MAN 324 SNF is crucial: the two E12+ products list SNF, while NF 40 lists NF. Where Mercedes-Benz requires MB 325.3, the E12+ products list that specification; NF 40 additionally lists Cummins 85T8, Volvo 128 6083/002 and Ford ESD-M97B94-A.
- Record the standard for each vehicle: note the required coolant standard from the manual or the manufacturer’s list in the vehicle file.
- Do not mix without checking: coolants based on different technologies can impair each other. When switching products, drain the system and flush it as the manufacturer specifies.
- Test before winter: a refractometer quickly shows whether frost protection is still sufficient.
- Keep to the interval: inhibitors are used up over time. The service schedule sets when the coolant has to be changed.
- Open only when cool: a warm cooling system is under pressure, so wait until it has cooled down before opening the expansion tank cap.
Engine oils for the same vehicles are covered on the topic page Euro 6 truck engine oil.
Tip for fleet managers
Label the vehicle file or the expansion tank with the coolant standard in use. That way, nobody tops up with a product of a different technology while on the road.
Ordering coolant for workshops and fleets
Workshops, retailers and fleets obtain Elat coolants directly from Global Tech Lubricants, with dispatch and scheduling handled by our warehouse in Lünen. In your inquiry, state the required standard, whether you prefer concentrate or ready mix, and the quantity and pack size you need.
Background on coolant types and water quality is available in our antifreeze guide. If you would like to source coolant together with engine, gear or hydraulic oil, you will find every product group and topic page under lubricant supply across Germany.
Frequently asked questions
What does MB 325.3 mean on a coolant?
MB 325.3 is a sheet of the Mercedes-Benz specifications for operating fluids that sets requirements for coolant. E12+ Pink/Violett Full concentrate and E12+ Pink/Violett -40 °C Ready Mix list it on their labels as a recommendation or specification, not as a separately stated approval. Your owner’s manual tells you whether your vehicle requires exactly this standard.
What is the difference between MAN 324 NF and MAN 324 SNF?
Both belong to MAN standard 324 for coolants but describe different inhibitor formulations: NF stands for nitrite-free, SNF for silicate- and nitrite-free. The types are not freely interchangeable. In the Elat range, the E12+ products list MAN 324 SNF and NF 40 lists MAN 324 NF.
Which mixing ratio protects down to -40 °C?
For the Elat concentrates E12+ and NF 40, the label gives 50 vol.% concentrate and 50 vol.% water for frost protection down to -40 °C. The E12+ ready mix is already set to -40 °C and goes in undiluted. After filling, check the actual frost protection with a suitable tester.
Which Elat coolants list VW TL 774 D/F?
E12+ Pink/Violett Full concentrate and the E12+ ready mix list VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda TL 774 D/F as a specification. TL 774 exists in several versions, and a D/F coolant does not replace a different version that your vehicle requires. The version you need is given in the service schedule.
Can I mix coolant concentrate with tap water?
That depends on the water quality and on what the vehicle or engine manufacturer specifies. Very hard or contaminated water can encourage deposits and corrosion, so many manufacturers set requirements for the mixing water or recommend demineralised water. If you would rather not mix at all, use a ready-mix coolant.
Related topics
Request coolant to manufacturer standards
Send us a list of the vehicles or engines you look after and the coolant standard each one requires, and we will match them with Elat coolants that list that standard on the label.
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