A Texas-based realtor says a routine stop at Take 5 Oil Change left her Mercedes overheating—and eventually facing thousands of dollars in repairs.
Gibelly Chevez (@gibellychevez) says she went to a Take 5 location in McKinney, Texas, in mid-August for an oil change and later agreed to a coolant flush. She left around 6:30 p.m. and shows the receipt in her video.
Less than 90 minutes later, she says her car “starts yelling at me.”
Chevez shows a photo of Mercedes’ dashboard with warnings telling her to “stop vehicle” and “turn engine off.” Another message reads “coolant too hot.”
She pulled onto a service road and called a friend who is a mechanic.
“Mind you, [Take 5] had just done my coolant flush less than 90 minutes before,” Chevez says.
She says she tried calling Take 5 several times before it closed, but no one answered. She eventually moved the car to a gas station and dealt with it the next morning.
The following day, Chevez had the Mercedes towed back to Take 5.
She says an assistant manager told her he had checked the cameras and hadn’t seen anything unusual. He offered to flush the coolant again and told her that if the car overheated afterward, she should get a diagnostic report from a full-service mechanic and email it over.
Chevez says she barely made it out of the parking lot before the car overheated again.
This time, she had it towed to Mercedes.
She says she paid “$280-something” for a diagnostic and was told the car was in “critical condition.”
The report she shows in the video says: “Cause: PRESSURE TESTED COOLANT SYSTEM. DIDN’T SEE ANY SIGNS OF COOLANT LEAKS. VEHICLE HAS THE WRONG COOLANT INSTALLED IN ENGINE AND WAS LOW.” Mercedes also recommended another coolant flush “to start,” she says, for $600.
“Take 5 used the wrong coolant on my car, which caused it to overheat,” Chevez says.
She says she returned to Take 5 with the diagnosis and asked the company to cover the repair. About a week and a half later, though, she says Take 5’s insurance denied liability for “ruining my car.”
According to Chevez, the shop told her it uses a “universal coolant.”
“They can call it universal,” she says, “but it didn’t work for my car.”
Nearly a month later, Chevez says the Mercedes was still in the shop, and she was facing roughly $3,000 in repairs, including a $1,900 thermostat repair, not counting towing.
“My car has never overheated, ever,” Chevez says. “I am so ticked off because now I’m out $3,000.” As of this writing, her video has more than 37,800 views.
Can The Wrong Coolant Make A Mercedes Overheat?
Chevez’s Mercedes diagnosis points to two separate problems that mechanics warn can cause issues: the coolant was low, and Take 5 used the wrong coolant.
Europarts360 says Mercedes-Benzes require coolant that meets its specifications, and warns that using the wrong coolant can leave the engine cooling system without enough protection against overheating and corrosion.
That doesn’t necessarily mean every bottle labeled “universal” will automatically damage a Mercedes, but online guidance is clear that whatever coolant you do use must meet the vehicle’s specifications to avoid further issues.
The amount in the system matters too, according to AutoZone, since coolant carries heat away from the engine to the radiator, and keeping the proper coolant level is essential for engine output and preventing overheating. Take 5’s own website claims its coolant-exchange service removes old fluid, cleans the car’s system, and replaces it with fresh coolant so the engine can stay at the proper temperature.
Take 5 says the amount and type of coolant used during an exchange can vary by vehicle. The company also says its technicians assess a car’s needs and recommend maintenance as needed.
What we can’t tell from Chevez’s video is exactly what product the McKinney shop used, whether that coolant met Mercedes’ specifications, or why the system was low afterward — all of which matter in identifying what, specifically, caused the overheating.
But the distinction between “universal” coolant and the coolant a manufacturer calls for is important, Consumer Reports says. Its reporting echoes the advice for drivers to use the specific coolant listed for their vehicle rather than assuming all antifreeze is interchangeable.
It also notes that the mixture itself matters: a standard cooling system typically uses about a 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water, and too much water can contribute to overheating. In a separate guide, Consumer Reports says a low coolant level is also a warning sign worth taking seriously because the engine relies on that fluid to keep temperatures under control.
Gallery: Mercedes-Benz Classic 300 SLS and SLR Stirling Moss road test
Viewers Warn Against Taking Mercedes To Take 5
A lot of viewers focused less on Take 5’s explanation and more on the fact that Chevez brought a Mercedes there in the first place.
“Taking a Mercedes there is wicked work,” one person wrote.
“Pls don’t take a Mercedes-Benz to anywhere other than Mercedes,” another said.
One viewer broadened that advice beyond Mercedes.
“Why would anyone drive a German car and not take it to the dealership for minor maintenance? Why would anyone not take any car to the dealership for maintenance nowadays? There are too many horror stories that people don’t believe,” they said.
Others shared their own frustrations with Take 5.
“My car is already telling me to get another oil change, and I got it done there not even a month ago. Never again,” one wrote.
Another commenter who identified themselves as a mobile mechanic had a different theory about what may have gone wrong: “Sounds like they didn’t know how to purge the air out of the system”
Some viewers also started suggesting ways Chevez could try to recover the money she says she spent.
“Two options. 1. Small claims court, which is a simple process for reimbursement. Typically under $250 to file. 2. File a claim with your insurance, and they’ll go after Take 5 for all reimbursement”
Motor1 contacted Chevez via TikTok direct message and Take 5 via email. We’ll be sure to update this if either responds.
