2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R500 check oil

350 OperationEngine compartmentR3501Filler capR5001Filler cap

Unscrew filler cap1 from filler neck.

Add engine oil as required. Never over-
fill with oil.
Be careful not to spill any oil when adding.
Avoid environmental damage caused by oil
entering the ground or water.

Screw filler cap1 back on filler neck.
For more information on engine oil, see
“Technical data” section (
page 521) and
(
page 523).
Transmission fluid level
The transmission fluid level does not need
to be checked. If you notice transmission
fluid loss or gear shifting malfunctions,
have an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center check the automatic trans-
mission.
!Excess oil must be siphoned or drained
off. It will cause damage to the engine
and catalytic converter not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

395 Operation
Vehicle care
Vehicle care
Cleaning and care of the vehicle
While in operation, even while parked, your
vehicle is subjected to varying external in-
fluences which, if gone unchecked, can at-
tack the paintwork as well as the
underbody and cause lasting damage.Such damage is caused not only by ex-
treme and varying climatic conditions, but
also by:


Air pollution


Road salt


Tar


Gravel and stone chipping
To avoid paint damage, you should imme-
diately remove:


Grease and oil


Fuel


Coolant


Brake fluid


Bird droppings


Insects


Tree resins, etc.
Frequent washing reduces and / or elimi-
nates the aggressiveness and potency of
the above adverse influences.More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions:


near the ocean


in industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)


during winter operation
You should check your vehicle from time to
time for stone chipping or other damage.
Any damage should be repaired as soon as
possible to prevent corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the underbody
of the vehicle. A prerequisite for a thor-
ough check is a washing of the underbody
followed by a thorough inspection. Dam-
aged areas need to be re-undercoated.
Your vehicle has been treated at the facto-
ry with a wax-base rustproofing in the body
cavities which will last for the lifetime of
the vehicle. Post-production treatment is
neither necessary nor recommended by
Mercedes-Benz because of the possibility
of incompatibility between materials used
in the production process and others ap-
plied later.
Warning!
G
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the partic-
ular container. Always open your vehicle’s
doors or windows when cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not de-
signed for cleaning your vehicle.
Always lock away cleaning products and
keep them out of reach of children.

437 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
N
Check eng. oil level
when next refueling
The engine oil level is too low.

Check the engine oil level (
page 346).
USA only:Add 1 qt. engine oil
when next refuelingCanada only:Add 1 liter engine oil
when next refueling
The engine oil level is too low.

Add engine oil (
page 349) and check
the engine oil level (page 346).
Engine oil level
Stop, engine off
There is no oil in the engine.
There is a danger of engine
damage.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt as
soon as as it is safe to do so in a safe
location.

Turn off the engine.

Add engine oil (
page 349) and check
the engine oil level (page 346).
Engine oil level
Reduce oil level
You have added too much
engine oil. There is a risk of dam-
aging the engine or the catalytic
converter.

Have oil siphoned or drained off.
Observe all legal requirements with
respect to its disposal.
Change engine oil
Visit workshop
It may be that there is water in
the engine oil.

Have the engine oil checked.

438 Practical hintsWhat to do if …When the message
Add 1 qt. engine oil
when next refueling
(Canada:
1 liter
)
appears while the engine is running and at
operating temperature, the engine oil level
has dropped to approximately the mini-
mum level.
When this occurs, the warning will first
come on intermittently and then stay on if
the oil level drops further.Visually check for oil leaks. If no obvious oil
leaks are noted, drive to the nearest
service station where the engine oil should
be topped to the required level with an ap-
proved oil specified in the Factory
Approved Service Products pamphlet.
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
N
Engine oil level
Visit workshop
The engine oil has dropped to a
critical level.

Check the engine oil level (
page 346)
and add oil as required (
page 349).

If you must add engine oil frequently, have
the engine checked for possible leaks.
Oil sensor malfunction
Visit workshop
The measuring system is
malfunctioning.

Have the measuring system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
!The engine oil level warnings should
not be ignored. Extended driving with
the symbol displayed could result in
serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

526 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.The coolant solution must be used year
round to provide the necessary corrosion
protection and increase boil-over protec-
tion. Refer to Maintenance Booklet for
replacement interval.
To provide important corrosion protection,
the solution must be at least 45% anticor-
rosion/antifreeze (equivalent to freeze
protection to approx. - 22°F [-30°C]). If
you use a solution that is more than 55%
anticorrosion/antifreeze (freeze protec-
tion to approx. - 49°F [-45°C]), the engine
temperature will increase due to the lower
heat transfer capability of the solution.
Therefore, do not use more than this
amount of anticorrosion/antifreeze.If the coolant level is low, water and
MB 325.0 anticorrosion/antifreeze should
be used to bring it up to the proper level
(have cooling system checked for signs of
leakage). Please make sure the mixture is
in accordance with label instructions.
The water in the cooling system must meet
minimum requirements, which are usually
satisfied by normal drinking water. If you
are not sure about the water quality, con-
sult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.

538 IndexCatalytic converter 340
CD player
Operating 171
CD-changer* 294
Center console 29
Lower part 30
PASS AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp 414
Upper part 29
Central locking
Automatic 130
Switch 131
Switching on/off (control
system) 188
Unlocking from inside 131
Central locking switch 131
Certification label 510
Changing
SmartKey setting 189
Charging
Vehicle battery 495
CHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator
lamp 407, 408Checking
Coolant level 351
Oil level 346
Tire inflate pressure 344
Vehicle lighting 344
Checking tire pressure electronically with
the Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System* (Advanced TPMS*) 371
Checking tire pressure electronically with
the Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) 368
Child safety 82
Air bags 72
Infant and child restraint systems 78,
82
LATCH child seat mounts 92
Child safety switch see Blocking of rear
door window operation
Cigarette lighter
Front center console 303
Cigarette lighter* 305Cleaning
Headlamps 208
Headliner 402
Light alloy wheels 401
Plastic and rubber parts 402
Steering wheel 402
Windows 400
Windshield 60
Cleaning tires 355
Climate control 216
Adjusting 222
Adjusting air volume 222
deactivating 220
Front defroster 223
Rear passenger compartment 228
Setting the temperature 222
Clock 180
Closing
Glove box 294
Hood 346
Panorama sliding/pop-up roof 260
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* 462
Side windows 249
Tailgate 124, 128, 129
Tilt/sliding sunroof* 255
Windows 248

542 IndexEngine malfunction indicator lamp 407,
433
Engine malfunction indicator lamp (Cana-
da only) 27
Engine malfunction indicator lamp (USA
only) 27
Engine number 530
Engine oil 346, 523
Adding 349
Additives 523
Checking level 346
Consumption 346
Display messages 437–438
Messages in display 347, 437–438
Viscosity 530
ESP
®
25, 99, 530
Switching off 101
Switching on 102
Warning lamp 409
ETD 530
Safety guidelines 74
ETD (Emergency tensioning device) 80
Extending cargo compartment 283
Exterior mirrors
Folding 211Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting 48
Power folding* 211
Synchronizing 211
F
Fastening the seat belts 50
First aid kit 454
Flat tire 478
Lowering the vehicle 485
Preparing the vehicle 479
Spare wheel 457
Flexible Service System PLUS (FSS
PLUS) 530
Floormats* 328
Fluid level
Automatic transmission 350
Fog lamp, rear
Switching on 151
Fog lamps, front*
Messages in display 442
Replacing bulbs 466
Switching on 151
Folding
Exterior mirrors 2114-ETS 102
Front air bags 75
Front defroster 223, 238
Front fog lamps
Indicator lamp 147
Front lamps
Messages in display 442
Replacing bulbs 466, 468
Front seats
Head restraints 44
Front towing eye 501
Front wiper blades
Installing 476, 477
Removing 475
FSS PLUS (Flexible Service System
PLUS) 530
Fuel 343
Additives 525
Fuel reserve warning lamp 409
Gasoline additives 525
Premium unleaded gasoline 343,
524
Requirements 524
Fuel additives 525
Fuel cap
Message in display 439

554 Index
Opening from the outside 122
Unlocking and opening with
KEYLESS-GO* 120
Unlocking with SmartKey 114
Tar stains 396
Technical data 523
Brake fluid 523
Coolants 525
Electrical system 518
Engine 513
Engine oil 523
Engine oil additives 523
Fuel requirements 524
Gasoline additives 525
Main dimensions 519
Premium unleaded gasoline 524
Rims and tires 514
Weights 520
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning* system 528
Tele Aid System* 533Tele Aid* 311
Call priority 318
Emergency calls 313
Information 317
Initiating an emergency call
manually 314
Messages in display 450, 451
Remote door unlock 319
Roadside assistance 315
Stolen vehicle recovery services 319
System self-check 312
Telematics* 533
Telephone* 310
Answering a call 195
Dialing a number from the phone
book 195
Ending a call 195
Loading phone book* 195
Messages in the display 451
Operating 194
Redialing 196
Temperature
Setting interior temperature 222,
236
Tires 364
Third-row sunshade* 2143-zone automatic climate control* 230
Ticket holder 300
Tie-down rings (Cargo
compartment) 281
Tightening torque 533
Tightening torque (Wheel bolts) 485
Tilt
Head restraint 45
Tilt/sliding sunroof*
Closing 255
Opening 255
Synchronizing 258
Time
Setting day 181
Setting hours 180
Setting minutes 180
Setting month 181
Setting year 181
TIN 387, 534
Tire
Vehicle maximum load on 388
Tire and Loading Information 357
Tire and loading terminology 385
Tire care and maintenance 354
Tire Identification Number see TIN