2008 DODGE SPRINTER service

322 OperationEngine compartment
4
Mechanical elements and the lubricants
used for them must be carefully
matched.
For this reason, only brands tested and
approved by the manufacturer should be
used. Please contact your Sprinter Deal-
er to obtain the necessary information.
No lubricant additives should be used.
The use of such additives could affect
your warranty rights. Information is
available from any authorized Sprinter
Dealer.For specifications of engine oils, coolant
and brake fluid, see "Service products
and capacities" (
\2
page 604) and con-
tact your authorized Sprinter Dealer.The vehicle consumes a maximum of
1 US qt (1.0 l) oil per 620 miles
(1000 km), depending on your driving
style.
Engine oil consumption may even be
higher if:
\4
the vehicle is new
\4
you mainly operate the vehicle under
arduous operating conditions
\4
you often drive at high engine
speeds
The engine oil consumption can only be
judged after a lengthy distance has been
covered.
Service products
Warning
G
If handled incorrectly, service products
can constitute a health risk for people and
an environmental hazard.
Always observe relevant guidelines for
handling, storing and disposing of service
products.
Engine oil
nf_BA.book Page 322 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

328 OperationEngine compartment
4
3
Engine oil dipstick
\1
Check the engine oil level.
The oil level is correct if the oil is be-
tween the lower
min
and upper
max

marks on the dipstick.
\1
Add engine oil if necessary
(\2
page 328).
Adding engine oilFor specifications of engine oils see
"Service products and capacities"
(\2
page 604).
\1
Unscrew the cap on engine oil filler
neck
1
.
Make sure that you only fill the en-
gine oil as far as the upper
max

mark.
\1
Unscrew the cap on filler neck
1
. N18.00-2041-31
!
CAUTION
Have any excess engine oil drained
or siphoned off at an authorized
Sprinter Dealer. Otherwise, the en-
gine or catalytic converter could be
damaged.
The alternator is underneath the en-
gine oil filler neck. For this reason,
add the engine oil carefully. There is
a risk of damage to the alternator
from engine oil dripping down.
nf_BA.book Page 328 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

330 OperationEngine compartment
4
\1
Slowly unscrew cap
1
counter-
clockwise to reduce excess pres-
sure.
\1
Continue turning the cap and remove
it.
\1
Add coolant as far as the MAX mark.
\1
Twist cap
1
back on.
For coolant specifications, see "Service
products and capacities" (
\2
page 604).
Warning
G
When opening the coolant expansion tank
there is a risk of scalding from hot coolant
spraying out. The cooling system and the
coolant expansion tank are pressurized
when the engine is at normal operating
temperature.
Wear gloves and eye protection. Only
open the coolant expansion tank when
the coolant temperature is less than
122 °F (50 °C).
Warning
G
Coolant contains glycol and is therefore
toxic. Do not swallow coolant. Consult a
doctor immediately if any coolant is swal-
lowed.
Do not allow coolant to come into contact
with your skin, eyes or clothing. In the
event of contact with the eyes, rinse them
thoroughly with clean water. Clean skin
and clothes immediately with soap and
water. Change out of soiled clothing with-
out delay.
!
CAUTION
Check the cooling and heating sys-
tems regularly for leaks. If a large
quantity of coolant is lost, have the
cause traced and rectified at an au-
thorized Sprinter Dealer.
nf_BA.book Page 330 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

333 Operation
Engine compartment
4
For specifications of brake fluid, see
"Service products and capacities"
(\2
page 616).The windshield washer reservoir is in the
engine compartment. It holds approx.
7.4 US qt (7.0 l).
On vehicles with a headlamp cleaning
system, this is also supplied from the
windshield washer reservoir.
1Coolant tank cap
2Brake fluid reservoir cap
3Windshield washer reservoir capAdd windshield washer fluid concentrate
to the water all year round.
Warning
G
If the boiling point of the brake fluid is too
low, vapor pockets may form in the brake
system when the brakes are applied hard
(e.g. when driving on long downhill
stretches). This has a detrimental effect
on braking efficiency, which could in-
crease the stopping distance. This in-
creases the risk of an accident.
Have the brake fluid replaced every
two years.
Windshield washer system/
headlamp cleaning system*
N20.30-2063-31
nf_BA.book Page 333 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

337 Operation
Battery
4
The batteries must always be sufficiently
charged so that they achieve their in-
tended service life.
Have the battery charge status checked
more frequently if you use the vehicle
mainly for short trips or if you leave it
parked up for a long period.
If you intend to leave your vehicle
parked up for a long period, seek advice
from an authorized Sprinter Dealer and
switch off the electrical system at the
battery isolating switch (
\2
page 338).You will find further information in the
“Practical hints” section (
\2
page 573).
!
CAUTION
Switch off the engine and wait for
approximately 20 seconds before you
loosen or disconnect the terminal
clamps. You could otherwise damage
electrical system components.Care of batteries!
CAUTION
Dirty terminal clamps and battery
surfaces cause leakage current, lead-
ing to battery discharge. Always keep
the terminal clamps and battery sur-
faces clean and dry. Lightly grease
the terminal clamps, particularly the
undersides, with acid-proof grease.
!
CAUTION
Cleaning agents containing fuel can
corrode the battery casing. Only
clean with commercially available
cleaning agents and clean the bat-
tery casing with the cell caps
screwed in.
nf_BA.book Page 337 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

341 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
\3 Tires and wheelsThe tires on a new vehicle provide a bal-
ance of many characteristics. They
should be inspected regularly for wear
and correct cold tire inflation pressure.
The vehicle manufacturer strongly rec-
ommends using tires equivalent to the
originals in size, quality and perfor-
mance when a replacement becomes
necessary.Refer to the tire and loading information
placard
1 or to the tire inflation pressure
placard on the driver’s door B-pillar
(
\2
page 362) for the size designation of
your tire.
The service description and load identifi-
cation will be found on the original
equipment tire. Failure to use equivalent
replacement tires may adversely affect
the safety, handling, and ride of your
Sprinter vehicle.Contact an authorized Sprinter Dealer or
an authorized tire dealer with any ques-
tions you may have on tire specifications
or capability.
1. For vehicles with a gross weight capacity less
than 10 000 lbs (4 536 kg) (USA only).
nf_BA.book Page 341 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

342 OperationTires and wheels
4
For more information on tire size desig-
nation, load and speed rating, see "Tire
labeling" (
\2
page 382).
See an authorized Sprinter Dealer for in-
formation on tested and recommended
rims and tires for summer and winter op-
eration. They can also offer advice con-
cerning tire service and purchase.
!
CAUTION
Only use tires which have been test-
ed and approved for your Sprinter ve-
hicle by the vehicle manufacturer.
Tires approved by the vehicle manu-
facturer are developed to provide the
best possible performance in con-
junction with the driving safety sys-
tems on your Sprinter vehicle such as
ABS, BAS, ASR or ESP
®.
Using tires other than those ap-
proved by the vehicle manufacturer
may result in damage that is not cov-
ered by the Sprinter vehicle warran-
ty.
!
CAUTION
Using tires other than those ap-
proved by the vehicle manufacturer
can have detrimental effects, such as
\4
poor handling characteristics
\4
increased noise
\4
increased fuel consumption
Tires and rims not approved by the
vehicle manufacturer may, under
load, exhibit dimensional variations
and different tire deformation char-
acteristics that could cause them to
come into contact with the vehicle
body or axle parts. Damage to the
tires or the vehicle may be the result.
nf_BA.book Page 342 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

349 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
Life of tireThe service life of a tire depends on vary-
ing factors including but not limited to:\4
Driving style
\4
Tire inflation pressure
\4
Distance driven
Tread depthDo not allow your tires to wear down too
far. Adhesion properties on wet roads
are sharply reduced at tread depths un-
der
1/8in (3 mm) for summer tires and
1/6in (4 mm) for winter tires.
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required
by law. These indicators are located in
six places on the tread circumference
and become visible at a tread depth of
approximately
1/16
in (1.6 mm), at
which point the tire is considered worn
and should be replaced.Recommended minimum tire tread
depth:
\4
Summer tires
1/8in (3 mm)
\4
Winter tires
1/6in (4 mm)
Warning
G
Tires and spare tire should be replaced af-
ter 6 years, regardless of the remaining
tread.
nf_BA.book Page 349 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM