2008 MERCEDES-BENZ C300 check oil

Contents
At the gas station .............................. 322
Refueling ...................................... 322
Check regularly and
before a long trip.......................... 324
Engine compartment ......................... 325
Hood ............................................ 325
Engine oil ..................................... 327
Transmission fluid level ................ 328
Coolant level ................................ 329
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 330
Tires and wheels ................................ 331
Important guidelines .................... 331
Tire care and maintenance........... 332
Direction of rotation ..................... 334
Loading the vehicle ...................... 334
Recommended tire
inflation pressure ......................... 339
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 341
Tire labeling.................................. 348
Load identification ....................... 352
DOT,
Tire Identification Number (TIN) ... 352
Maximum tire load ....................... 353
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 354Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 354
Tire ply material ............................ 356
Tire and loading terminology......... 356
Rotating tires ................................ 359
Winter driving ..................................... 360
Winter tires ................................... 360
Snow chains.................................. 361
Maintenance....................................... 362
Maintenance
service indicator message ............ 362
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display ............... 363
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 363
Vehicle care........................................ 364
Cleaning and care of vehicle ......... 364
Practical hints.................................. 373
What to do if …? ................................. 374
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 374
Air bag off indicator lamp ............. 385
Vehicle status messages in
the multifunction display .............. 387
Where will I find ...? ............................ 420
First aid kit.................................... 420
Vehicle jack, vehicle tool kit,
luggage bowl, Minispare wheel ..... 420
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 424
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 424
Locking the vehicle ....................... 425
Fuel filler flap ................................ 426
Manually unlocking the
transmission gear selector lever ... 426
Resetting activated head restraints.... 427
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 428
Replacing bulbs .................................. 430
Bulbs............................................. 431
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 432
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 436
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 438
Removing wiper blades ................. 439
Installing wiper blades .................. 439

21 At a glance
Exterior view
ItemPage
1Trunk

Unlocking

Opening and closing

Minispare wheel

Vehicle tool kit
269
269
441
420
2Rear lamps431
3Rear window, defrosting265
4Fuel filler flap
Refueling
Gasoline322
322
481
5Doors

Locking and unlocking

Opening and closing

Unlocking/locking in an
emergency
70
70
424
6Exterior rear view mirror

Adjusting97
ItemPage

Auto-dimming rear view
mirrors*

Power folding exterior rear
view mirrors*

Parking position*
(Canada only)
97
100
98
101
7Tires and wheels

Checking tire inflation
pressure

Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS), (USA only)

Run Flat Indicator (Canada
only)

General information

Minispare wheel

Flat tire
331
341
344
342
331
422
440
8Towing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt453
455
ItemPage
9Headlamp cleaning system*112
aFront lamps431
bHood, opening
Engine oil
Coolant
Battery325
327
329
446
cWindshield wipers
Wiper blades, replacing
Wiper blades, cleaning117
438
368
dWindshield
Front window, defrosting
Cleaning with wiper fluid
Cleaning
264
119
368
eRoofs

Power tilt/sliding sunroof

Panorama roof with power
tilt/sliding panel*
273
276

75 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Important notes on using KEYLESS-GO

You can also use the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO like a normal SmartKey
(
page 70).
The starter switch is under the
KEYLESS-GO button. Pull the
KEYLESS-GO button out in order to ac-
cess the starter switch.

You can combine KEYLESS-GO func-
tions with normal SmartKey functions
(e.g. unlocking with KEYLESS-GO and
locking with button ‹).

Always carry the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO with you.

Never store the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO together with:

Electronic items such as a tele-
phone or another SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO

Metallic objects such as coins or
metal foil
Doing so could impair the function of
the KEYLESS-GO system.

To lock or unlock the vehicle, the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located outside the vehicle within ap-
proximately 3 ft (1 m) of a door or the
trunk lid.

If the vehicle has been parked for more
than 72 hours, you must pull an outside
door handle in order to activate the
KEYLESS-GO function.

In order to start the engine with the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO:

The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
must be located in the vehicle.

The KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
must be inserted in the starter
switch (
page 84).

The brake pedal must be firmly de-
pressed. Do not depress the accel-
erator.

If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
positioned farther away from the vehi-
cle, the system may no longer recog-
nize the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO.
The vehicle then cannot be locked or
the engine started via the KEYLESS-GO
system.

If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is re-
moved from the vehicle (e.g. if passen-
ger exits the vehicle with the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO)

when pressing the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button or trying to lock
the vehicle with the outside door
handle the message
Key not rec-
ognized
appears in the multifunc-
tion display

Use the mechanical key to unlock the driv-
er’s door (
page 424) and trunk
(
page 425).

Use the mechanical key to lock and trunk
(
page 272).

Have the vehicle batteries and their connec-
tions checked (
page 446).
If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is malfunc-
tioning, contact Roadside Assistance or an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

324 Operation
At the gas station
Check regularly and before a long trip
1Coolant level
2Brake fluid
3Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system*Windshield washer system and head-
lamp cleaning system*
For more information on refilling the wash-
er reservoir, see “Windshield washer sys-
tem and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 330).
Coolant
For more information on coolant, see
“Coolant level” (
page 329) and see “Fu-
els, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(
page 476).
Brake fluid
For information on brake fluid, see “Brake
fluid” (
page 480).Engine oil level
For more information on engine oil, see
“Engine oil” (
page 327).
Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness. For more
information on replacing light bulbs, see
“Replacing bulbs” (
page 430).
For more information, see “Lighting”
(
page 108).
Tire inflation pressure
For information on tire inflation pressure,
see “Checking tire inflation pressure”
(
page 341).iOpening the hood (page 325).!If you find that the brake fluid in the brake
fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark or
below, have the brake system checked for brake
pad thickness and leaks immediately. Notify an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
Do not add brake fluid as this will not solve the
problem. For more information, see “Practical
hints” (
page 376) and (page 400).

327 Operation
Engine compartment
Engine oil
The amount of oil your engine needs will
depend on a number of factors, including
driving style. Higher oil consumption can
occur when

the vehicle is new

the vehicle is driven frequently at
higher engine speeds
Engine oil consumption checks should only
be made after the vehicle break-in period.Notes about checking engine oil level
When checking the oil level

the vehicle must be parked on level
ground

with the engine at operating tempera-
ture, the vehicle must have been
stationary for at least 5 minutes with
the engine turned off

with the engine not at operating tem-
perature yet, the vehicle must have
been stationary for at least 30 minutes
with the engine turned offChecking engine oil level with the oil
dipstick
To check the engine oil level with the oil
dipstick, do the following:
Open the hood (page 325).
1Oil dipstick
2Upper mark
3Lower mark
Pull out oil dipstick1.
Wipe oil dipstick1 clean.
Fully insert oil dipstick1 into the dip-
stick guide tube.
!Do not use any special lubricant additives,
as these may damage the drive assemblies. Us-
ing special additives not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may cause damage not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
More information on this subject is available at
any Mercedes-Benz Center.


328 Operation
Engine compartment
Pull out oil dipstick1 again after ap-
proximately 5 seconds to obtain accu-
rate reading.
The oil level is correct when it is between
lower mark3 (min.) and upper mark2
(max.) of the oil dipstick.
If necessary, add engine oil.
For adding engine oil (
page 328).
For more information on engine oil, see the
“Technical data” section (
page 476) and
(
page 480).
For more information on messages in the
multifunction display concerning engine
oil, see the “Practical hints” section
(
page 387).Adding engine oil
1Filler cap
Unscrew filler cap1 from filler neck.
Add engine oil as required. Be careful
not to overfill 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 the
“Technical data” section (
page 476) and
(
page 480).
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 Center
check the transmission.
iThe filling quantity between the upper and
lower marks on the oil dipstick is approximately
2.1 US qt. (2.0 l).
!Only use approved engine oils and oil filters
required for vehicles with Maintenance System.
For a listing of approved engine oils and oil fil-
ters, refer to the Factory Approved Service Prod-
ucts pamphlet (USA only) in your vehicle
literature portfolio, or contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Using engine oils and oil filters of specification
other than those expressly required for the Main-
tenance System, or changing of oil and oil filter
at change intervals longer than those called for
by the Maintenance System will result in engine
or emission control system damage not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!Excess oil must be siphoned or drained off.
It will cause damage to the engine and emission
control system not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.


364 Operation
Vehicle care
Cleaning and care of vehicle
Regular and proper care will help to main-
tain the value of your vehicle. The best way
to protect your vehicle from harmful envi-
ronmental influences is to wash it and use
protective treatments regularly.
While in operation, even while parked, your
vehicle is subjected to varying external in-
fluences which, if gone unchecked, can
attack the paintwork as well as the vehicle
underbody and cause lasting damage.Such damage is caused not only by
extreme 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
thorough check is a washing of the
underbody followed by a thorough
inspection. Damaged 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
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.

415 Practical hints
What to do if …?
When the message Check Engine Oil At
Next Refueling
appears while the engine
is running and at operating temperature,
the engine oil level has dropped to approx-
imately the minimum 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, continue to drive to the
nearest service station where the engine
oil should be topped to the required level
with an approved oil specified in the Facto-
ry Approved Service Products pamphlet.
For information on approved engine oils,
refer to the Factory Approved Service
Products pamphlet (USA only) or contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Display Possible cause/consequencePossible solution
ùCheck
Engine Oil
At Next RefuelingThe engine oil level has dropped to approx-
imately the minimum level.Check the engine oil level (page 327) and
add engine oil as required (
page 328).
If you must add engine oil frequently, have
the engine checked for possible leaks.
!The engine oil level warnings should not be
ignored. Extended driving with the symbol dis-
played could result in serious engine damage
that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limit-
ed Warranty.