2012 MERCEDES-BENZ A CLASS coolant level

to the engine or to the catalytic converter.
Have excess engine oil siphoned off.
Example: engine oil filler cap
X
Turn cap : anti-clockwise and remove it.
X Top up the engine oil.
If the oil level is at or below the MIN mark
on the oil dipstick, top up with 1.0 litre of
engine oil.
X Replace cap : on the filler neck and turn
clockwise.
Make
sure that the cap locks securely into
place.
X Check the oil level again with the oil dip-
stick ( Y page 287).
For further information on engine oil, see
(Y page 343). Checking and adding other service
products
Checking the coolant level G
WARNING
The engine cooling system is under pressure,
particularly if the engine is warm. You could
be scalded by hot coolant spraying out when
opening the cap. There is a danger of injury.
Allow the engine to cool before opening the
cap. Wear gloves and protective eyewear
when

opening. Slowly turn the cap half a turn
to allow pressure to escape.
! The coolant level must only be checked
and corrected when the engine has cooled
down (coolant temperature under 40 †). Checking the coolant level when the cool-
ant temperature is over 40 † can lead to
damage to the engine or engine cooling
system.
Example
X
Park the vehicle on a level surface.
Only check the coolant level if the vehicle
is on a level surface and the engine has
cooled down.
X Turn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock (Y page 143).
X Check the coolant temperature display in
the instrument cluster.
The coolant temperature must be below
40 †.
X Turn the key to position 0 (Y page 143) in
the ignition lock.
X Slowly turn cap : half a turn anti-clock-
wise to allow excess pressure to escape.
X Turn cap : further anti-clockwise and
remove it.
If the coolant is at the level of marker bar
= in the filler neck when cold, there is
enough coolant in coolant expansion
tank ;.
X If necessary, top up with coolant that has
been tested and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
X Replace cap :
and turn it clockwise as far
as it will go.
For further information on coolant, see
(Y page 344). 288
Engine compartment
Maintenance and care

H
Environmental note
Dispose of service products in an environ-
mentally-responsible manner.
Service products include the following:
R Fuels (e.g. petrol, diesel)
R Lubricants
(e.g. engine oil, transmission oil)
R Coolant
R Brake fluid
R Windscreen washer fluid
R Climate control system refrigerant
Components and service products must be
matched. Mercedes-Benz recommends that
you use products tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz. They are listed in this
Mercedes-Benz Owner's Manual in the appro-
priate section.
You can identify service products approved
by Mercedes-Benz by the following inscrip-
tions on the container:
R MB-Freigabe (e.g. MB-Freigabe 229.51)
R MB Approval (e.g. MB Approval 229.51)
Other designations or recommendations indi-
cate a level of quality or a specification in
accordance with an MB Sheet Number (e.g.
MB 229.5). They have not necessarily been
approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Further information can be obtained from any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre or on the
Internet at http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com. Fuel
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and explo-
sion.
You must avoid fire, naked flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine
and,

if applicable, the auxiliary heating before
refuelling. G
WARNING
Fuels are poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a danger of injury.
Do

not swallow fuel or let it come into contact
with skin, eyes or clothing. Do not inhale fuel
vapours. Keep fuels out of the reach of chil-
dren.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
R Wash the fuel off any affected areas of skin
with water and soap immediately.
R If you get fuel in your eyes, rinse them thor-
oughly with clean water immediately. Seek
immediate medical attention.
R If fuel is swallowed, seek immediate medi-
cal attention. Do not induce vomiting.
R Change any clothing that has come into
contact with fuel immediately.
Tank capacity The total capacity of the fuel tank may vary,
depending on the vehicle equipment.
Model Total capa-
city A 180 BlueEFFICIENCY,
manual transmission
A 180 CDI BlueEFFI-
CIENCY, manual trans-
mission
40 l
or
50.0 l Models with 4MATIC
56.0 l
All other models
50.0 l
Model Of which
reserve
fuel AMG vehicles
Approx.
8.0 l All other models
Approx.
6.0 l Service products and capacities
339
Technical data Z

clean the antifreeze from components before
starting the engine.
! Only
add coolant that has been premixed
with the desired antifreeze protection. You
could otherwise damage the engine.
Further information on coolants can be
found in the Mercedes-Benz Specifications
for Service Products, MB Specifications for
Service Products 310.1, e.g. on the Inter-
net at http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
Or contact a qualified specialist workshop.
! Always use a suitable coolant mixture,
even in countries where high temperatures
prevail.
Otherwise, the engine cooling system is not
sufficiently protected from corrosion and
overheating.
! The engine cooling system is filled with
coolant, which must be renewed after
15 years or after 250,000 kilometres at the
latest.
When handling coolant, observe the impor-
tant safety notes on service products
(Y page 338).
The coolant is a mixture of water and anti-
freeze/corrosion inhibitor. It performs the
following tasks:
R anti-corrosion protection
R antifreeze protection
R raising the boiling point
If antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor is present in
the correct concentration, the boiling point of
the coolant during operation will be approx-
imately 130 †.
The antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor concentra-
tion in the engine cooling system should:
R be at least 50%. This will protect the engine
cooling system against freezing down to
approximately -37 †.
R not exceed 55% (antifreeze protection
down to -45 †). Heat will otherwise not be
dissipated as effectively. If the vehicle has lost coolant, top it up with
equal amounts of water and antifreeze/cor-
rosion inhibitor.
Mercedes-Benz recommends an antifreeze/
corrosion inhibitor concentrate in accord-
ance
with MB Specifications for Service Prod-
ucts 310.1.
The coolant is checked at every maintenance
interval at a qualified specialist workshop.
i When the vehicle is first delivered, it is fil-
led with a coolant mixture that ensures
adequate antifreeze and corrosion protec-
tion. Windscreen washer system and head-
lamp cleaning system
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Windscreen washer concentrate is highly
flammable. If it comes into contact with hot
engine components or the exhaust system it
could ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Make sure that no windscreen washer con-
centrate is spilled next to the filler neck.
! Only use washer fluid that is suitable for
plastic lamp lenses, e.g. MB SummerFit or
MB WinterFit. Unsuitable washer fluid
could damage the plastic lenses of the
headlamps.
! Do

not use distilled or de-ionised water in
the washer fluid reservoir. Otherwise, the
level sensor may be damaged.
! Only the washer fluids SummerFit and
WinterFit can be mixed. Otherwise, the
spraying nozzles could become blocked.
When handling washer fluid, observe the
important safety notes on service products
(Y page 338). Service products and capacities
345
Technical data Z