Engine
oil Add
1.0quart X
Add the amount of oil
shown (Y page 244).
X Check the engine oil level
againa fter a few minutes. Engine
oil Add
1.5quart
Engine
oil Add
2.0quart
Engine
oil level
Reduce
oil level The oil level is too high.
X
Have excess oil removed. Eng. oil
lev. Turn
ignition
on for
level X
Turn the key to
position 2in the ignition
lock. Observe
wait.
period X
Repeat the engine oil
measurement after about
5 minutes if the engine is
at normal operating
temperature.
X Repeat the engine oil
measurement after about
30 minutes if the engine
is not at normal operating
temperature. Engine
oil level
Not when
eng.
running X
Switch off the engine and
wait for approximately
5 minutes if the engine is
at normal operating
temperature. Then,
perform the engine oil
measurement. Measurement units in the display:
R
qts USA only
R ltr Canada only Checking the oil level using the oil
dipstick
For vehicles with a red oil dipstick, only check
the oil level whe
nthe engine is at normal
operating temperature:
X Stop your vehicle as far away from traffic
as possible on level ground.
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait for five minutes.
For vehicles with a yellow oil dipstick, only
check the oil level when the engine is cold.
X Stop your vehicle as far away from traffic
as possible on level ground.
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
X Open the hood (Y page 240).
X Pull out oil dipstick 0005.
X Wipe oil dipstick 0005using a lint-free cloth. Engine compartment
243Maintenance and care Z
X
Insert oil dipstick 0005back into the guide
tube as far as it will go and remove it again.
If the level is between minimum mark 0026
and maximum mark 0006, the oil level is
correct.
X If the oil level has droppe dto or below
minimum mark 0026, open cap0025and add
engine oil (Y page 244).
The difference in quantity between
marks 0006and 0026is approximately
2 US quarts (2 l).
X Close the hood.
OM651 4-cylinder diesel engine:
At outside temperatures between 32 ‡
(–0 †) and 86 ‡(30 †) you can measure the
oil level whe ncold.
Measuring the engine oil when the engine is
cold is less precise than measuring when the
engine is at normal operating temperature.
When the appropriate warning is shown in the
display
X Adding engine oil (Y page 244)
Or
X Have engine oil siphoned off.
Adding engine oil G
WARNING
If engine oil comes into contact with hot
components in the engine compartment, it
may ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Make sure that engine oil is not spilled next
to the filler neck. Let the engine cool down
and thoroughly clean the engine oil off the
components before starting the engine.
! The alternator is located below the engine
oil filler neck.Ife ngine oil spills onto the
alternator, there is a dange rofalternator
damage. Be very careful when adding
engine oil. H
Environmental note
When adding oil, take care not to spill any. If
oil enters the soil or waterways, it is harmful
to the environment.
! Do not add too much oil. adding too much
engine oil can result in damage to the
engine or to the catalytic converter. Have
excess engine oil siphoned off.
! Do not use any additives in the engine oil.
This could damage the engine.
X Open the hood (Y page 240).
X Unscrew and remove cap 0025.
X Add engine oil.
X Place cap 0005on the filler nec kand tighten.
Whe ndoing so, make sure that the cap
engages correctly.
X Check the oil level with the oil dipstick
(Y page 243) or on the display
(Y page 242).
X Close the hood. Coolant
G
WARNING
The engine cooling system is pressurized,
particularly when the engine is warm. When
opening the cap, you could be scalded by hot
coolant spraying out. There is a risk of injury.
Let the engine cool down before opening the
cap. Wear eye and hand protection when
opening the cap. Open the cap slowly half a
turn to allow pressure to escape.
Only check the coolant level and/or fill the
coolant if the vehicle is on a level surface and
the engine has cooled down. The coolant
temperature must be below 122 ‡ (50 †).
! Check the engine cooling and heating
system regularly for leaks.
If a large quantity of coolant is lost, have
the cause traced and rectified at a qualified
specialist workshop. 244
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care
G
WARNING
Coolant contains glycol and is therefore toxic.
Do not swallow the coolant. See a doctor
immediately if you swallow coolant.
Make sure that coolant does not come into
contact with skin, eyesorc lothing. In case of
contac twith eyes, rinse immediately with
plenty of clean water .Clean affected areas of
skin and clothing with soap and water
immediately. Change any affected clothing
immediately. G
WARNING
If antifreeze comes into contact with hot
components in the engine compartment, it
may ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Let the engine cool down before you add
antifreeze. Make sure that antifreeze is not
spilled nex tto the filler neck.T horoughly
clean the antifreeze from components before
starting the engine.
! Take care not to spill any coolant on
painted surfaces. You could otherwise
damage the paintwork. Example: cap and coolant expansion tank
Checking the coolant level
X
Stop your vehicle as far away from traffic
as possible on level ground.
X Switch off the engine.
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
X Open the hood (Y page 240). X
Slowly turn cap 0005half a turn counter-
clockwise to allow excess pressure to
escape.
X Turn cap 0005further and remove it.
X Check the coolant level.
If the coolant reaches the maximum mark
on coolant expansion tank 0006, there is
enough coolant in coolant expansion
tank 0006.
Adding coolant
X If the coolant drops under the minimum
mark on coolant expansion tank 0006, add
coolant to the maximum mark.
Observe the information on coolant
mixture ratio and water quality in the
"Technical data" section (Y page 324). To
prevent damage to the engine cooling
system, use only approved corrosion
inhibitor/antifreeze that comply with the
Mercedes-Benz Specifications for Service
Products.
X Replace cap 0005and turn it clockwise to
tighten.
X Start the engine.
X After approximately 5minutes, switch off
the engine and allow it to cool down.
X Check the coolan tlevel again and add
coolant if necessary.
X Close the hood. Brake fluid
G
WARNING
Brake fluid is hazardous to health. Do not
swallow brake fluid. See adoctor immediately
if you swallow brake fluid.
Make sure that brake fluid does not come into
contact with skin, clothing or eyes. Rinse
affected areas with plenty of clean water and
consult a doctor if necessary.
Always wear gloves and eye protection when
topping up brake fluid. Engine compartment
245Maintenance and care
Z
Store brake fluid only in the original closed
container and keep it out of the reach of
children. Comply with safety regulations
when handling brake fluid.
! Brake fluid corrodes paint, plastic and
rubber .Ifpaint, plastic or rubbe rhas come
into contact with brake fluid, rinse with
wate rimmediately. G
WARNING
The brake fluid constantly absorbs moisture
from the air. This lowers the boiling point of
the brake fluid. If the boiling point of the brake
fluid is too low, vapo rpockets may form in the
brake system when the brakes are applied
hard. This would impair braking efficiency.
There is a risk of an accident.
You should have the brake fluid renewed at
the specified intervals.
! If the brake fluid level in the brake fluid
reservoir has fallen to the MIN mark or
below, check the brake system
immediately for leaks. Also check the
thickness of the brake linings. Visit a
qualified specialist workshop immediately.
Do not add brake fluid. This does not
correct the malfunction.
Have the brake fluid renewed every two
years.
Observe the information on brake fluid in the
"Technical data" section ( Ypage 245). Check the brake fluid level regularly, e.g.
weekly or when refueling. Checking the brake fluid level
X
Stop your vehicle as far away from traffic
as possible on level ground.
X Switch off the engine.
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
X Open the hood (Y page 240).
X Check the brake fluid level.
The brake fluid level is correc tifthe level is
between the MIN mark and MAX mark on
brake fluid reservoir 0005.
X Close the hood. Washer fluid
G
WARNING
Windshield 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 windshield washer
concentrate 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. Example: washer fluid reservoir
Add windshield washer concentrate to the
washer fluid all year round. Observe the
information on washer fluid in the "Technical
data" section (Y
page 326).246
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care
Adding washer fluid
X
Mix the washe rfluid to the appropriate
mixing ratio in a container beforehand.
X Open the hood (Y page 240).
X Pull cap 0005on the washer fluid reservoir
upwards at the tab.
X Add the premixed washer fluid.
X Press cap 0005onto the filler neck until it
engages audibly.
X Close the hood. Fuel system
Draining the fuel filter G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. Improper handing of
fuel creates a risk of fire and explosion.
Avoid fire, open flames ,smoking and creating
sparks under all circumstances. Switch off the
ignitio nand auxiliary heating before carrying
ou tw ork to the fuel system. Always wear
protective gloves. H
Environmental note
Dispose of the water-fuel mixture in an
environmentally responsible manner.
! When the 000Eindicator lamp lights up,
drain the fuel filter with water separator
immediately. Otherwise, the engine may be
damaged. If the
000E indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes on, drain the fuel filter with water
separator 0026immediately.
i We recommend that you have this
maintenance work carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop.
X Park the vehicle safely and secure it from
rolling away.
X Switch off the auxiliary heating system .
X Switch off the engine.
X Open the hood (Y page 240).
X Place a suitable receptacle under drain
hose 0005.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Open drain plug 0006immediately until the
water/fuel mixture flows out of drain
hose 0005.
X Screw in drain plug 0006as soon as
approximately 0.2 US qt (0.2 l) of the
water/fuel mixture have been collected.
i The electrical fuel pump halts the flow of
the water/fuel mixture after 30 seconds.
X After draining, turn the key back to
position 0in the ignition lock.
X Dispose of the collected water/fuel
mixture in an environmentally responsible
manner, e.g. at a qualified specialist
workshop.
X Check drain plug 0006.The drain plug must
be closed.
When the engine is running and drain
hose 0006is open, fuel is lost through drain
hose 0005.
X Close the hood.
If the 000E indicator lamp does not go out
after draining:
X Drain the fuel filter again.
X If the 000E indicator lamp does not go out
after draining for the second time, have the
cause checked immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop. Engine compartment
247Maintenance and care Z
Vehicle interior
Air filter for the rear-compartment air
conditioning
! Regularly check the ai rfilters for visible
dirt .Clean or replace a dirty filter mat .The
dirt may otherwise lead to damage to the
air-conditioning system. Filter magazine, located on the roof in the rear
compartment
An increased amount of sand or dust may
collect in the air filter of the rear-
compartmenta
ir conditioning when you drive
on dusty or sandy roads.
X To remove the filter mat: carefully pry
cover 0005out of recesses 0006and remove.
X Remove the filter mat from cover 0005.
X To clean the filter mat: wash the dirty
filter mat with clear water.
X Leave the filter mat to dry.
i The filter mat must not be cleaned or dried
in a machine.
X To install the filter mat: insert the filter
mat in cover 0005.
X Replace and engage cover 0005.Maintenance
General notes
H
Environmental note
Observe measures to protect the
environment when working on the vehicle. You must observe the legal requirements
when disposing of service products, e.g.
engine oil. This also includes all components,
e.g. filters, which have come into contac twith
service products. Any qualified specialist
workshop can provide information about this.
Dispose of empty containers, cleaning cloths
and care products in an environmentally
responsible manner. Comply with the
instructions for use of the care products.
Do not run the engine for longer than
necessary when the vehicle is stationary.
Before having maintenance and repairs
performed, it is essential to read the materials
related to the maintenance and repairs:
R the applicable sections of the technical
documentation, e.g. the Operator's Manual
and workshop information.
R regulations such as industrial safety
regulations and accident prevention
regulations.
While working under the vehicle, you must
secure the vehicle on jackstands with
sufficient load capacity.
Never use the jac kasas ubstitute .the
vehicle's jack is intended only to raise the
vehicle for a short time when changing a
wheel. It is not suited for performing
maintenance work under the vehicle.
Please also refer to the notes about qualified
specialist workshops (Y page 26).
The scope and regularity of the inspection
and maintenance work primarily depend on
the often diverse operating conditions.
Specialist knowledge beyond the scope of
this Operator's Manual is required when
carrying out testing and maintenance work.
This work should only be carried out by
trained staff.
The vehicle's Maintenance Booklet describes
the extenta nd frequency of the maintenance
work and contains additional informatio non
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty and on the
service products. 248
MaintenanceMaintenance and care
message appears in the display,f
or
example:
R 0002 Service A due in ... days R
0002 Service A due in ... mi (km )
Battery
Important safety notes
Risk of explosion. Explosive
oxyhydrogen is produced when
batteries are being charged. Only
charge batteries in well-ventilated
areas.
Risk of explosion. Avoid creating
sparks. Avoid open flames and do
not smoke in the vicinity of the
battery.
Battery acid is caustic. Wear acid-
proof protective gloves. If skin or
clothes are splashed with acid,
neutralize the splashes
immediately with soapy water or
an acid neutralizer, and then clean
the affected areas with water.
Wear eye protection. When mixing
water and acid, the liquid can
splash into your eyes. Rinse acid
splashes to the eyes immediately
with clean water and contact a
doctor immediately.
Keep children at a safe distance.
Children are not able to assess the
dangers posed by batteries and
acid.
When handling batteries, observe
the safety precautions and special
protective measures contained in
this Operator's Manual. H
Environmental note Batteries contain dangerous
substances. It is against the
law to dispose of them with
the household rubbish. They
must be collected separately and recycled to protect the
environment.
Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally friendly
manner
.Take discharged
batteries to a qualified
specialist workshop or a
special collectio npoint for
used batteries.
Observe the following notes:
R Have the condition of charge checked for
the batteries more frequently if you use the
vehicle mainly for short trips or if you leave
it parked for an extended period.
In order for the batteries to achieve their
maximum possible service life, they must
always be sufficiently charged.
R When replacing a battery, only use
batteries that are recommended for use in
Sprinter vehicles.
R Have the battery removed at a qualified
specialist workshop.
R If you intend to leave your vehicle parked
for a long period:
-consult a qualified specialist workshop
or
- switch off the electrical system using the
battery main switch (Y page 132).
i When you park the vehicle, remove the
key if you do not require any electrical
consumers .The vehicle will then use very
little energy, thus conserving battery
power. Installation locations
Your vehicle may be equipped with two
batteries, depending on the equipment
version:
R a starter battery in the battery case in the
driver's footwell
R additional battery in the engine
compartment 250
BatteryMaintenance and care
Jump-starting
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
During charging and jump-starting, explosive
gases can escape from the battery. There is a
risk of an explosion.
Particularly avoid fire, open flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Ensure there is sufficient
ventilation while charging and jump-starting.
Do not lean over a battery. G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or clothing.
Do not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean
over the battery. Keep children away from
batteries. Wash battery acid immediately with
water and seek medical attention. G
WARNING
Non-combusted fuel can collect in the
exhaust system and ignite. There is a risk of
fire. Avoid repeated and lengthy starting
attempts.
Do not use a rapid charging device to start
the vehicle. If your vehicle's battery is
discharged, the engine can be jump-started
from another vehicle or from a donor battery
using jumper cables. For this purpose, the
vehicle has a jump-starting connection point
in the engine compartment.
The additional battery in the engine
compartmenti s not suitable for jump-starting
operations. If your vehicle requires jump-
starting, or if you use it to jump-start another
vehicle, use the jump-starting connection
point in the engine compartment.
When jump-starting, observe the following
points:
R The battery is not accessible in all vehicles.
If the other vehicle's battery is not accessible, jump-start the vehicle using a
donor battery or a jump-starting device.
R Do not start the engine if the battery is
frozen. Let the battery thaw first.
R Jump-starting may only be performed from
batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V.
R Only use jumper cables that have a
sufficient cross-section and insulated
terminal clamps.
R If the battery is fully discharged, attach the
battery of another vehicle for a few minutes
before attempting to start. This charges the
empty battery a little.
R Make sure that the two vehicles do not
touch.
Make sure that:
R the jumper cables are not damaged.
R bare parts of the terminal clamps do not
come into contact with other metal parts
while the jumper cables are connected to
the battery.
R the jumper cables cannot come into
contact with parts such as the V-belt pulley
or the fan. These parts move when the
engine is started and while it is running.
i Jumper cables and further information
regarding jump starting can be obtained at
any qualified specialist workshop. Before connecting the jumper cables
On vehicles with a battery main switch, check
whether the battery main switch is switched
on (Y page 132).
X Apply the parking brake.
X Move the selector lever of the automatic
transmission to position P.
X Switch off all electrical consumers, e.g.
audio equipment, blower.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock and remove it (Y page 133).
X Open the hood (Y page 240). Jump-starting
267Breakdown assistance Z