
XInsert oil dipstick:back into the guide tube
as far as it will go and remove it again.
If the level is between minimum mark =and
maximum mark ;, the oil level is correct.
XIf the oil level has dropped to or below mini-
mum mark=, open cap ?and add engine oil
(
Ypage 222).
The difference in quantity between marks ;
and =is approximately 2 qt (2 l).
XInsert the oil dipstick into the guide tube as far
as it will go.
XClose the hood (Ypage 219).
OM651 4-cylinder diesel engine:
At outside temperatures between 32 ‡ (–0 †)
and 86 ‡ (30 †), the oil level can be checked
when the engine is cold.
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
XAdd engine oil (Ypage 222)
or
XHave engine oil siphoned off.
Adding engine oil
GWARNING
If engine oil comes into contact with hot com- ponents 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 com-
ponents before starting the engine.
!The alternator is located below the engine
oil filler neck. If engine oil spills onto the alter-
nator, there is a danger of alternator damage.
Be very careful when adding engine oil.
HEnvironmental 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.
XOpen the hood (Ypage 218).
XUnscrew and remove cap ?.
XAdd engine oil.
XReplace cap?on the filler neck and tighten.
When doing so, make sure that the cap
engages correctly.
XCheck the oil level with the oil dipstick
(Ypage 221) or on the display (Ypage 220).
XClose the hood.
Coolant
GWARNING
The engine cooling system is pressurized, par-
ticularly 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 cool-
ant if the vehicle is on a level surface and the
engine has cooled down. The coolant tempera-
ture must be below 122 ‡ (50 †).
!Check the engine cooling and heating sys-
tem regularly for leaks.
If a large quantity of coolant is lost, have the
cause traced and rectified at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
GWARNING
If antifreeze comes into contact with hot com- ponents in the engine compartment, it may
ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Let the engine cool down before you add anti-
freeze. Make sure that antifreeze is not spilled
next to the filler neck. Thoroughly 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.
222Engine compartment
Maintenance and care

Example: cap and coolant expansion tank
Checking the coolant level
XStop your vehicle as far away from traffic as
possible on level ground.
XSwitch off the engine.
XSecure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
XOpen the hood (Ypage 218).
XSlowly turn cap:half a turn counter-clock-
wise to allow excess pressure to escape.
XTurn cap :further and remove it.
XCheck the coolant level.
If the coolant reaches the maximum mark on
coolant expansion tank ;, there is enough
coolant in coolant expansion tank ;.
Adding coolant
XIf the coolant drops under the minimum mark
on coolant expansion tank ;, add coolant to
the maximum mark.
Observe the information on coolant mixture
ratio and water quality in the "Technical data"
section (
Ypage 283). To prevent damage to
the engine cooling system, use only approved
corrosion inhibitor and antifreeze that com-
plies with the Mercedes-Benz Specifications
for Service Products.
XReplace cap :and turn it clockwise to
tighten.
XStart the engine.
XAfter approximately 5 minutes, switch off the
engine and allow it to cool down.
XCheck the coolant level again and add coolant
if necessary.
XClose the hood.
Brake fluid
GWARNING
Service products may be poisonous and haz-
ardous to health. There is a risk of injury.
Comply with instructions on the use, storage
and disposal of service products on the labels
of the respective original containers. Always
store service products sealed in their original
containers. Always keep service products out
of the reach of children.
Brake fluid is hazardous to health. Also observe
the safety notes in the "Service products and
capacities" section (
Ypage 277).
GWARNING
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, vapor pockets 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.
!Brake fluid corrodes paint, plastic and rub-
ber. If paint, plastic or rubber has come into
contact with brake fluid, rinse with water
immediately.
Have the brake fluid renewed every 2 year sat a
qualified specialist workshop. Observe the infor- mation on brake fluid in the "Technical data"
section (
Ypage 283).
Check the brake fluid level regularly, e.g. weekly
or when refueling.
Engine compartment223
Maintenance and care
Z

If the: indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes on, drain fuel filter with water sep-
arator =immediately.
iWe recommend that you have this mainte-
nance work carried out at a qualified special- ist workshop.
XPark the vehicle safely and secure it from roll-
ing away.
XSwitch off the auxiliary heating system .
XSwitch off the engine.
XOpen the hood (Ypage 218).
XPlace a suitable receptacle under drain
hose :.
XTurn the key to position 2in the ignition lock.
XOpen drain plug ;immediately until the
water/fuel mixture flows out of drain hose :.
XScrew in drain plug;as soon as approx-
imately 0.2 qt (0.2 l)of the water/fuel mixture
has been collected.
The electrical fuel pump automatically halts
the flow of the water/fuel mixture after
30 seconds.
XAfter draining, turn the key back to position 0
in the ignition lock.
XDispose of the collected water/fuel mixture
in an environmentally responsible manner,
e.g. at a qualified specialist workshop.
XCheck drain plug ;. The drain plug must be
closed.
When the engine is running and drain hose ;
is open, fuel is lost through drain hose :.
XClose the hood (Ypage 219).
If the : indicator lamp does not go out after
draining:
XDrain the fuel filter again.
XIf the : indicator lamp does not go out
after draining for the second time, have the
cause checked immediately at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Vehicle interior
Air filter for the rear-compartment air
conditioning
!
Regularly check the air filters for visible dirt.
Clean or replace a dirty filter mat. The dirt may
otherwise lead to damage to the air-condi-
tioning 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-compartment air con-
ditioning when you drive on dusty or sandy
roads.
XTo remove the filter mat: carefully pry
cover :out of recesses ;and remove.
XRemove the filter mat from the air duct.
XTo clean the filter mat: wash the dirty filter
mat with clear water.
XLeave the filter mat to dry.
iThe filter mat must not be cleaned or dried in
a machine.
XTo install the filter mat: insert the filter mat
into the air duct.
XReplace and engage cover :.
Maintenance
General notes
HEnvironmental note
Observe measures to protect the environ-
ment when working on the vehicle. You must
observe the legal requirements when dispos-
ing of service products, e.g. engine oil. This
also includes all components, e.g. filters,
which have come into contact with 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 instruc-
tions for use of the care products.
Maintenance225
Maintenance and care
Z

Do not run the engine for longer than neces-
sary when the vehicle is stationary.
Before having maintenance and repairs per-
formed, it is essential to read the materials rela-
ted to the maintenance and repairs:
Rthe applicable sections of the technical doc-
umentation, e.g. the Operator's Manual and
workshop information.
Rregulations such as industrial safety regula-
tions and accident prevention regulations.
While working under the vehicle, you must
secure the vehicle on jack stands with sufficient load capacity.
Never use the jack as a substitute. 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 (
Ypage 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 Maintenance Booklet describes the scope and fre que
ncy of maintenance work and
contains additional notes on the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty and on service products.
Maintenance services must be carried out in
accordance with the provisions and recommen-
dations in the Maintenance Booklet. Not doing
so could void the warranty claim and lead to
refusal of goodwill gestures after the manufac-
turer has submitted a damage report.
iObserve the notes on genuine Sprinter parts
(Ypage 28).
Service interval display
General notes
A service that is due is displayed in the service
interval display about 1 month in advance. A
message is then displayed while the vehicle is in
motion or when the ignition is switched on.
iThe service interval display does not provide
information about the engine oil level. The service interval display should therefore not
be confused with the
5engine oil level
display.
The service due date is displayed in days or
miles (kilometers), depending on the total dis-
tance driven.
The symbols or letters on the service display
show the type of service that is due.
¯ orA
for a minor service
° orB
for a major service
Service due date display
Vehicles with steering wheel buttons: the
following messages may be displayed.
R¯ Service A due in ... days
R¯Service A due in ... mi(km)
R¯ Service A Carry out now
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons:
the following messages may be displayed.
R¯for service A
R°for Service B
Additionally, you will see the remaining distance
in miles ( mi
) or kilometers ( km) or the remaining
time in days ( d).
Service due date has been exceeded
Vehicles with steering wheel buttons: if you
have missed the service due date, one of the
following messages appears in the display and
warning tone also sounds.
R¯ Service A overdue by ... days
R¯Service A overdue by ... km(km)
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons: if
you have missed the service due date, the ¯
or ° symbol for the service flashes for
10 seconds after the ignition is switched on. A
minus sign also appears in front of the service
due date.
Calling up the service due date
XTurn the key to position 2in the ignition lock.
The display is activated.
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons
XPress the 4menu button on the instrument
cluster repeatedly until the ¯or°
symbol for the service appears in the display.
226Maintenance
Maintenance and care

tional tires, an arrow on the sidewall shows the
prescribed direction of rotation of the tire.
Twin rear tires:if the tires are of identical
dimensions, you can rotate the wheels on the
front axle and the inner wheels on the rear axle
in pairs such that the original direction of tire
rotation is retained. With unidirectional tires,
you may rotate the outside wheels at the rear
axle from one side to the other.
Direction of rotation
Tires with a specified direction of rotation have
additional benefits, e.g. if there is a risk of hydro-
planing. You will only gain these benefits if the
correct direction of rotation is observed.
An arrow on the sidewall of the tire indicates its
correct direction of rotation.
You may mount a spare wheel against the direc-
tion of rotation. Observe the time restriction on
use as well as the speed limitation specified on
the spare wheel.
Storing wheels
Store wheels that are not being used in a cool,
dry and preferably dark place. Protect the tires
from contact with oil, grease and fuel.
Mounting a wheel
Vehicle preparation
XStop the vehicle as far away as possible from
traffic and on a level, firm and non-slip sur-
face.
XIf your vehicle poses a risk to approaching
traffic, switch on the hazard warning lamps.
XApply the parking brake.
XTurn the front wheels to the straight-ahead
position.
XMove the selector lever of the automatic
transmission to position P.
XSwitch off the engine.
XPassengers should leave the vehicle. Make
sure that the passengers are not endangered
as they do so.
XMake sure that no one is near the danger area
while the wheel is being changed. Anyone
who is not directly assisting in the wheel change should, for example, stand behind the
barrier.
XPlace the warning triangle or warning lamp at
a suitable distance.
Observe legal requirements.
XSecure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
iObserve the safety notes on parking in the
section on "Driving and parking"
(
Ypage 130).
XOn level terrain: place chocks or other suit-
able objects under the front and rear of the
wheel that is diagonally opposite the wheel to
be changed.
XOn slight inclines: place chocks or other
suitabl e objects under the wheels on the front
and rear axles opposite the wheel to be
changed.
XTake the vehicle tool kit and the jack from the
footwell on the front-passenger side
(
Ypage 240).
XRemove the spare wheel from the spare wheel
bracket (Ypage 273). Observe the safety
notes in the "Spare wheel" section
(
Ypage 272).
XOn wheels with wheel bolts, remove the hub
caps.
XAssemble the lug wrench extension using the
middle rod and the rod with the largest diam-
eter from the three-piece jack pump lever.
XStarting with the middle rod, slide the lug
wrench extension as far as it will go onto the
lug wrench.
XUsing lug wrench :, loosen the wheel bolts/
wheel nuts on the wheel to be changed by
about one full turn. Do not unscrew the wheel bolts/nuts completely.
Changing wheels267
Wheels an d tires
Z

Identification plates
Vehicle identification plate with vehi-
cle identification number (VIN)
Vehicleidentification plat efor vehicles or chassi s
on th ebase of th edriver' sseat
XOpen th edriver’s door .
You will see vehicl eidentification plat e:
wit hth evehicl eidentification number (VIN),
th epain tcode and th epermissible weigh t
data.
Example: vehicl eidentification plat e(US vehicles)
Example: chassi sidentification plat e(US vehicles)
Example: chassi sidentification plat e(vehicles for
Canada)
;
VIN
=Pain tcode
Engin ecompartmen t
?
VIN (stampe don th erear wall of th eengin e
compartment)
AEngin enumber (stampe don th ecrankcase)
BEmission Control Information and engin e
oil10instruction labels
XOpen th ehoo d (Ypage 218).
Example: Emission Control Information label
10Alsoobserv eth enote son engin eoil for diesel engines in th e"Technical data" section.
276Identification plates
Technical data

iSuch data is vehicle-specific and may differ
from that shown. Always observe the specifi-
cations on your vehicle's identification plate.
Engine number
The engine number is stamped on the crank-
case. More information may be obtained at any
qualified specialist workshop.
Service products and capacities
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Service products may be poisonous and haz-
ardous to health. There is a risk of injury.
Comply with instructions on the use, storage
and disposal of service products on the labels
of the respective original containers. Always
store service products sealed in their original
containers. Always keep service products out
of the reach of children.
HEnvironmental note
Dispose of service products in an environ-
mentally responsible manner.
Service products include the following:
RFuels, e.g. diesel
RAdditives for the exhaust gas aftertreatment,
e.g. Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)
RLubricants, e.g. engine oil, transmission oil
RCoolant
RBrake fluid
RWasher fluid
RClimate control system refrigerants
Approved service products comply with the
highest quality standards and are listed in the
MB Specifications for Service Products. Only
use service products approved for the vehicle.
This is an important condition for the warranty.
You will recognize the approved service prod-
ucts by the inscription on the container: MB
Approval (e.g. MB Approval 228.5)
Other identifications and recommendations
refer to quality level or a specification according to an MB Sheet Number (e.g. MB 228.5). They
are therefore not necessarily approved.
Further information can be obtained at any
qualified specialist workshop.
Additives for approved service products are nei-
ther required nor permitted. Approved fuel addi- tives are the exception. Additives can cause
engine damage and must therefore not be
added to the service products.
The use of additives is always the responsibility
of the vehicle operator. The use of additives may
result in the restriction or loss of yo ur Li
mited
Warranty entitlements.
Fuel
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. Improper handling of
fuel creates a risk of fire and explosion.
Avoid fire, open flames, smoking and creating
sparks under all circumstances. Switch off the
engine and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating
before refueling.
GWARNING
Fuel is poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a risk of injury.
You must make sure that fuel does not come into contact with your skin, eyes or clothing
and that it is not swallowed. Do not inhale fuel
vapors. Keep fuel away from children.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
RWash away fuel from skin immediately
using soap and water.
RIf fuel comes into contact with your eyes,
immediately rinse them thoroughly with
clean water. Seek medical assistance with-
out delay.
RIf fuel is swallowed, seek medical assis-
tance without delay. Do not induce vomit-
ing.
RImmediately change out of clothing which
has come into contact with fuel.
Service products and capacities277
Technical data
Z

When handling, storing and disposing of fuels,
please observe the relevant regulations.
Tank contents
Depending on equipment, the total capacity of
the fuel tank may vary.
Vehicle typeTotal capa-cityof which
reserve fuel
2500
3500Approx-imately
26.4 US gal (100 l)Approx-
imately
5.0 US gal
(19 l)
All-wheel-
drive vehicleApprox-
imately
24.6 US gal (93 l)
Diesel
Fuel grade
GWARNING
If you mix diesel fuel with gasoline, the flash
point is lower than that of pure diesel fuel.
When the engine is running, exhaust system
components could overheat without being
noticed. There is a risk of fire.
Never refuel with gasoline. Never mix gasoline with diesel fuel.
!Filter the fuel before transferring it to the
vehicle if you are refueling the vehicle from
barrels or containers.
This will prevent malfunctions in the fuel sys-
tem due to contaminated fuel.
!You will damage the diesel engine if you do
not refuel with ULSD or a diesel fuel with a
sulfur content of more than 15 ppm.
!Do not use the following:
RMarine diesel
RHeating oil
RBio-diesel
RVegetable oil
RGasoline
RParaffin
RKerosene Do not mix such fuels with diesel fuel and do
not use any special additives. This can other-
wise lead to engine damage. This does not
include flow improver additives. For further
information, see "Flow improvers".
You will generally find information about the fuel
grade on the filling pump. If there is no identifi-
cation on the filling pump, consult a gas station
attendant.
For more information ab out re
fueling
(Ypage 127).
Diesel at very low outside temperatures
GWARNING
If you heat fuel system components, e.g. with
a hot-air gun or open flame, these compo-
nents could be damaged. This can cause fuel
to escape and ignite. Depending on the type
of damage, fuel may also not escape until the
engine is running. There is a risk of fire and
explosion.
Never heat fuel system components. Contact
a qualified specialist workshop to rectify the
malfunction.
Refill only with commercially available ULTRA-
LOW SULFUR DIESEL (ULSD, maximum sulfur
content 15 ppm), which fulfills the ASTM D975
standard.
The flow properties of diesel may be inadequate
at low outside temperatures due to paraffin sep-
aration.
iMalfunctions resulting from paraffin sepa-
ration can only be rectified by heating the
entire fuel system. Park the vehicle in a
heated garage, for example.
To prevent operating problems, diesel with bet-
ter flow qualities is available during the winter
months. You can obtain information at the gas
station or from your fuel supplier.
Your vehicle is equipped with a fuel preheating
system. This improves the flow properties of the
diesel by approximately 46 ‡ (8 †). ULTRA-
LOW SULFUR DIESEL can be used without ris k
o
f malfunction down to an outside temperature
of approximately 14 ‡ ( Ò10 †).
278Service products and capacities
Technical data