
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 219).
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 285). 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 five minutes, switch off
the engine again and allow it to cool down.
XCheck the coolant level again and add coolant
if necessa ry.
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 278).
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 two years at
a qualified specialist workshop. Observe the
information on brake fluid in the "Technical
data" section (
Ypage 284).
Check the brake fluid level regularly, e.g. weekly
or when refueling.
224Engine compartment
Maintenance and care

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 27).
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 29).
Service interval display
General notes
A service that is due is displayed in the service
interval display about one 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 ten
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.
Maintenance227
Maintenance and care
Z

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 14.5 ‡ (8 †). ULTRA-
LOW SULFUR DIESEL can be used without risk
of malfunction down to an outside temperature
of approximately 14 ‡ (Ò10 †).
Fuel additives
!Do not add gasoline or kerosene to diesel
fuel to improve its flow characteristics. Gas-
oline or kerosene impairs the lubricating
properties of the diesel fuel. This can result in
damage to the fuel injection system, for
example.
B20 fuels with bio-diesel content
!Continuous use of fuels with bio-diesel con-
tent over 5% (B20 fuels) can lead to fuel filter
clogging. Deposits may also form on the fuel
injector. This may reduce the engine output.
Unburned fuel can get into the oil pan. This
causes the engine oil level to rise. This can
cause engine mechanical damage.
To avoid damages and performance degrada-
tion, observe the following points:
RFill up with fuels with bio-diesel content of
5% (ULSD) or less, whenever possible.
RRegularly monitor your engine oil level if
you use B20 fuels on a regular basis.
RStrictly follow the oil change intervals quo-
ted in the instrument cluster and within
your maintenance booklet.
RUse only engine oils and filters approved for
use in your vehicle.
RIf you do not plan to drive your vehicle for
several weeks, completely fill the fuel tank
in advance with ULSD fuel.
For more information, consult the gas station
staff. The identification of fuels with bio-diesel
content (ULSD or B20) must be clear. If the
marking does not make this clear, do not refuel
from that pump.
Do not refuel with any fuels that have not been
approved for your vehicle.
For more information about refueling
(
Ypage 127).
Information on fuel consumption
HEnvironmental note
CO
2(carbon dioxide) is the gas which scien-
tists believe to be principally responsible for
global warming (the greenhouse effect). Your
vehicle's CO
2emissions are directly related to
fuel consumption and therefore depend on:
Refficient use of the fuel by the engine
Rdriving style
Rother non-technical factors, such as envi-
ronmental influences, road conditions or
traffic flow
You can minimize your vehicle's CO
2emis-
sions by driving carefully and having it serv-
iced regularly.
Fuel consumption depends on:
Rthe vehicle version
Rthe style of driving
Rthe operating conditions
Rthe type or quality of the fuel used
The vehicle will use more fuel than usual in the
following situations:
Rat very low outside temperatures
Rin city traffic
Rduring short journeys
Ron mountainous terrain
Rwhen towing a trailer
To keep fuel consumption low, observe the
advice in the "Protection of the environment"
section (
Ypage 25).
The following components of the different vehi-
cle versions influence fuel consumption:
Rtire sizes, tire tread, tire pressure, tire condi-
tion
Rbody
Rtransmission ratios for the drive assemblies
Radditional equipment (e.g. air-conditioning
system, auxiliary heating system)
For these reasons, the actual consumption fig-
ures for your vehicle may deviate from the con-
sumption figures determined according to EU
Directive 80/1268/EE C.
Data concerning fuel consumption are recorded in the on-board computer; use the steering
280Service products and capacities
Technical data

Engine oil SAE classification
Viscosity indicates the flow characteristics of a
fluid. If an engine oil has a high viscosity, this
means that it is thick; a low viscosity means thatit is thin.
Depending on the respective outside tempera-
tures, select an engine oil according to SAE
classification (viscosity). The table displays the
SAE classification to be used. The low temper-
ature characteristics of engine oils can notice-
ably deteriorate during operation, e.g. from
aging, soot and fuel accretion. For this reason,
regular oil changes using an approved engine oil
from the suitable SAE classification are urgently
recommended.
Additives
!Do not use any additives in the engine oil.
This could damage the engine.
Miscibility of engine oils
!Mixing oils reduces the benefits of using
high grade engine oils.
We recommend that you only add engine oil of
the same quality grade and SAE class as used
when the engine oil was last changed.
If, in exceptional cases, oil of the type in the
engine is not available, top up using another
approved mineral or synthetic engine oil.
If the quality grade is not available for diesel
engines, you may also add engine oils meeting
the requirements in MB Sheet Number 228.5,
229.3 or 229.5. The quantity to be added is then
limited to a maximum of 1 qt (1 l).
Engine oils are differentiated according to:
Rengine oil brand
Rquality grade (sheet number)
RSAE class (viscosity) Subsequently have the engine oil changed at the
earliest possible opportunity.
Interval for oil change
The on-board computer automatically shows
the date for the next oil change as an event
message in the display.
Only by using engine oil with a particularly high
quality grade, e.g. according to Sheet Number
228.51 of the Mercedes-Benz Specifications for
Service Products, can the maximum interval for
oil change be achieved.
We recommend having the oil changed at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Engine oil for diesel engines
Product name/number
See the Maintenance Booklet.
MB Sheet Number 228.51, 229.31, 229.51,
229.52
Capacities
!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.
Oil change including oil filter
VehiclesEngine oil
4-cylinderApproximately
3 US gal (11.5 l)
6-cylinderApproximately
3.3 US gal (12.5 l)
Information about oil consumption
!If the vehicle is predominantly used for
short-distance driving, this could lead to a
malfunction in the automatic cleaning func-
tion for the diesel particle filter. As a result,
fuel may accumulate in the engine oil and
cause engine failure.
Therefore, if you mainly drive short distances,
you should drive on a highway or on rural
roads for 20 minutes every 310 miles
(500 km). This ensures sufficient regenera-
tion of the diesel particle filter.
Service products and capacities283
Technical data
Z

Depending on the driving style, the vehicle con-
sumes a maximum of 1.0 qt (1.0l)of engine oil
over a distance of 620 miles (1000 km).
Oil consumption may be higher if:
RThe vehicle is new.
RYou mainly operate the vehicle under arduous
operating conditions.
RYou frequently drive at high engine speeds.
Regular maintenance is one of the preconditions
for moderate rates of consumption.
You can only estimate the oil consumption after
you have driven a considerable distance.
Check the engine oil level on a regular basis, e.g.
weekly or each time you refuel (
Ypage 221).
Transmission and power steering oil
Automatic transmission
Service product: automatic transmission
fluid
Product name/numberMaintenance interval
Shell ATF 3403/M-115
MB Sheet No. 236.10—
Fuchs/Shell ATF 3353
MB Sheet No. 236.12
Further information can be obtained at any
qualified specialist workshop.
Rear axle
Service product: transmission oil
Product name/numberMaintenanceinterval
BP Energear Hypo DC
80W-90
MB Sheet No. 235.20—
Mobil Delvac Synthetic
Gear Oil 75W-90
MB Sheet No. 235.8
Further information can be obtained at any
qualified specialist workshop.
Steering
Service product: power steering fluid
Product name/numberMaintenanceinterval
Mobil ATF‑D,
Exxon Mobil Corporation
or equivalent
MB Sheet No. 236.3—
The steering is maintenance-free. Further infor-
mation can be obtained at any qualified special-
ist workshop.
Brake fluid
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.
When handling, storing and disposing of brake
fluid, please observe the relevant regulations
and the important safety notes for service prod-
ucts.
Over a period of time, the brake fluid absorbs
moisture from the air. This reduces its boiling
point.
Have the brake fluid replaced at specified inter-
vals by a qualified specialist workshop.
iThere is usually a notice in the engine com-
partment to remind you when the next brake
fluid change is due.
Only use brake fluid approved by Mercedes-
Benz in accordance with MB-Freigabe or MB-
Approval 331.0.
284Service products and capacities
Technical data

Refrigerant
The air-conditioning system uses the refrigerant
R‑134a. This refrigerant does not damage the
ozone layer.
Product name/numberMaintenance interval
Refrigerant R ‑134a
MB Sheet No. 361.0—
More information can be obtained at any quali-
fied specialist workshop.
Refrigerant warning label (example)
:
Warning symbols
;Refrigerant capacity
=Applicable standards
?Part number PAG oil
AType of refrigerant
Warning symbols :refer to:
Rpossible dangers
Rthe implementation of maintenance work at a
qualified specialist workshop
Washer fluid
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Windshield washer concentrate could ignite if it comes into contact with hot engine compo-
nents or the exhaust system. There is a risk of
fire and injury.
Make sure that no windshield 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 dam-
age the plastic lenses of the headlamps.
When handling washer fluid, observe the impor-
tant safety notes on service products
(
Ypage 278).
Mixing ratio
Add windshield washer concentrate to the
washer fluid all year round. Adapt the mixing
ratio to the ambient temperature.
At temperatures above freezing:
XFill up the washer fluid reservoir with a mix-
ture of water and windshield washer concen-
trate, e.g. Summerwash to prevent smearing.
At temperatures below freezing:
XFill up the washer fluid reservoir with a mix-
ture of water and windshield washer concen-
trate, e.g. Winterwash if there is a danger of
frost.
This prevents washer fluid from freezing on
the windshield.
Capacities
Windshield washer system with/without
headlamp cleaning system
Washer fluidApprox. 6.3 qt (6.0 l)
Vehicle data
General notes
The following section contains important tech-
nical data for your vehicle. Your vehicle regis-
tration documents contain vehicle-specific and
equipment-dependent technical data such as
vehicle dimensions and vehicle weights.
286Vehicle data
Technical data