oil additives MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 1997 Complete User Guide

Contents
Opening / closing in an emergency .... 265
Sliding / pop-up roof* ................... 265
Replacing bulbs ................................. 266
Bulbs ............................................ 266
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 268
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps..... 270
Adjusting headlamp aim............... 272
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 273
Removing ..................................... 273
Installing ...................................... 273
Flat tire .............................................. 274
Mounting the spare wheel............ 274
Battery ............................................... 278
Disconnecting the battery ............ 279
Removing the batteries ................ 279
Charging and reinstalling
batteries....................................... 279
Reconnecting the batteries .......... 279
Jump starting ..................................... 281
Towing the vehicle ............................. 283
Front towing eye .......................... 285
Rear towing eye ........................... 285
Stranded vehicle .......................... 286Fuses .................................................. 287
Fuse box in engine
compartment ................................ 287
Auxiliary fuse box in front
passenger footwell........................ 288
Technical data.................................. 289
Spare parts service............................. 290
Warranty coverage ............................. 291
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 291
Identification labels ............................ 292
Layout of poly-V-belt drive .................. 293
Engine ................................................ 294
Rims and tires .................................... 295
Rims and tires ............................... 295
Spare wheel .................................. 296
Electrical system ................................ 297
Main Dimensions ................................ 298
Weights .............................................. 299Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc............ 300
Capacities ..................................... 300
Engine oils .................................... 302
Engine oil additives ....................... 302
Air conditioning refrigerant ........... 302
Brake fluid .................................... 302
Premium unleaded gasoline.......... 303
Fuel requirements......................... 303
Gasoline additives......................... 303
Coolants ....................................... 304
Anticorrosion / antifreeze.............. 305
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 307
Windshield and headlamp
washer fluid mixing ratio............... 307
Consumer information........................ 308
Uniform tire quality grading .......... 308
Temperature ................................. 309
Technical terms............................... 311Index................................................. 317

218 OperationEngine compartment
Closing
Let the hood drop from a height of ap-
proximately 1 ft (30 cm).
The hood will lock audibly.

Check to make sure the hood is fully
closed.
If you can raise the hood at a point
above the headlamps, then it is not
properly closed. Open it again and let it
drop with somewhat greater force.
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.
Warning!
G
If you see flames or smoke coming from the
engine compartment, or if the coolant tem-
perature gauge indicates that the engine is
overheated, do not open the hood. Move
away from vehicle and do not open the hood
until the engine has cooled. If necessary,
call the fire department.Warning!
G
The engine is equipped with a transistorized
ignition system. Because of the high voltage
it is dangerous to touch any components (ig-
nition coils, spark plug sockets, diagnostic
socket) of the ignition system

with the engine running


while starting the engine


if ignition is “on” and the engine is
turned manually
Warning!
G
Be careful that you do not close the hood on
anyone.!Do not push the hood closed manually,
as this could damage it.
iDo not use any special lubricant addi-
tives, as these may damage the drive
assemblies. Using special additives not
approved by Mercedes-Benz will
restrict your warranty entitlement.
More information on this subject is
available at any Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.


302 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants etc.Engine oils
Engine oils are specifically tested for their
suitability in our engines. Therefore, use
only engine oils approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Information on approved
engine oils is available in the Factory
Approved Service Products pamphlet, or at
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Engine oil additives
Do not blend oil additives with engine oil.
They may damage the engine.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from
blending oil additives are not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Air conditioning refrigerant
R-134a (HFC) refrigerant and special PAG
lubricating oil is used in the air condition-
ing system.
Never use R-12 (CFC) or mineral-based lu-
bricating oil. Otherwise damage to the
system will occur.
Brake fluid
During vehicle operation, the boiling point
of the brake fluid is continuously reduced
through the absorption of moisture from
the atmosphere. Under extremely strenu-
ous operating conditions, this moisture
content can lead to the formation of bub-
bles in the system, thus reducing the sys-
tem’s efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be re-
placed every two years, preferably in the
spring.
Only brake fluid approved by
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center will provide you with additional in-
formation.
!Always check the oil filler cap
(page 221) for important information
pertaining to the engine oil needing to
meet a specific Mercedes-Benz specifi-
cation (e.g. MB 229.5). If such informa-
tion is printed on the oil filler cap, only
use an engine oil from the list of ap-
proved engine oils in the Factory Ap-
proved Service Products pamphlet that
meets the specification indicated on
the oil filler cap.
Using engine oils of other specification
may cause the FSS to incorrectly deter-
mine the next service interval and will
result in engine damage not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

303 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel requirements
Use only premium unleaded meeting
ASTM standard D 439:

The octane number (posted at the
p um p) m us t be 91 mi n. It i s an a vera ge
of both the Research (R) octane num-
ber and the Motor (M) octane number:
(R+M) / 2). This is also known as the
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
Unleaded gasoline containing oxygenates
such as ethanol, IPA, IBA and TBA can be
used provided the ratio of any one of these
oxygenates to gasoline does not exceed
10%; MTBE must not exceed 15%.
The ratio of methanol to gasoline must not
exceed 3% plus additional cosolvents.
Using mixtures of ethanol and methanol is
not allowed. Gasohol, which contains 10%
ethanol and 90% unleaded gasoline, can be
used.
These blends must also meet all other fuel
requirements, such as resistance to spark
knock, boiling range, vapor pressure, etc.
Gasoline additives
A major concern among engine manufac-
turers is carbon build-up caused by gaso-
line. Mercedes-Benz recommends only the
use of quality gasoline containing additives
that prevent the build-up of carbon depos-
its.
After an extended period of using fuels
without such additives, carbon deposits
can build up especially on the intake valves
and in the combustion area, leading to en-
gine performance problems such as:

Warm-up hesitation


Unstable idle


Knocking / pinging


Misfire


Power loss
Do not blend other specific fuel additives
with fuel. This only results in unnecessary
costs and may be harmful to the engine
operation.
!To maintain the engine’s durability and
performance, premium unleaded gaso-
l i n e m u s t b e u s e d . I f p r e m i u m u n l e a d e d
is not available and low octane fuel is
used, follow these precautions:

Have the fuel tank only partially
filled with unleaded regular and fill
up with premium unleaded as soon
as possible.


Avoid full throttle driving and abrupt
acceleration.


Do not exceed an engine speed of
3000 rpm if the vehicle is loaded
with a light load such as two per-
sons and no luggage.


Do not exceed
2/3 of maximum ac-
celerator pedal position if the vehi-
cle is fully loaded or operating in
mountainous terrain.

304 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants etc.Damage or malfunctions resulting from
poor fuel quality or from blending specific
fuel additives are not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Coolants
The engine coolant is a mixture of water
and anticorrosion / antifreeze, which pro-
vides:

Corrosion protection


Freeze protection


Boiling protection (by increasing the
boiling point)
The cooling system was filled at the factory
with a coolant providing freeze protection
to approximately -35°F (-37°C) and corro-
sion protection.
If the antifreeze mixture is effective to
-22°F (-30°C), the boiling point of the cool-
ant in the pressurized cooling system is
reached at approximately 266°F (130°C).The coolant solution must be used year
round to provide the necessary corrosion
protection and increase in boil-over pro-
tection. Refer to Service Booklet for
replacement interval.
To provide important corrosion protection,
the solution must be at least 45%
anticorrosion / antifreeze (equivalent to
freeze protection to approx. - 22°F
[-30°C]). If you use a solution that is more
than 55% anticorrosion / antifreeze (freeze
protection to approx. - 49°F [-45°C]), the
engine temperature will increase due to
the lower heat transfer capability of the so-
lution. Therefore, do not use more than
this amount of anticorrosion / antifreeze.If the coolant level is low, water and MB
anticorrosion / antifreeze should be used
to bring it up to the proper level (have cool-
ing system checked for signs of leakage).
Please make sure the mixture is in accor-
dance with label instructions.
The water in the cooling system must meet
minimum requirements, which are usually
satisfied by normal drinking water. If you
are not sure about the water quality, con-
sult your authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.

324 IndexEmergency calls
Initiating an emergency call 175
With Tele Aid* 173
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) 124
Emergency operations
Closing sliding/pop-up roof* 265
Locking the vehicle 262
Opening sliding/pop-up roof* 265
Remote door unlock 179
Unlocking the vehicle 261
Emergency tensioning device see
ETD 67, 312
Emission control 212
Emission control label 292
Engine
Starting 46
Technical data 294
Turning off 54
Engine cleaning 236Engine compartment
Fuse box in 287
Hood 217
Engine malfunction indicator lamp 25,
248
Engine number 311
Engine oil 218, 302
Adding 221
Additives 302
Checking level 218
Consumption 218
Messages in display 219
Oil dipstick 221
Viscosity 312
Enlarged cargo area 99
Error
Display messages 256ESP 25, 80, 312
LOW RANGE mode 81
Malfunction indicator lamp 245, 246,
247
Switching off 81
Switching on 82
Synchronizing 246
Warning lamp 245, 246, 247, 251
ETD 312
Safety guidelines 62
ETD (Emergency tensioning device) 67
Exterior mirrors
Folding 128
Exterior rear view mirrors 40
Adjusting 40
Folding electrically 128

337 Index
Sun visor 132
Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) 314
Switching off
Automatic climate control 137
ESP 81
Hazard warning flasher 112
Headlamps 54
Rapid seat heating 99
Transmission control – LOW RANGE
mode 125
Switching on
Automatic climate control 137
ESP 82
Front fog lamps 111
Front fog lamps, rear fog lamp 111
Hazard warning flasher 112
Headlamps 48
High beams 110
Rapid seat heating* 98
Seat heating* 98
Transmission control – LOW RANGE
mode 125
Trip computer* 186
Windshield wipers 49Synchronizing
ESP 246
Power windows 146
Remote control 263
Sliding/pop-up roof* 149
T
Tachometer 26, 118
Displaying gear range 121
Tail lamps 270
Cleaning 236
Replacing bulbs 267Tar stains 235
Technical data 302
Brake fluid 302
Coolants 304
Electrical system 297
Engine 294
Engine oil 302
Engine oil additives 302
Fuel requirements 303
Gasoline additives 303
Main dimensions 298
Premium unleaded gasoline 303
Rims and tires 295
Weights 299
Windshield and headlamp washer
system 307
Tele Aid System* 315

1. Hypoid gear oils
Hypoid gear oils contain a high level of EP/AW additives (Extreme Pressure/Antiwear) and a highly
viscous base oil to prevent seizure when the hypoid gears mesh (mixed and boundary friction conditions)
and to ensure a high degree of protection against wear. The compatibility with radial shaft seals is
regarded as critical with such high concentrations of additives because the P/S additive systems become
thermally unstable at temperatures from 130°C to 140°C and this may lead to sludging of the hypoid oil.
The resultant deposits on the radial shaft seals then generally lead to thermal overload and this in turn
leads to leakage in this component.
The tooth engagement conditions of the hypoid gears result in a high proportion of sliding and a low
hydrodynamic proportion of tooth engagement between the pinion and ring gear. Due to the high
tribological load compared to adhesive wear (seizure) and pitting, the performance of hypoid gear oils
must be particularly high with respect to these types of wear. The formula of the oils is therefore
determined by a high concentration of EP/AW additives and a highly viscous base oil. Alternative oils,
e.g. engine oils, cannot be used for these drive types. Proof of performance that an oil fulfills the
requirements of DaimlerChrysler AG is provided by internal tests. However, the hypoid gear oils must at
least correspond to the US military specification MIL-L-2105 B/C/D and must be classed GL-5 in the
quality grade according to API (American Institute of Petroleum).
1.7 Viscosity requirements
The cold flow behavior is only specified for SAE, ... oils. Here, the limits apply according to SAE J 306
c, according to which the dynamic viscosity may be max. 150,000 mPas at -40°C for oils and at -12°C for
oils. As a result of the tendency to form deposits in the transmission, the polymer content is limited to
max.
1 percent by weight for pour point reducers. Polymers as VI improvers for thickening low-viscosity base
oils are not permitted. The kinematic viscosity at 100°C must be at least 16.5 mm
2 /s.
2. Transmission oils, sheet 235.1
The additive and viscosity properties of the transmission oils are adjusted so that they meet all the
requirements placed on manual transmissions with steel/molybdenum synchronization, spur gear axles,
MB and ZF transfer cases and reversing gears. Among other things, this results in the fact that the oils
ensure a defined friction coefficient of the synchronizer elements, even after a high number of shift
operations, without crunching noises.
With gear drives and roller bearings, the adhesive wear (seizure) and pitting in particular should be
minimized as far as possible.
2.1 Viscosity requirements
The cold flow behavior is only specified for SAE, 80W, ...oils. Here, the limits according to SAE J 306 c
apply, according to which the dynamic viscosity may be max. 150,000 mPas at -40°C for oils, at -26°C
for oils and at -12°C for oils. Due to the formation of deposits in the transmission, the polymer content is
limited to max. 1 percent b
y weight for pour point reducers. Polymers as VI improvers for thickening

2004 Mercedes-Benz ML350
1998-2005 GENINFO Overall vehicle - 163 Chassis
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Saturday, October 02, 2010 3:47:56 PMPage 501 © 2006 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

etc. of these coolant specifications also apply. It is imperative that the correct concentration (50/50) is
used in their application and, of course, further dilution is not permitted!
Approval status:
Coolants for all vehicle and engines (Basis 325.0) Sheet 326.0
Coolants for commercial vehicle and industrial engines (Basis 325.2) Sheet 326.2
Coolants for commercial vehicle and industrial engines (Basis 325.3) Sheet 326.3
The regulations for each respective Sheet 325.x are to be transferred correspondingly to Sheet
326.x.
At the time of compiling these regulations it is possible that not all the Sheets 326.x are represented with
approved products.
2.Coolant additives (General information)
Normally, coolant consists of water and anticorrosion/antifreeze agents. The anticorrosion/antifreeze
agents (ethylene glycol with corrosions inhibitors) in the cooling system have to fulfill, among other
things, the following functions:
ï‚¡to provide sufficient corrosion and cavitation protection for all cooling system components
ï‚¡freezing point depression (antifreeze)
ï‚¡increasing boiling point
For corrosion protection purposes the coolant
approx. 50 vol.-% Anticorrosion/antifreeze agents are added if the expected ambient temperatures do not
require an even higher concentration. This concentration (50 vol %) offers frost protection up to approx. -
37°C. A higher concentration is only necessary if the ambient temperatures are even lower.
Even with extremely low ambient temperatures, not more than 55 vol.-% anticorrosion/antifreeze agent
should be used, because at this level the maximum antifreeze protection is reached and a greater
concentration reduces the antifreeze protection again and decreases the heat dissipation (55 vol.-%
corresponds to antifreeze protection down to approx. -45°C).
Should these coolant regulations fail to be observed then corrosion and damage to the cooling
system are inevitable.
The admixture of anticorrosion/antifreeze agent serves to increase the boiling point. By raising the
pressure the boiling temperature can be increased yet further. Both physical relationships are put to use in
modern cooling systems - the maximum coolant temperature is raised, without increasing the danger of
boiling. In keeping with the higher temperature level the cooling performance is also greater. Only
approved products (Sheet 325.0/326.0 or 325.2 or 326.2, 325.3 or 326.3 as well as 312.0 or 311.0)

2004 Mercedes-Benz ML350
1998-2005 GENINFO Overall vehicle - 163 Chassis
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Saturday, October 02, 2010 3:47:57 PMPage 523 © 2006 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.

provide reliable cooling system protection. In special cases (commercial-vehicle engines, no antifreeze
specification) coolant additives can be used that are primarily corrosion protection additives. In this case
item 2.3 is valid.
As an exception, if neither anticorrosion/antifreeze agent conforming to Sheet 325.0 nor coolant additives
without addition of antifreeze conforming to Sheet 312.0 are available, proceed according to point 2.4
(exception: OM 500 and OM 900). The systems described under items 2.2/2.3/2.4 are not compatible
with each other. It is recommended to mix the entire coolant quantity outside the engine.
2.1 Anticorrosion/antifreeze agent for passenger-car engines
Alongside the correct constitution of the cooling water (point 1.2.2), care must be taken to ensure that
only anticorrosion/antifreeze agents as approved for all engines in accordance with Sheet 325.0 are used.
These products serve to guarantee that, in particular, an effective protection against corrosion is provided
for all light-alloy parts in the cooling system and they are also specified for all passenger-car engines.
In order to ensure that the protection against corrosion is effective, the anticorrosion/antifreeze agent must
remain in the cooling system throughout the year - including when in tropical climates - and regardless of
the operating conditions. In countries with high outside temperatures this is also important in terms of
raising the boiling point.
In the event that these regulations are not observed the cooling system may suffer from damage by
corrosion. As a consequence of corrosion deposits there is a danger that ducts in the radiators (engine
overheating) and heat exchangers (poor heat output) get plugged up thus causing damage to the engine.
As a result of the optimizations we have carried out on the system of engine/coolant/cooling system, in
the majority of our newer passenger cars, a replacement of coolant is not necessary until reaching 15
operating years or 250,000 km (whichever comes first). This may not apply to some models; in these
cases the maintenance booklet will stipulate another regulation.
2.2 Anticorrosion/antifreeze agent for commercial-vehicle engines (normal case)
(not: BR 600, BR 100 and BR 200)
The coolant in commercial-vehicle engines is made up of both water and anticorrosion/antifreeze agent
(refer to item 1.1.1) and as such offers ideal protection against corrosion and cavitation.
All the approved products on the Sheets 325.2, 325.3 or 325.0 which are part of the Specifications for
Operating Fluids can be used to select an anticorrosion/antifreeze agent. However, it should be noted that
passenger vehicle engines built into commercial vehicles must be filled like passenger vehicles (e.g. OM
601 in T1), i.e. a product conforming to Sheet 325.0 and 326.0 must be used.
Products that are not listed in Sheets 325.0 and 326.0, or 325.2 and 326.2, or 325.3 and 326.3 are not
approved and are therefore not to be used under any circumstances.
Anticorrosion/antifreeze agents or coolants conforming to Sheet 325.3 or 326.3 may be used for
longer than other products due to their composition. The change interval is set at 5 years (refer to

2004 Mercedes-Benz ML350
1998-2005 GENINFO Overall vehicle - 163 Chassis
me
Saturday, October 02, 2010 3:47:57 PMPage 524 © 2006 Mitchell Repair Information Company, LLC.