Engine oil MERCEDES-BENZ C240 2001 W203 Owner's Guide

357 Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. - capacities
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Engine oils are specifically tested for their suitability in
our engines. Therefore, use only engine oils
recommended by Mercedes-Benz. Information on
recommended brands is available at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Please follow Service Booklet recommendations for
scheduled oil changes. Failure to do so could result in
engine damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Engine oil additives
Do not blend oil additives with engine oil. They may be
harmful to the engine operation.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from blending oil
additives are not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.Air conditioner refrigerant
R-134a (HFC) refrigerant and special PAG lubricating oil
is used in the air conditioner system.
Never use R-12 (CFC) or mineral-based lubricating 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 hard
operating conditions, this moisture content can lead to
the formation of bubbles in the system thus reducing
the system’s efficiency.
The brake fluid must therefore be replaced every two
years, preferably in the spring.
It is recommended to use only brake fluid approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center will provide you with additional information.

358 Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. - capacities
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Premium unleaded gasoline
Caution!
To maintain the engine’s durability and performance,
premium unleaded gasoline must be used. If premium
unleaded is not available and low octane fuel is used,
follow these precautions:
•have the fuel tank filled only partially 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
persons and no luggage,
•do not exceed
2/3 of maximum accelerator pedal
position, if the vehicle is fully loaded or operating in
mountainous terrain.Fuel requirements
Use only Premium unleaded meeting ASTM
standard D 439:
The octane number (posted at the pump) must be
91 min. It is an average of both the Research (R) octane
number and the Motor (M) octane number: (R+M) / 2).
This is also known as 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 not to 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.

359 Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. - capacities
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A major concern among engine manufacturers is carbon
build up caused by gasoline. Mercedes-Benz
recommends the use of only quality gasoline containing
additives that prevent the build up of carbon deposits.
After an extended period of using fuels without such
ad ditives , car bon d ep osits c an bui ld up esp eci ally on t he
intake valves and in the combustion area, leading to
engine performance problems such as:
•warm-up hesitation,
•unstable idle,
•knocking / pinging,
•misfire,
•power loss.
Do not blend other specific fuel additives with fuel.
They only result in unnecessary cost, and may be
harmful to the engine operation.
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 provides:
•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
- 22
°F (- 30
°C) and corrosion protection.
If the antifreeze mixture is effective to - 22
°F (- 30
°C),
the boiling point of the coolant 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 the
boil-over protection. You should have it replaced every
3years.
To provide the important corrosion protection, the
solution must be at least 45% anticorrosion / antifreeze
(equals a freeze protection to approximately - 22
°F
(- 30
°C). If you use a solution that is more than 55%
anticorrosion /antifreeze (freeze protection to
approximately - 49
°F (- 45
°C), the engine temperature

365 Index
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BBabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system ..................... 62
Battery ............................................................................. 316
Block heater ....................................................................252
Brake assist system (BAS) ............................................257
CCellular telephone ......................................................... 210
Center console .................................................................. 18
Central locking switch .................................................... 33
Central locking system ................................................... 25
Automatic central locking ......................................... 34
Central locking switch ............................................... 33
Choosing global or selective mode ........................... 27
Doors ............................................................................. 31
General notes ............................................................... 24
Locking and unlocking with remote control .......... 27
Mechanical keys .......................................................... 30
Obtaining replacement keys ..................................... 23
Summer opening/convenience feature ................... 29
Vehicle keys ................................................................. 22
Check regularly and before a long trip ......................266
Checking engine oil level ............................................. 300Climate control ............................................................... 138
Adjustable air outlets,
rear passenger compartment ............................. 159
Air recirculation ........................................................ 144
Basic setting ............................................................... 142
Defrosting ................................................................... 143
Display and controls ................................................. 140
Dust filter ................................................................... 141
Economy mode .......................................................... 145
Front center console storage
compartment ventilation ..................................... 158
Residual engine heat utilization ............................. 145
Special settings ......................................................... 142
Windows fogged up on the inside .......................... 143
Windows fogged up on the outside ........................ 144
COMAND, radio, telephone and two-way radio ......... 218
Combination switch ....................................................... 134
Control and operation of radio transmitters .............. 218
Coolant level ...................................................................301
Coolant temperature gauge ..........................................124
Cruise control ................................................................ 254
Cup holder ....................................................................... 197

366 Index
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DDashboard ......................................................................... 16
Door control panel ........................................................... 14
Door entry lamps ........................................................... 190
Drive sensibly - Save Fuel ............................................244EEasy-entry/exit feature ................................................... 41
Electronic main key ......................................................... 23
Changing batteries ...................................................332
Synchronizing remote control ................................334
Electronic stability program (ESP) ..............................260
Emergency engine shut-down .....................................334
Emergency operation of sliding/pop-up roof ............335
Emergency tensioning retractor (ETR) ......................... 64
Emergency unlocking in case of accident ................... 34
Engine oil consumption ................................................ 129
Engine oil level indicator .............................................. 128
Enlarged cargo area .......................................................207
ENTRANCE POSITION - malfunction and warning
messages ....................................................................292
Exterior lamp switch ..................................................... 130
Daytime running lamp mode .................................. 132
Exterior lamps ................................................................326Additional turn signals on
the exterior mirror .............................................. 330
Bulbs for high and low beam ................................. 328
Headlamp assembly ................................................. 327
High mounted stop lamp ......................................... 330
License plate lamps ................................................. 330
Parking and standing lamp .................................... 328
Replacing bulbs ........................................................ 326
Taillamp assemblies ................................................ 329
Turn signal lamp ...................................................... 328
Exterior mirror adjustment ............................................ 81
Exterior mirror, front passenger side,
parking position ..........................................................82
FFirst aid kit ..................................................................... 294
Flexible service system (FSS) ......................................125
Front airbags ....................................................................65
Front center console storage
compartment ventilation ......................................... 158
Front seat adjustment .....................................................42
Fuel filler flap, manual release ................................... 335
Fuel reserve warning ..................................................... 271
Fuses ............................................................................... 295

368 Index
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cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
MMaintenance ................................................................... 219
Malfunction/warning message memory .................... 109
Manual seat ............................................................... 45, 48
Manual transmission ....................................................233
Memory function ............................................................. 85
Mirror, exterior, parking position,
front passenger side ................................................... 82
Multicontour seat ............................................................ 49
Multifunction display ...................................................... 92
Coolant temperature ................................................... 96
Engine oil level indicator ........................................... 96
FSS ................................................................................ 96
Individual settings ..................................................... 111
Tire inflation pressure monitor ................................ 96
Trip and main odometer ............................................ 96
Vehicle speed ............................................................... 96
Multifunction steering wheel ........................................ 92NNavigation system .......................................................... 106
Night security illumination ......................................... 132
OOn-board diagnostic system ........................................ 268
Overhead control panel ................................................... 15PPanic button ......................................................................30
Parcel net in front passenger footwell ....................... 202
Parking brake ................................................................ 243
Power windows ............................................................... 184
Blocking of rear door window operation ............... 186
Express opening and closing .................................. 185
Opening and closing ...................................................29
Synchronizing power windows ............................... 186
Problems with your vehicle .............................................. 8
Product information .......................................................... 1RRain sensor ..................................................................... 135
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air outlets ................................................ 159
Rear window defroster .................................................. 157
Rear window sunshade ................................................. 191