engine coolant MERCEDES-BENZ CLK430 2001 C208 Owner's Guide

308 Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
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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
standa rd 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..

309 Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
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cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Gasoline additives
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
a d d i t i ve s , c a r b o n d e po si t s c a n b u il d u p e s pe c ia l ly o n t h e
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 cool ant sol ution must be used yea r 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 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]),

310 Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
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the engine temperature will increase due to the lower
h eat transfer ca pa bil ity of th e sol ution. Therefore, d o 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 cooling system checked for signs of leakage).
The water in the cooling system must meet minimum
requirements, which are usually satisfied by normal
drinking water. If your are not sure about the water
quality, consult your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Anticorrosion/antifreeze
Your vehicle contains a number of aluminum parts. The
use of aluminum components in motor vehicle engines
necessitates that anticorrosion/antifreeze coolant used
in such e ng ines b e specif ica lly formul ated to protec t th e
aluminum parts. (Failure to use such anticorrosion/
antifreeze coolant will result in a significantly
shortened service life.)
Therefore the following product is strongly
recommended for use in your vehicle: Mercedes-Benz
Anticorrosion/antifreeze agent.Before the start of the winter season (or once a year in
the hot southern regions), you should have the
anticorrosion/antifreeze concentration checked. The
coolant is also regularly checked each time you bring
your vehicle to your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for service.
Anticorrosion/antifreeze quantity
Model Approx. freeze protection
– 35°F
(– 37°C)– 49°F
(– 45°C)
CLK 430,
CLK 55 AMG5.9 US qt
(5.6 l)6.5 US qt
(6.1 l)

314 Index
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data Instruments
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cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
Basic setting .............................................................. 124
Defogging windows .................................................. 125
Defrosting ................................................................... 125
Display and controls ................................................. 124
Dust filter ................................................................... 128
Economy ..................................................................... 125
Rear window defroster ............................................. 126
Residual engine heat utilization (REST) ............... 127
Special settings ......................................................... 125
Automatic transmission ............................................... 193
Emergency Operation .............................................. 201
Fluid level ...................................................................254
Program mode selector switch ...............................200
Selector lever position .............................................. 196
Transmission selector lever,
manually unlocking ............................................. 274
BBabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system ..................... 65
Self-test ......................................................................... 65
Backrest, front seat .......................................................... 54
BAS (Brake assist system) ............................................ 215
Malfunction indicator lamp ..................................... 231Battery ............................................................................ 268
Battery recycling ...................................................... 269
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR - malfunction and warning
messages ................................................................... 235
Block heater .................................................................... 211
BRAKE ASSIST - malfunction and warning messages ..
236
Brake assist system (BAS) ............................................ 215
Malfunction indicator lamp .....................................231
Brake fluid ....................................................204, 229, 307
Capacity ..................................................................... 305
BRAKE FLUID - malfunction and warning messages ....
237
BRAKE LINING WEAR - malfunction and warning
messages ................................................................... 237
Brake pad wear .............................................................. 237
Brake warning lamp ..................................................... 229
Brake fluid low ......................................................... 229
Brakes ................................................... 202, 204, 215, 220
CCapacities
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. .............................. 305
Cargo area ....................................................................... 160
Loading instructions ................................................. 162

315 Index
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cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex Cargo tie-down rings ..................................................... 163
Catalytic converter ........................................................ 178
Cellular telephone ......................................................... 165
Center console .................................................................. 20
Central locking switch .................................................... 36
Central locking system ................................................... 28
Automatic central locking ......................................... 37
Choosing global or selective mode ........................... 31
Electronic main key .................................................... 25
Electronic reserve key ................................................ 26
Locking and unlocking .............................................. 30
Mechanical keys .......................................................... 33
Remote control ............................................................ 28
Changing wheels ...........................................................262
CHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator lamp ............228
Check regularly and before a long trip ......................225
Checking engine oil level
Via engine oil level indicator ...................................114
Via oil dipstick ...........................................................253
Child restraint .............................................. 50, 58, 64, 75
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .................................292
COMAND, radio and telephone ....................................176
Combination switch .......................................................119
Consumer information ...................................................311
Control and operation of radio transmitters ..............176COOLANT (coolant level) -
malfunction and warning messages ..................... 239
Coolant level
Adding coolant .......................................................... 255
Checking .................................................................... 254
COOLANT TEMP. (coolant temperature) -
malfunction and warning messages ..................... 240
Coolant temperature gauge ............................................ 88
Coolants .......................................................................... 309
Anticorrosion/antifreeze quantity ........................ 309
Cruise control ................................................................. 212
Cup holder
Center console, front ................................................ 155
Rear bench armrest ................................................... 156
DDaytime running lamps ................................................ 117
Deep water
Driving instructions ................................................. 210
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE (engine control unit) -
malfunction and warning messages ..................... 234
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE (several systems) -
malfunction and warning messages ..................... 234
Display illumination ........................................................ 87

319 Index
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data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex Lighter ............................................................................. 159
LIGHTING SYSTEM - malfunction
and warning messages ............................................ 241
Limp home mode (Automatic transmission) ............. 201
Loading instructions ..................................................... 162
Locking and unlocking ................................................... 30
Low engine coolant level warning ..............................239
MMaintenance ................................................................... 177
Malfunction and indicator lamps
in the instrument cluster .........................................228
Malfunction and warning messages ...........................233
ABS-SYSTEM .............................................................236
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR ..........................................235
BRAKE ASSIST ..........................................................236
BRAKE FLUID ............................................................237
BRAKE LINING WEAR .............................................237
COOLANT (coolant level) .........................................239
COOLANT TEMP. (coolant temperature) ...............240
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
(engine control unit) ...........................................234
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE
(several systems) ..................................................234
ELEC. STABIL. PROGR. ............................................244ENGINE FAN ............................................................. 238
ENGINE OIL LEVEL ................................................. 243
LIGHT SENSOR ......................................................... 242
LIGHTING SYSTEM ...................................................241
PARKING BRAKE ..................................................... 238
REMOVE KEY ........................................................... 244
STEER. WHEEL ADJUST. ......................................... 242
TELE AID ................................................................... 246
WASHER FLUID ........................................................ 245
Malfunction message memory ....................................106
Manual operation of sliding/pop-up roof .................. 286
Mechanical keys ............................................................... 33
Memory .............................................................................48
Recalling ....................................................................... 49
Storing .................................................................... 48, 81
Mirror, exterior, adjusting ..............................................80
Mirror, exterior, rear view ..............................................80
Mirror, inside, rear view ................................................. 79
Multicontour seat ............................................................. 55
Multifunction display ...................................................... 90
Engine oil level indicator ...........................................94
FSS (Flexible service system) ................................... 94
Setting the audio volume ......................................... 110
Trip and main odometer ............................................ 94
Vehicle speed ............................................................... 94
Multifunction steering wheel .........................................90