coolant level MERCEDES-BENZ R500 2006 W251 Owner's Manual

ContentsLoading .............................................. 279
Roof rack* .................................... 279
Loading instructions ..................... 280
Cargo tie-down rings .................... 281
Hooks ........................................... 282
Expanding cargo compartment .... 283
Cargo compartment cover blind* . 288
Partition net* ............................... 290
Useful features .................................. 294
Storage compartments................. 294
Parcel nets ................................... 298
Cup holders .................................. 299
Ashtrays* ..................................... 302
Cigarette lighter* ......................... 305
Power outlets ............................... 306
Rear center console* ................... 308
Telephone*................................... 310
Tele Aid* ...................................... 311
Garage door opener* ................... 320
Compass ...................................... 327
Floormats* ................................... 328
Infrared reflecting windshield* ..... 328
Operation......................................... 329
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 330
Driving instructions............................ 331
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 331
Drinking and driving ..................... 331
Pedals .......................................... 331
Power assistance ......................... 331
Brakes .......................................... 332
Driving off .................................... 333
Parking ......................................... 334
Tires ............................................. 334
Hydroplaning ................................ 335
Tire traction.................................. 335
Tire speed rating .......................... 336
Winter driving instructions ........... 337
Standing water ............................. 338
Passenger compartment .............. 338
Driving abroad.............................. 339
Control and operation of radio
transmitters ................................. 339
Catalytic converter ....................... 340
Emission control .......................... 340
Coolant temperature .................... 341At the gas station .............................. 342
Refueling ...................................... 342
Check regularly and before a
long trip ....................................... 343
Engine compartment ......................... 345
Hood ............................................ 345
Engine oil ..................................... 346
Transmission fluid level................ 350
Coolant level ................................ 351
Windshield / rear window washer
system and headlamp cleaning
system* ....................................... 352
Tires and wheels................................ 353
Important guidelines .................... 353
Tire care and maintenance........... 354
Direction of rotation..................... 356
Loading the vehicle ...................... 356
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 363
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 365
Tire labeling ................................. 375
Load identification ....................... 380
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 380
Maximum tire load ....................... 382
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 382

63 Getting started
Driving
The coolant temperature is above
248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.
Stop the vehicle as soon as possible in
a safe location and turn off the engine.
Allow engine and coolant to cool.

Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 351).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking fuel:

Do not start the engine under any
circumstances.

Notify local fire and/or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be de-
termined:

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
If no damage can be determined on the


major assemblies


fuel system


engine mount:

Start the engine in the usual manner.

165 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Menu2
Menu3
Menu4
Menu5
Standard display
AUDIO
NAV*
Airmatic/
Compass
Vehicle status message
memory
(page 168)
(page 170)
(page 172)
(page 172)
(page 173)
Commands/submenusTrip- and main odometer
Selecting radio station
Show route guidance
instructions, current
direction traveled
Airmatic*
Calling up vehicle malfunction,
warning and system status
messages stored in memory
Checking tire inflation pressure*
Selecting satellite ra-
dio station* (USA only)
Compass
Checking coolant temperature
Operating CD player
Calling up digital speedometer or
outside temperatureCalling up maintenance service
indicatorChecking engine oil leveliThe headings used in the menus table
are designed to facilitate navigation
within the system and are not neces-
sarily identical to those shown in the
control system displays. The first func-
tion displayed in each menu will auto-
matically show you which part of the
system you are in.

168 Controls in detailControl systemStandard display menu
In the standard display, the main odometer
and the trip odometer appear in the multi-
function display.
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
If you see another display, press
buttonè orÿ repeatedly until the
standard display appears.
You can select the functions in the
standard display menu with
buttonkorj.The following functions are available:Checking coolant temperature
Function
Page
Checking tire inflation pressure*
371
Checking coolant temperature
168
Calling up digital speedometer or
outside temperature
169
Calling up maintenance service
indicator
393
Checking engine oil level
(R 500 only)
347
Warning!
G


Driving when your engine is badly over-
heated can cause some fluids which
may have leaked into the engine com-
partment to catch fire. You could be se-
riously burned.


Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.

343 Operation
At the gas station

Replace the fuel cap by turning it clock-
wise until it audibly engages.

Close the fuel filler flap.
Check regularly and before a long trip
Open the hood (
page 345).
1Coolant level
2Brake fluid
3Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*
Engine oil level
For more information on engine oil, see
“Engine oil” (
page 346).
iOnly use premium unleaded gasoline
with a minimum Posted Octane Rating
of 91 (average of 96 RON / 86 MON).
Information on gasoline quality can
normally be found on the fuel pump.
For more information on gasoline, see
the Factory Approved Service Products
pamphlet.
iLeaving the engine running and the fuel
cap open can cause the yellow fuel
tank reserve warning lamp to flash and
the? malfunction indicator lamp
(USA only) or the± malfunction in-
dicator lamp (Canada only) comes on.
For more information, see “Practical
hints” (
page 408).

344 OperationAt the gas stationCoolant
For normal replenishing, use water (pota-
ble water quality). For more information,
see “Coolant level” (
page 351) and
“Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(
page 521).
Brake fluidWindshield / rear window washer
system and headlamp cleaning
system*
For more information on refilling the reser-
voir, see “Windshield / rear window washer
system and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 352).
Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness. For infor-
mation on replacing light bulbs, see “Re-
placing bulbs” (
page 465).
For more information, see “Exterior lamp
switch” (
page 147).
Tire inflation pressure
For more information, see “Checking tire
inflation pressure” (
page 365).
!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks immediately. Noti-
fy an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center immediately. Do not add
brake fluid as this will not solve the
problem. For more information, see
“Brake fluid” (
page 523).

351 Operation
Engine compartment
Coolant level
The engine coolant is a mixture of water
and anticorrosion / antifreeze. To check
the coolant level, the vehicle must be
parked on level ground and the engine
must be cool.
1Cap
2Coolant expansion tank
3Indicator wall
4Coolant level

Using a rag, turn cap 1 slowly approx-
imately one half turn counterclockwise
to release any excess pressure.

Continue turning cap 1 counterclock-
wise and remove it.
Coolant level 4 is correct if the level:

for cold coolant: reaches the top of
indicator wall 3 visible through the
filling opening


for warm coolant: is approximately
0.6 in (1.5 cm) higher

Add coolant as required.

Replace and tighten cap 1.
For more information on coolant, see the
“Technical data” section (
page 525).
Warning!
G
In order to avoid any possibly serious burns:

Use extreme caution when opening the
hood if there are any signs of steam or
coolant leaking from the cooling system,
or if the coolant temperature gauge indi-
cates that the coolant is overheated.


Do not remove pressure cap on coolant
reservoir if coolant temperature is
above 158°F (70°C). Allow engine to
cool down before removing cap. The
coolant reservoir contains hot fluid and
is under pressure.


Using a rag, slowly open the cap approx-
imately
1/2 turn to relieve excess pres-
sure. If opened immediately, scalding
hot fluid and steam will be blown out un-
der pressure.


Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine
parts. Antifreeze contains ethylene gly-
col which may burn if it comes into con-
tact with hot engine parts.

433 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
?
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
Engine Service
There may be a malfunction in
the

fuel injection system


ignition system


exhaust system


fuel system

Have the engine checked by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
B
Coolant
Check level
The coolant level is too low.

Add coolant (
page 351).

If you have to add coolant frequently,
have the cooling system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Warning!
G
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts. You can be seriously burned.
!Do not ignore the low engine coolant
level warning. Extended driving with
the message and symbol displayed
may cause serious engine damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Do not drive without sufficient amount
of coolant in the cooling system. The
engine will overheat causing major
engine damage.

526 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.The coolant solution must be used year
round to provide the necessary corrosion
protection and increase boil-over protec-
tion. Refer to Maintenance Booklet for
replacement interval.
To provide important corrosion protection,
the solution must be at least 45% anticor-
rosion/antifreeze (equivalent to freeze
protection to approx. - 22°F [-30°C]). If
you use a solution that is more than 55%
anticorrosion/antifreeze (freeze protec-
tion to approx. - 49°F [-45°C]), the engine
temperature will increase due to the lower
heat transfer capability of the solution.
Therefore, do not use more than this
amount of anticorrosion/antifreeze.If the coolant level is low, water and
MB 325.0 anticorrosion/antifreeze should
be used to bring it up to the proper level
(have cooling system checked for signs of
leakage). Please make sure the mixture is
in accordance 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 an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.

538 IndexCatalytic converter 340
CD player
Operating 171
CD-changer* 294
Center console 29
Lower part 30
PASS AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp 414
Upper part 29
Central locking
Automatic 130
Switch 131
Switching on/off (control
system) 188
Unlocking from inside 131
Central locking switch 131
Certification label 510
Changing
SmartKey setting 189
Charging
Vehicle battery 495
CHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator
lamp 407, 408Checking
Coolant level 351
Oil level 346
Tire inflate pressure 344
Vehicle lighting 344
Checking tire pressure electronically with
the Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System* (Advanced TPMS*) 371
Checking tire pressure electronically with
the Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) 368
Child safety 82
Air bags 72
Infant and child restraint systems 78,
82
LATCH child seat mounts 92
Child safety switch see Blocking of rear
door window operation
Cigarette lighter
Front center console 303
Cigarette lighter* 305Cleaning
Headlamps 208
Headliner 402
Light alloy wheels 401
Plastic and rubber parts 402
Steering wheel 402
Windows 400
Windshield 60
Cleaning tires 355
Climate control 216
Adjusting 222
Adjusting air volume 222
deactivating 220
Front defroster 223
Rear passenger compartment 228
Setting the temperature 222
Clock 180
Closing
Glove box 294
Hood 346
Panorama sliding/pop-up roof 260
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* 462
Side windows 249
Tailgate 124, 128, 129
Tilt/sliding sunroof* 255
Windows 248