service MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2012 MY12 Operator’s Manual

Do not use any fuel additives, and use
approved flow improvers only when
necessary.
There is
otherwise
a risk of impaired engine
performance or engine and catalytic
converter damage. The use of fuel additives
is always the responsibility of the vehicle
operator and may result in the restriction
or loss of your New Vehicle Limited
Warranty entitlements.
Fuel grade i
You will generally find information about
the fuel grade on the filling pump.
Otherwise, ask the gas station attendant.
Refuel only with commercially available
ULTRA-LOW SULFUR DIESEL (ULSD,
maximum sulfur content of 15 ppm) that
conforms to the ASTM D975 standard.
We approve the use of

B5 bio-diesel (ULSD
with a maximum bio-diesel content of 5% by
volume ) for all Sprinter diesel engines with
Common-rail Direct Injection (CDI).
You may refuel with B5 bio-diesel if the bio-
diesel content is in accordance with the
ASTM standard D6751. It must also have the
necessary oxidation stability (at least 6 h in
accordance with the EN 14112 standard) to
avoid damage caused by deposits and/or
corrosion.
Pure bio-diesel and diesel fuels that have a
higher percentage of bio-diesel, such as B20,
may damage the fuel system and the engine
and are therefore not approved. Please
contact gas station personnel for more
information. The B5 bio-diesel marking on the
pump must state unequivocally that the ULSD
standard is fulfilled. If the marking does not
make this clear, do not refuel from that pump. !
You can damage the engine and diesel
particle filter (DPF) by refueling with the
following diesel fuels:
R LOW SULFUR DIESEL with a sulfur
content of maximum 500 ppm
R diesel fuel with a sulfur content greater
than 15 ppm
R diesel fuel with a bio-diesel content of
more than 5%
R diesel fuel

with a bio-diesel content up to
5% but that does not conform to the
requirements listed under "Fuel quality"
Damage caused by the use of such diesel
fuels is not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty.
Diesel at low temperatures Refuel only with commercially available
ULTRA-LOW SULFUR DIESEL (ULSD,
maximum sulfur content of 15 ppm) that
conforms to the ASTM D975
standard.
To prevent operating problems, diesel with
better flow qualities is available during the
winter

months. You can obtain information at
the gas station or from your fuel supplier.
At very low outside temperatures, paraffin
may separate from the diesel fuel and prevent
it from flowing freely.
Your vehicle is equipped with a fuel
preheating system. This system also
improves the flow characteristics of the
diesel fuel by about 46 ‡(8 †). ULTRA-LOW
SULFUR DIESEL can therefore be used at
outside temperatures of down to
14 ‡(–10 †) without any impairment.
Fuel additives
Flow improvers are fuel additives used to
improve the flow characteristics of diesel
fuels.
The effectiveness of flow improvers cannot be
guaranteed with all fuels. Observe the
manufacturer's recommendations.
Information about approved flow improvers is
available from any authorized Sprinter Dealer. 154
Service products
Operation

!
Do not use fuel additives (with the
exception of flow improvers), since this
could lead to malfunctions or engine
damage. Damage caused by the use of
such additives is not covered by the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
! Do not add
gasoline or kerosene to diesel
fuel to improve its flow characteristics.
Gasoline or kerosene impairs the
lubricating properties of the diesel fuel.
This may cause damage to the injection
system, for example.
At outside temperatures below
14 ‡(–10 †) and with less cold-resistant
winter diesel fuel, add the amount of flow
improver appropriate to the outside
temperature.
Add this additive to the diesel in time, i.e.
before the flow properties of the diesel are
affected by paraffin separation. Malfunctions
caused by paraffin separation can only be
rectified by heating the entire fuel system,
e.g. by parking the vehicle in a heated garage. G
Warning
If you heat up the fuel system with a heat gun,
for example, you

may damage parts of the fuel
system. Fuel could escape, be ignited, and
cause a fire.
Never heat the fuel system with a heat gun or
with a naked flame. Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)
DEF is the

reducing agent for the exhaust gas
aftertreatment. DEF is a nonflammable,
nontoxic, colorless, odorless and water-
soluble liquid.
! Only use DEF in accordance with
ISO 22241. The exhaust gas aftertreatment
may otherwise be damaged.
Observe the MB Specifications for Service
Products, Sheet No. 352.0.
Damage caused by the use of other
reducing agents will result in the loss of your New Vehicle Limited Warranty
entitlements.
! If DEF comes into contact with a painted
or aluminum surface, wash the surface off
immediately with plenty of water.
High ambient temperatures If DEF in the DEF reservoir heats up to
temperatures over 122 ‡(50 †) for a long
period of time (e.g. due to direct sunlight),
ammonia vapors form.
G
Warning
If you open the DEF reservoir cap at high
temperatures, ammonia vapors could be
released.
Ammonia vapors have

a pungent odor and are
particularly irritating for your skin, respiratory
organs and eyes. This may result in burning
eyes, nose and throat, as well as coughing and
watering eyes.
Do not inhale ammonia vapors.
Low ambient temperatures DEF freezes at a temperature of
approximately
12 ‡(–11 †
). The vehicle is
equipped

with a DEF preheating system at the
factory. This ensures that the vehicle can be
operated in winter, even at temperatures
below 12 ‡(–11 †).
Additives and tap water !
Do not mix
DEF with any additives and do
not dilute DEF with tap water. Otherwise,
the exhaust gas aftertreatment may be
damaged.
Observe the MB Specifications for Service
Products, Sheet No. 352.0.
Damage caused by the use of additives or
tap water is not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty. Service products
155
Operation Z

Storage
Only store DEF in containers made of high-
alloy Cr-Ni steel or Mo-Cr-Ni steel in
accordance with DIN EN 10 088-1/2/3 or
plastic containers made of polypropylene or
polyethylene.
!
Containers made of aluminum, copper,
copper alloys as well as unalloyed or
galvanized steel
are not suitable for storing
DEF. If stored in these types of containers,
DEF could cause constituents of these
metals to dissolve and cause irreparable
damage to the exhaust gas aftertreatment.
Damage caused by dissolved components
of the storage container will result in a loss
of your New Vehicle Limited Warranty
entitlements.
Disposal Observe country-specific laws and
regulations when disposing of DEF.
0040Environmental note
Dispose of DEF in an environmentally
responsible manner.
Purity
The purity of DEF is essential to prevent
malfunctions in the exhaust gas
aftertreatment.
If DEF is pumped out of the DEF tank, e.g.
during repair work, the same liquid must not
be used
to

refill the tank. Its purity is no longer
guaranteed.
! Impurities in DEF (e.g. caused by other
service products, cleaning agents, dust,
etc.) result in increased emissions,
malfunctions, catalytic converter damage
or engine damage. Engine oils
Use only approved engine oil that complies
with the MB Specifications for Service
Products.
! The bottles of

the various engine oil types
are marked with ACEA (Association des
Constructeurs Européens d'Automobiles)
and/or API (American Petroleum Institute)
classifications. Only use approved engine
oils that conform to the following MB
Specifications for Service Products and the
prescribed ACEA and/or API
classifications. Using engine oils of another
quality is not permitted and may lead to a
loss of your New Vehicle Limited Warranty
entitlements.
The use of other, non-approved engine oils
for diesel engines can cause damage to the
diesel particle filter (DPF).
The MB Specifications for Service Products
apply to your vehicle 1
R 228.51
R 229.51
These engine oils are of high quality and have
a beneficial effect on:
R engine wear
R fuel consumption
R emissions
Multi-grade engine oils of the prescribed SAE
class (viscosity) may be used all year round,
taking the outside temperatures into
account.
Oil change Oil change intervals depend on the vehicle's
operating conditions and the quality of the
engine oil used.
The on-board computer automatically shows
the date for the next oil change as an event
message in the display.
1 If the quality

level for diesel engines is not available, you may refill with engine oils that comply with the MB
Specifications for Service Products, Sheet No. 228.5, 229.3 and 229.5. The refill quantity is then limited to
a maximum of 1 qt (1 l). 156
Service products
Operation

Select the SAE class (viscosity) of the engine
oil in accordance with the outside
temperature.
!
If the SAE
viscosity class of the engine oil
used does not cover the outside
temperature range in which you are
operating the vehicle, it must be changed
in good time, in particular before the cold
season commences. Using an engine oil
that does not have adequate temperature
characteristics can lead to engine damage.
The temperature range information of the
SAE classification always refers to that of
fresh oil. The temperature characteristics
of the engine oil may deteriorate
significantly due to aging in use, especially
at low outside temperatures.
For this reason, we recommend that the
engine oil be changed before the cold
season commences. Use an approved
engine oil of the specified SAE class. Engine oil SAE classification
i
Only by using

engine oil with a particularly
high quality grade, e.g. according to Sheet
Number 228.51 of the MB Specifications
for Service Products, can the maximum
interval for oil change be achieved.
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.
You can obtain further information from any
authorized Sprinter Dealer.
! Do not add too much oil. Adding too much
oil can result in damage to the engine or the catalytic converter. Have excess oil
siphoned off.
Miscibility of engine oils If, in exceptional cases, oil of the type in the
engine is not available, top up using another
approved mineral or synthetic engine oil.
Engine oils are differentiated according to:
R
engine oil brand
R quality grade (sheet number)
R SAE class (viscosity)
Subsequently have the

engine oil changed at
the earliest possible opportunity.
! Mixing oils reduces the benefits of using
high grade engine oils.
i The sheet number (quality grade) and the
SAE classification (viscosity) can be found
on the designation on the oil bottle. Service products
157
Operation Z

Change intervals for engine oil
Service product Maintenance
interval Product name/number MB
Sheet
No.
Engine oil for diesel engines 2 years or
10,000 miles
(16,000 km)
2 See approved engine oils 228.51
229.51
Transmission and steering oils
Automatic transmission Service product Maintenance
interval Product name/number MB
Sheet
No.
Automatic transmission oil every second
maintenance
service Shell ATF 3403/M-115 236.10
Fuchs/Shell ATF 3353 236.12
You can obtain further information from any authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Rear axle
Service product Maintenance
interval Product name/number MB
Sheet
No.
Transmission oil every sixth
maintenance
service or
every
10 years 3 BP Energear Hypo DC 80W-90 235.20
Mobil Delvac Synthetic Gear Oil
75W-90 235.8
You can obtain further information from any authorized Sprinter Dealer.
2
The interval – time or distance – that is first reached applies.
3 The maintenance interval criterion that occurs first applies.158
Service productsOperation

Steering
Steering, no maintenance required.
Service product Maintenance
interval Product name/number MB
Sheet
No.
Power steering fluid – Mobil ATF-D,
Exxon Mobil Corporation or
equivalent 236.3
You can obtain further information from any authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Brake fluid
G
Warning
Brake fluid is hazardous to health. Do not
swallow brake fluid.
See a doctor immediately
if you swallow brake fluid.
Make sure that brake fluid does not come into
contact with skin, clothing or eyes. Rinse
affected areas with plenty of clean water and
consult a doctor if necessary.
Always wear gloves and eye protection when
topping up brake fluid.
Store brake fluid only in the original closed
container and keep it out of the reach of
children. Comply with safety regulations
when handling brake fluid.
Use only approved brake fluids that comply
with the MB Specification for Service
Products, Sheet No. 331.0. You must observe
the boiling points (DOT 4 plus).
The brake fluid must have the following
characteristics in accordance with the
FMVSS 116 and ISO 4925 standards:
R boiling point (ERBP) of at least
500 ‡(260 †)
R wet boiling point (WERBP) of at least
356 ‡(180 †)
R viscosity of a maximum of 1500 mm²/s
Over a period of time, the brake fluid absorbs
moisture from the air. This reduces its boiling
point. G
Warning
If the boiling point of the brake fluid is too low,
vapor pockets may form in the brake system
when the brakes

are subjected to a heavy load
(e.g. on long downhill stretches). This would
impair braking efficiency. The vehicle's
stopping distance may then be longer. This
increases the risk of an accident.
Have the brake fluid replaced every
two years with brake fluid approved by the
distributor named on the inside of the front
cover and have the replacement confirmed in
the Maintenance Booklet.
i There is usually a notice in the engine
compartment to remind you when the next
brake fluid change is due.
You can obtain further information from any
authorized Sprinter Dealer. Service products
159Operation Z

Change intervals for brake fluid
Service product Maintenance
interval Product name/number MB
Sheet
No.
Brake fluid 2 years Intac B026E
R
Boiling point: 500 ‡(260 †)
R Wet boiling point:
356 ‡ (180 †) 331.0
Coolant
G
Warning
Coolant contains glycol and is therefore toxic.
Do not swallow the coolant. See a doctor
immediately if you swallow coolant.
Make sure that coolant does not come into
contact with skin,
eyes or clothing. In case of
contact with eyes, rinse immediately with
plenty of clean water. Clean affected areas of
skin and clothing with soap and water
immediately. Change any affected clothing
immediately.
Coolant is a mixture of water and antifreeze/
corrosion inhibitor.
In the coolant, the antifreeze/corrosion
inhibitor is responsible for:
R corrosion protection
R antifreeze protection
R raising the boiling point
The coolant must remain in the cooling
system all year round for corrosion protection
purposes and to increase the boiling point –
even in countries with hot climates.
At the factory, the vehicle is filled with a
coolant that ensures protection against frost
and corrosion and which can be mixed with
approved antifreeze/corrosion inhibitors.
! Use only approved antifreeze/corrosion
inhibitors that comply with the MB
Specification for Service Products, Sheet
No. 325. Using other, non-approved
antifreeze/corrosion inhibitors may cause damage to the coolant system and reduce
the engine's service life.
Check the antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor
concentration in the coolant every six
months.
When the coolant is being renewed, the
coolant must contain 50 % by volume of
anticorrosion/antifreeze

agent. This provides
antifreeze protection down to
–34.6 ‡(–37 †).
Do not exceed a proportion of
55 % by volume (antifreeze protection down
to approximately –49.0 ‡ (–45 †)),
otherwise heat dissipation is reduced.
If there is a loss of coolant, do not replenish
with water only, but also add an approved
corrosion inhibitor/antifreeze agent. The
water in the coolant must meet certain
requirements, which are often fulfilled by
drinking water. If the water quality is not
sufficient, you must treat the water.
Observe the MB Specifications for Service
Products, Sheet Number 325.
You can obtain further information from any
authorized Sprinter Dealer. 160
Service products
Operation

Change intervals for coolant
Service product Maintenance
interval Product name/number MB
Sheet
No.
Coolant, antifreeze/
corrosion inhibitor every sixth
maintenance
interval or
every 15 years EURO Peak Coolant/Antifreeze,
OLD WORLD INDUSTRIES 325.0
Zerex G05,
The Valvoline Company 325.0
Zerex G48,
The Valvoline Company 325.0
Glysantin G05, BASF AG 325.0
Refrigerant
The air-conditioning system
uses the refrigerant R-134a. This refrigerant does not damage the
ozone layer.
You can obtain further information from any authorized Sprinter Dealer. Service product Maintenance
interval Product name/number MB
Sheet
No.
Refrigerant — Refrigerant R-134a 361.0
Cleaning and care
General notes
Regular care serves to maintain the value of
your vehicle.
It is advisable to use care products from the
distributor named on the inside of the front
cover. They are designed specifically for
Sprinters and represent the state of the art.
These care products are available from any
authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Do not cover

the surface of the radiator or the
radiator grill, e.g. with a protective screen.
Doing so could cause the engine diagnostics
to record false or incorrect data. The
recording of specific engine diagnostic data
is legally prescribed and must therefore be
correct, clear and comprehensible at all
times. G
Warning
Always keep care products sealed and out of
the reach of children.
Always follow the instructions for use of the
care products.
Do not use fuel as a cleaning agent. Fuel is
highly flammable and constitutes a health
hazard.
0040Environmental note
Wash the vehicle only at a properly equipped
wash bay. Dispose of empty containers and
used cleaning materials in an
environmentally-responsible manner. Cleaning and care
161
Operation Z

R
Grab handles
R Wheels, tires and wheel arches
R License plates
X Remove any trapped foreign objects, e.g.
stones.
X Check the wheel suspension for damage. G
Warning
Dirty brake discs and brake pads/linings can
impair braking performance (up to the point
of total failure).
This could lead to an accident.
Check the brake system for operating safety
by testing the brakes before driving the
vehicle on public roads.
In the event of impaired braking, stop the
vehicle while paying attention to the traffic
conditions and contact a qualified specialist
workshop which has the necessary specialist
knowledge and tools for the work required.
For this, we recommend an authorized
Sprinter Dealer. In particular, work relevant to
safety or on safety-related systems must be
carried out at a qualified specialist workshop.
After driving in mud, sand, water or in similar
conditions:
R check the brake system for operating
safety.
R clean the wheels, chassis and brake
system.
R check the wheels, chassis and brake
system for damage. Have any damage
repaired at a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. an authorized Sprinter Dealer. Maintenance
General notes
The scope and regularity of the maintenance
work primarily depend on the often diverse
operating conditions.
The vehicle Maintenance Booklet describes
the scope and frequency of maintenance
work and contains additional notes on the New Vehicle Limited Warranty and on service
products.
Specialist knowledge beyond the scope of
these Operating
Instructions

is required when
carrying out testing and maintenance work.
Have this work carried out by trained
personnel.
i Maintenance services must be carried out
in accordance with the provisions and
recommendations in the Maintenance
Booklet.
Not doing so could void the warranty claim
and lead to refusal of goodwill gestures
after the manufacturer has submitted a
damage report. G
Warning
Before carrying out maintenance operations
and repairs, you must read the sections
referring to maintenance operations and
repairs:
R this includes relevant sections of the
technical documentation, such as the
operating instructions and workshop
information.
R you should also

familiarize yourself with the
legal requirements, such as work safety
regulations and accident prevention
measures.
You could otherwise fail to recognize dangers
and thereby injure yourself or others.
You must secure the vehicle on axle stands of
sufficient load bearing capacity if work is
being carried out beneath it.
Never use the vehicle jack instead of stands.
The jack could slip and the vehicle could drop.
This could result in serious injury to yourself
or others.
The vehicle jack is intended only to raise the
vehicle for a short time.
Always have maintenance work carried out at
a qualified specialist workshop. The workshop
must have the necessary specialist
knowledge and tools to carry out the work
required. For this, we recommend an 166
Maintenance
Operation

authorized Sprinter Dealer. All work relevant
to safety or on safety-related systems must
be carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Observe the notes on parts in the "Technical
data" section ( Y page 276).
0040 Environmental note
Observe measures to protect the
environment when working on the vehicle.
You must observe the legal requirements
when disposing of service products, e.g.
engine oil. This

also includes all components,
e.g. filters, which have come into contact with
service products.
Any qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an
authorized Sprinter Dealer, can provide
information about this.
Dispose of empty containers, cleaning cloths
and care products in an environmentally-
responsible manner. Comply with the
instructions for use of the care products.
Do not run the engine for longer than
necessary when the vehicle is stationary. Active Service System (ASSYST)
The ASSYST service indicator informs you of
the next service due date.
A service that is due is displayed about a
month in advance. A message is then
displayed while the vehicle is in motion or
while the ignition is switched on.
i Periods when the

battery is disconnected
will not be recorded by ASSYST. To make
sure that you have the vehicle serviced at
the correct time, you should therefore
subtract periods when the battery is
disconnected from the days shown.
The service indicator does not provide
information about the oil level. The service
indicator should therefore not be confused
with the 00B5 engine oil level display. i
The service due date is displayed in days
or miles (kilometers), depending on the
total distance driven.
The symbols or

letters in the service indicator
show the service due.
009B or A for a minor service
009C or B for a major service
Service due date indicator Vehicles with steering wheel buttons
The following messages may be displayed:
R
009B
Service A in ... days
R 009B Service A in ... mi (km)
R 009B Service A due now
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons
The following messages may be displayed:
R 009B for service A
R 009C 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 exceeded A qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an
authorized Sprinter
Dealer,

resets the service
indicator when the service has been carried
out.
Vehicles with steering wheel buttons
If you have missed the service due date, one
of the following messages appears in the
display:
R 009B Service A overdue by ... days
R 009B Service A overdue by ... mi
(km)
Additionally a warning tone sounds.
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons
If the service due date has been exceeded,
ten seconds after switching on the ignition
the 009B or 009C symbol flashes for the Maintenance
167
Operation Z