Regular maintenance (Mercedes-Benz C-Class W201)

1. If, from the moment of purchasing a new machine, all maintenance operations were performed on time and in sufficient volume, the required level of operating fluids in the systems was maintained, as recommended in this manual, the engine will remain in relatively good condition for a long time and the need for additional work will be reduced to a minimum.

2. If the engine is not serviced regularly, it may occasionally malfunction. This may happen if you bought a used car whose previous owner did not keep up with the service schedules. In this case, it may be necessary to perform some work beyond the usual scheduled maintenance.

3. If there is a suspicion of engine wear, the first thing to do is to check the compression, which will give preliminary information about the condition of the cylinder-piston group parts. This check will provide a basis for planning subsequent work. If, for example, the compression check indicates significant engine wear, the normal maintenance recommended in this chapter will not improve its operation, but will be a waste of time and money. In such a case, it is wiser to decide on a more serious repair, a description of which is given in chapter 2.

4. If the engine is running unstably, the following operations usually help to improve its operation:

a) Clean, inspect and test the battery (see section "Weekly check").
b) Check all engine related fluids (see section "Weekly check").
c) Check the condition of the accessory drive belt (paragraph 8).
d) Replace the spark plugs (paragraph 4).
d) Check the condition of the air filter and, if necessary, replace the filter element (paragraph 30). c)Check the fuel filter (paragraph 31).
g) Check the condition of all hoses and pay attention to any fluid leaks (paragraph 7).