Safe Driving - Mercedes-Benz 300SD 1981 Owner's Manual

Starting and Shifting Gears
Maneuvering
To maneuver in a restricted area, e.g.
when pulling into a parking space,
control the car speed by gradually
releasing the service brake.
Accelerate gently and do not pump
the accelerator. To rock a car out of
soft ground (mud or snow), alter­
nately shift one forward gear range
and the reverse gear at partial
throttle.
Trailer operation
Do not allow the engine speed to
drop too low at uphill gradients to
prevent the engine from laboring at
low RPMs. Depending on the degree
of the incline, shift selector lever to
positions " S" or " L" early enough to
maintain engine RPMs within best
torque range.
Stopping
For brief halts, e.g. at traffic lights,
leave the selector lever in a driving
position and control vehicle with the
service brake.
For longer stops with the engine
idling, shift selector lever to position
" N" .
When stopping the car on a slope, do
not hold it by means of the accelera­
tor but use the brake. This avoids
unnecessary heat-up of the transmis­
sion.

Safe Driving

Power assistance:
Do not attempt to move or coast the
vehicle with the engine not in
operation, as engine-driven accesso­
ries such as the power steering
system or power brakes are not
" powered" , therefore, requiring sub­
stantially more effort for their opera­
tion even though they always remain
mechanically operative.
Tires:
Do not allow your tires to wear down
too far. With less than 3 mm/ Vs in of
tread, the antiskid properties on a wet
road are sharply reduced.
Depending upon the weather and/or
road pavement, the grip of the tires
varies widely.
The retention of the specified tire
pressure is essential. This applies
particularly if the tires are subjected
to high loads (e.g. high speeds, heavy
loads, high ambient temperatures).