2000 MERCEDES-BENZ SL CLASS fuel

279 Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. - capacities
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 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.

280 Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. - capacities
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
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 approx. 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]),

281 Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. - capacities
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 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 car: 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)
SL 500 6.6 US qt
(6.25 l)7. 3 U S q t
(6.9 l)
SL 600 10.6 US qt
(10.0 l)11 . 6 U S q t
(11.0 l)

287
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
DDisplay illumination ........................................................ 77
Door control panel ........................................................... 20
Door pockets ................................................................... 129
Doors .................................................................................. 35
Drinking and Driving .....................................................176
Drive sensibly - Save Fuel .............................................176
Driving instructions .......................................................176
Block heater ............................................................... 183
Brakes ......................................................................... 177
Deep water ................................................................. 184
Pedals ...........................................................................176
Traveling abroad ....................................................... 184
Winter driving ........................................................... 182
Driving off ....................................................................... 178EEconomy ............................................................................ 93
Electronic stability program (ESP) .............................. 192
Emergency tensioning retractor (ETR) ......................... 60
Emergency unlocking in case of accident ................... 38
Emission control ............................................................ 164
Engine compartment ..................................................... 219Engine oil
Additives .................................................................... 278
Capacities ................................................................... 276
Checking level ...........................................................221
Consumption ................................................................83
Engine oils ................................................................. 278
Low level warning lamp ........................................... 210
Engine oil level indicator ................................................82
Engine oil temperature gauge ........................................ 83
Entrance lamps in footwells, exit lamps in doors ..... 120
ESP (Electronic Stability Program) ............................. 192
Control Switch ........................................................... 194
Malfunction indicator lamp .................................... 207
Synchronizing ........................................................... 193
Warning lamp ........................................................... 207
ETR (Emergency tensioning retractor) .........................60
SRS indicator lamp .................................................. 206
Exterior lamp switch .......................................................84
Exterior lamps ............................................................... 242
Adjusting headlamp aim ......................................... 247
Bulb for high and low beam ................................... 244
Failure indicator lamp .............................................. 211
Headlamp assembly (Halogen) .............................. 243
Headlamp assembly (Xenon) .................................. 245
License plate lamps ................................................. 250
Replacing bulbs ........................................................ 242

288
Technical
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
Taillamp assemblies .................................................249
Turn signal, parking, side marker
and standing lamp ...............................................244
FFirst aid kit ..................................................................... 215
Flexible service system (FSS) ........................................ 80
FSS indicator lamp ..................................................... 77
Fuel consumption gauge ................................................. 83
Fuel filler flap, manual release ...................................259
Fuel requirements .........................................................279
Fuel reserve and fuel cap placement warning ..........207
Fuel supply .....................................................................200
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. - capacities ............... 276
Fuses ................................................................................ 218GGarage door opener ....................................................... 133
Gasoline
Additives ....................................................................280
Fuel requirements ....................................................279
Premium unleaded ...................................................279
HHardtop
Attaching hardtop .....................................................140
Removing .................................................................... 137
Hardtop or panorama roof ............................................ 137
Hazard warning flasher switch ..................................... 89
Head restraints .................................................................44
Headlamp assembly (Halogen) ................................... 243
Headlamp cleaning system .............................................87
High beam indicator lamp ............................................ 213
Hood ................................................................................. 219IIdentification labels ...................................................... 270
Illuminated vanity mirror ............................................. 123
Indicator lamps in the instrument cluster .......... 76, 204
Infant and Child Restraint Systems
SRS indicator lamp .................................................. 206
Infant and child restraint systems ................................67
Instrument cluster ........................................................... 74
Display illumination ...................................................77
Indicator lamps ............................................................ 76
Instrument lamps ........................................................ 77