Page 282 of 416

282 OperationVehicle care
Vehicle careCleaning and care of vehicle
In operation, even while parked, your vehi-
cle is subjected to varying external influ-
ences which, if gone unchecked, can 
attack the paintwork as well as the under-
body and cause lasting damage.
Such damage is caused not only by ex-
treme and varying climatic conditions, but 
also by:
Air pollution
Road salt
Tar, gravel and stone chippingTo avoid paint damage, you should imme-
diately remove:
Grease and oil
Fuel
Coolant
Brake fluid
Insects
Tree resins etc.
Frequent washing reduces and / or elimi-
nates the aggressiveness and potency of 
the above adverse influences.
More frequent washings are necessary to 
deal with unfavorable conditions:
Near the ocean
In industrial areas (smoke, exhaust 
emissions)
During winter operationYou should check your vehicle from time to 
time for stone chipping or other damage. 
Any damage should be repaired as soon as 
possible to prevent corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the underbody 
of the vehicle. A prerequisite for a thor-
ough check is a washing of the underbody 
followed by a thorough inspection. Dam-
aged areas need to be re-undercoated.
Your vehicle has been treated at the facto-
ry with a wax-base rustproofing in the body 
cavities which will last for the lifetime of 
the vehicle. Post-production treatment is 
neither necessary nor recommended by 
Mercedes-Benz because of the possibility 
of incompatibility between materials used 
in the production process and others ap-
plied later.
We have selected car-care products and 
compiled recommendations which are 
specially matched to our vehicles and 
which always reflect the latest technology. 
You can obtain Mercedes-Benz approved 
car-care products at your authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Many cleaning products can be hazardous. 
Some are poisonous, others are flammable. 
Always follow the instructions on the partic-
ular container. Always open your vehicle’s 
doors or windows when cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not de-
signed for cleaning your vehicle. 
     
        
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371 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
CapacitiesVehicle components and their respective 
lubricants must match. Therefore use only 
brands tested and recommended by us.Please refer to the Factory Approved Ser-
vice Products pamphlet, or inquire at your 
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Engine with oil filter
S 430
S 500
S 55 AMG
S 600
8.5 US qt. (8.0 l)
8.5 US qt. (8.0 l)
7.9 US qt. (7.5 l)
9.5 US qt. (9.0 l)
Recommended engine oils
Automatic transmission
S 600
9.1 US qt. (8.6 l)
8.1 US qt. (7.7 l)
MB Automatic Transmission Oil
1
1MB part no. 001 989 21 03 10Rear axle
1.7 US qt. (1.6 l)
Hypoid gear oil SAE 85 W 90
Front axle
S 430 4MATIC
S 500 4MATIC
0.63 US qt. (0.6 l)
Hypoid gear oil SAE 85 W 90 
Transfer case
S 430 4MATIC
S 500 4MATIC
0.62 US qt. (0.585 l)
MB Automatic Transmission Oil
1
Hydraulic system for ADS or ABC
4.2 US qt. (4.0 l)
MB Hydraulic Fluids
Power steering
approx. 1.1 US qt. (1.0 l)
MB Power Steering Fluid (Pentosin 
CHF 11S)
Front wheel hubs
approx. 2.1 oz. (60 g) each
High-temperature roller bearing 
grease 
     
        
        Page 373 of 416

373 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Engine oils
Engine oils are specifically tested for their 
suitability in our engines. Therefore, only 
use engine oils recommended by 
Mercedes-Benz. Information on recom-
mended brands is available in the Factory 
Approved Service Products pamphlet, or at 
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Please follow FSS recommendations for 
scheduled oil changes. Failure to do so 
could result in engine damage not covered 
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Engine oil additives
Do not blend oil additives with engine oil. 
They may be harmful to the engine opera-
tion.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from 
blending oil additives are not covered by 
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Air conditioning refrigerant
R-134a (HFC) refrigerant and special PAG 
lubricating oil is used in the air condition-
ing system.
Never use R-12 (CFC) or mineral-based lu-
bricating oil, as otherwise damage to the 
system will occur.
Brake fluid
During vehicle operation, the boiling point 
of the brake fluid is continuously reduced 
through the absorption of moisture from 
the atmosphere. Under extremely strenu-
ous operating conditions, this moisture 
content can lead to the formation of bub-
bles in the system, thus reducing the sys-
tem’s efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be re-
placed every two years, preferably in the 
spring.
Only brake fluid approved by 
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center will pro-
vide you with additional information.