2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML SUV engine oil

Engine compartment
220 Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
switched off and that the key has been
pulled out of the ignition lock before open-
ing the bonnet.
The bonnet release lever is located in the
driver's footwell. 1
Bonnet release lever
X Pull bonnet release lever 1.
The bonnet is released.
! Make sure that the windscreen wipers
are not folded out away from the wind-
screen. You can otherwise damage the
windscreen wipers or the bonnet. The handle for opening the bonnet is located
above the radiator grille.
2
Bonnet catch handle
X Reach into the gap, pull bonnet catch han-
dle 2up and lift the bonnet.
Closing G
Risk of injury
Make sure that nobody can become trap-
ped as you close the bonnet.
X Lower the bonnet and let it fall from a
height of approximately 20 cm.
X Check that the bonnet has engaged prop-
erly. i
If the bonnet can be raised slightly, it is
not properly engaged. Open it again and
close it with a little more force. Engine oil
Depending on driving style, the vehicle con-
sumes a maximum of 0.8 l oil per 1,000 km.
The oil consumption may be higher than this
when the vehicle is new or if you frequently
drive at high engine speeds. You can only
estimate the oil consumption after you have
driven a considerable distance.
You will find further information about engine
oil in the "Technical data" section
(Y page 369).
Checking the engine oil level To do so:
R
the vehicle should be parked on level
ground.
R the engine should be switched off for at
least five minutes if the engine was at nor-
mal operating temperature.
R the engine should be switched off for at
least 30 minutes if the engine was not at Operation
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Engine compartment
221
operating temperature (i.e. if you only star-
ted the engine briefly).
Via the on-board computer*
i Only possible on the ML 420 CDI. On all
other models a dipstick is used to check
the engine oil level (Y page 222).
X Make sure that the key is in position
2(Y page 75) in the ignition lock.
X Press the jork button to select the
following message: The measurement takes a few seconds. You
will see one of the following messages in the
display:
R
Engine oil level OK
R Add 1.0 litre to reach maximum oil
level R
Add 1.5 litres to reach maximum oil
level
R Add 2.0 litres to reach maximum oil
level
X Top up the oil if necessary ( Ypage 222).
Other messages in the multi-function dis-
play
If the engine is at normal operating tempera-
ture and there is too much oil, you will see the
following message:
Eng. oil level
Reduce oil level
X Have excess oil siphoned off.
! There is a risk of damage to the engine or
the catalytic converter if there is excess oil
in the engine.
If the Switch ignition on to check
engine oil level message appears:
X Turn the key to position 2(Y page 75) in
the ignition lock.
You will see the following message if you did
not observe the required waiting period:
Observe waiting period X
Repeat the measurement after about five
minutes if the engine is at normal operating
temperature.
X Repeat the measurement after about
30 minutes if the engine is not at normal
operating temperature (if the engine was
only started briefly).
The following message appears if the engine
is running:
Engine oil level Not when engine on
X Switch off the engine and wait for five
minutes if the engine is at normal operating
temperature, or for about 30 minutes if the
engine is not at normal operating temper-
ature (if the engine was only started
briefly), before measuring.
i If you wish to cancel the measurement,
press the korj button on the multi-
function steering wheel. Operation
* optional
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Engine compartment
222
Using the oil dipstick
Example: vehicles with a petrol engine
1
Oil dipstick
2 Maximum mark
3 Minimum mark
X Pull oil dipstick 1out of the oil dipstick
tube.
X Wipe off oil dipstick 1.
X Insert oil dipstick 1into the oil dipstick
tube to the stop, and take it out again.
The oil level is correct if the level is between
minimum mark 3and maximum mark
2.
X Top up the oil if necessary. i
The difference in quantity between mini-
mum mark 3and maximum mark 2is
approximately 2 litres.
Topping up the engine oil Example: 8-cylinder engine vehicles
1
Cap Example: 6-cylinder engine vehicles
1
Cap
X Unscrew cap 1and remove it.
X Top up with the amount of oil required.
! Do not add too much oil. If too much oil
is added and the oil level is above the max-
imum mark on the dipstick, the engine or
catalytic converter could be damaged.
Have excess oil siphoned off.
X Screw cap 1onto the filler neck. H
Environmental note
When topping up the oil, take care not to
spill any. Oil must not be allowed to escape
into the soil or waterways. You would oth-
erwise be damaging the environment. Operation
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Off-road driving
236
R
Check that items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
(Y page 193).
R Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient. Acti-
vate DSR.
R Drive slowly and evenly, if necessary at a
walking pace.
R Ensure that the wheels are in contact with
the ground at all times.
R Drive with extreme care on unknown off-
road routes where visibility is poor. For
safety reasons, get out of the vehicle first
and survey the off-road route.
R Check the depth of water before fording
rivers and streams.
R Look out for obstacles such as rocks, holes,
tree stumps and furrows.
R Always keep the side windows and the slid-
ing /tilting sunroof* closed during the jour-
ney.
R Do not stray from marked routes or paths.
i Information about retrofitting special all-
terrain tyres is available from any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Checklist before driving off-road X
Engine oil level: check the engine oil and
top it up if necessary.
X Vehicle toolkit: check that the jack is
working and make sure you have the wheel-
brace, a robust tow cable and a folding
spade in the vehicle.
X Wheels and tyres: check the tyre tread
depth and tyre pressure.
X Check for damage and remove foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the
wheels/tyres.
X Replace any missing valve caps.
X Replace dented or damaged wheels.
Checklist after driving off-road Driving over rough terrain places greater
demands on your vehicle than driving on nor-
mal roads. After driving off-road, check the
vehicle. This allows you to detect damage
promptly and reduce the risk of an accident
to yourself and other road users.
X
Deactivate the LOW RANGE* off-road gear
(Y page 141).
X Deactivate DSR (Y page 139).
X Set the differential lock setting to AUTO on
the selector wheel (Y page 143). X
Lower the vehicle level* again to a level
suitable to the road conditions, e.g. to the
highway/high-speed level.*
X Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage.
X Clean the front and rear licence plates.
X Clean the wheels/tyres with a water jet and
remove any foreign objects.
X Clean the wheels, wheel arches and the
vehicle underside with a water jet; check
for foreign objects and damage.
X Check whether twigs or other parts of
plants have become trapped. These
increase the risk of fire and can damage
fuel pipes, brake hoses or the rubber bel-
lows of the axle joints and propeller shafts.
X After the trip, examine without fail the
entire undercarriage, wheels, tyres, brakes,
bodywork structure, steering, chassis and
exhaust system for damage.
X After driving for extended periods across
sand, mud, gravel, water or in similarly dirty
conditions, have the brake discs, wheels,
brake pads /linings and axle joints checked
and cleaned.
X If you detect strong vibrations after off-road
travel, check for foreign objects in the
wheels and drive train and remove them if Operation
* optional
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Display
messages 279Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
. Reversing lamp,
left
or
Reversing lamp,
right The left-hand or right-hand reversing lamp
is faulty. X
Replace the bulb (Y page 312). . Left-hand tail
lamp
or
Right-hand tail
lamp The left-hand or right-hand tail lamp is
faulty.
For vehicles with LED tail lamps*: this
message only appears when all LEDs have
failed. X
Tail lamp with a bulb: change the bulb
(Y page 312).
X Tail lamp with LEDs*: contact a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. ò Replace air
cleaner element The engine air filter must be replaced. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. N Check engine oil
level when next
refuelling The engine oil level has dropped to a crit-
ical level. X
Check the engine oil level (Y page 220) and top
up the engine oil if necessary.
X Have the engine checked for leaks if the engine
oil needs topping up more often than usual. N Add 1 litre engine
oil when next refu-
elling The engine oil level is too low
31
. X
Check the engine oil level (Y page 220) and top
up the engine oil if necessary.
X Have the engine checked for leaks if the engine
oil needs topping up more often than usual. 31
Only for certain countries. Practical advi
ce
* optional
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Display
messages 280 Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
N Engine oil level
Stop car, turn
engine off There is insufficient oil in the engine.
There is a danger of engine damage. X
Stop the vehicle. Pay attention to the traffic
conditions as you do so.
X Switch off the engine.
X Top up the engine oil and check the level
(Y page 220). N Engine oil level
Reduce oil level
You have added too much engine oil.
31
There is a risk of damaging the engine or
catalytic converter. X
Siphon off excess engine oil until it is at the
specified level. Observe the legal require-
ments. N Engine oil level
Consult workshop The engine oil level has dropped to a crit-
ical level or the measuring system is mal-
functioning.
32 X
Check the engine oil level (Y page 220).
If the engine oil level is OK:
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
If the engine oil level is not OK:
X Top up the engine oil.
X If the warning message disappears: consult a
qualified specialist workshop.
X If the warning message does not disappear: do
not drive on. Consult the nearest qualified spe-
cialist workshop. N Engine oil level
cannot be measured The measuring system is malfunctioning.
32 X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 31
Only for certain countries.
32 Only for certain vehicles. Practical advi
ce
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Troubleshooting
299Automatic transmission
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The transmission has problems
shifting gear The transmission is losing oil. X
Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. The acceleration ability is deteri-
orating.
The transmission no longer
changes gear. The transmission is in emergency
mode.
It is only possible to shift into
2nd
gear and reverse gear. X
Stop the vehicle.
X Move the selector lever to P.
X Turn the key to position 0(Y page 75) in the ignition lock.
X Wait at least 10 seconds before restarting the engine.
X Move the selector lever to position Dor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into 2ndgear; if Ris selec-
ted, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. Practical advice
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Service products and capacities
366 Service products and capacities
Notes on service products and capaci-
ties
Service products are:
R fuels (e.g. petrol, diesel)
R lubricants (e.g. engine oil, transmission oil)
R coolant
R brake fluid
R windscreen washer fluid
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
use those products which have been tested
and specially approved by Mercedes-Benz for
your vehicle and are listed in the Mercedes-
Benz Owner's Manual in the relevant chapter
since:
R parts and service products are matched
R damage caused by the use of non-approved
service products is not covered by the war-
ranty
You can recognise service products approved
by Mercedes-Benz by the following inscrip-
tion on the containers:
R MB-Freigabe (e.g. MB-Freigabe 229.51)
R MB Approval (e.g. MB Approval 229.51) Other designations or recommendations that
relate to a level of quality or a specification in
accordance with an MB Approval have not
necessarily been approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
You can obtain further information from any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. G
Risk of injury
When handling, storing and disposing of
any service products, please observe the
relevant regulations, as you could other-
wise endanger yourself and others.
Keep service products away from children.
To protect your health, do not allow service
products to come into contact with your
eyes or open wounds. See a doctor imme-
diately if any service product is swallowed. H
Environmental note
Dispose of service products in an environ-
mentally-responsible manner. Fuels
G
Risk of explosion
Fuel is highly flammable. Fire, naked flames
and smoking are therefore prohibited when
handling fuels.
Switch off the engine and the auxiliary heat-
ing* before refuelling. G
Risk of injury
Do not allow fuel to come into contact with
skin or clothing.
Allowing fuels to come into direct contact
with your skin or inhaling fuel vapours is
damaging to your health.
Tank capacity Total capacity 95 l
Of which reserve
fuel Approximately 13 l
Of which reserve
fuel
ML 63 AMG Approximately 15 l
!
Do not use petrol to refuel vehicles with a
diesel engine. Do not use diesel to refuel Technical data
* optional
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