2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG Oil level

293 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tread depth
Do not allow your tires to wear down too
far. Adhesion properties on wet roads are
sharply reduced at tread depths of less
than
1/8in (3 mm).
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and
become visible at a tread depth of approx-
imately
1/16in (1.6 mm), at which point the
tire is considered worn and should be re-
placed.
Recommended minimum tire tread depth:

Summer tires 1/8in (3 mm)

Winter tires 1/6in (4 mm)
1TWI (T
read Wear Indicator)
The treadwear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread.Storing tires
Cleaning tiresWarning!G
Although the applicable federal motor safety
laws consider a tire to be worn when the
treadwear indicators (TWI) become visible at
approximately
1/16in (1.6 mm), we recom-
mend that you do not allow your tires
to wear down to that level. As tread depth
approaches 1/8in (3 mm), the adhesion
properties on a wet road are sharply re-
duced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.!Keep unmounted tires in a cool, dry place
with as little exposure to light as possible. Pro-
tect tires from contact with oil, grease and gaso-
line.
!Never use a round nozzle to power wash
tires. The intense jet of water can result in
damage to the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire.

332 Operation
Maintenance
Calling up the maintenance service
indicator display
You can call up the maintenance service in-
dicator display at any time to check when
the next maintenance service is due.
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Press button è or ÿ on the mul-
tifunction steering wheel repeatedly
until the standard display appears in
the multifunction display (
page 149).
Press button k or j on the
multifunction steering wheel until the
maintenance service indicator display
with the maintenance service symbol
9 or ½ appears in the left multi-
function display and the maintenance
service deadline appears in the right
multifunction display.Resetting the maintenance service
indicator
In the event that the maintenance service
on your vehicle is not carried out by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center, you can
have the maintenance service indicator
reset. The automotive maintenance facility
carrying out the maintenance service will
find the information for resetting the
maintenance service indicator in the main-
tenance-relevant information for your vehi-
cle. Such information is available from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or
directly from Mercedes-Benz.
iThe menu overview can be found on
(
page 146).
iIf the battery supplying the vehicle’s electri-
cal consumers is disconnected, the days of dis-
connection will not be included in the count
shown by the maintenance service indicator. To
arrive at the true maintenance service deadline,
you will need to subtract these days from the
days shown in the maintenance service indicator
message or maintenance service indicator dis-
play.
Do not confuse the maintenance service indica-
tor with the engine oil level indicator N.
!If the maintenance service indicator was in-
advertently reset, have an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center correct it.
Only reset if the proper maintenance service has
been performed. Resetting the system without
performing proper maintenance service as
called for by the maintenance service indicator
will result in engine damage and/or other vehicle
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

362 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ABCMalfunction
Stop CarThe vehicle is losing oil.
The ABC message is continuously
shown.Stop your vehicle in a safe location or as
soon as it is safe to do so.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
The ABC is malfunctioning.Stop the vehicle in a safe location and
press the vehicle level control button to
select a higher vehicle level (
page 231).
If the vehicle does not raise, observe the
following when you continue to drive:
Do not turn steering wheel too far to
avoid damaging the front fenders.
Listen for scraping noises.
Do not exceed a speed of
50 mph (80 km/h).
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
ABCMalfunctionThe capability of the ABC system is
restricted. This can impair handling.Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph
(80 km/h).
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.

387 Practical hints
What to do if …
When the message Add 1 qt engine oil
at next refueling
(Canada: 1 liter)
appears while the engine is running and at
operating temperature, the engine oil level
has dropped to approximately the
minimum level.
When this occurs, the warning is at first
intermittent and then remains on if the oil
level drops further.Visually check for oil leaks. If there are no
obvious oil leaks, drive to the nearest
service station to refill the engine oil
should be topped to the required level.
For information on approved engine oils,
refer to the Factory Approved Service
Products pamphlet (USA only) or contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
NUSA only:
Add 1 qt
engine oil
at next
refueling.
Canada only:
Add 1 liter
engine oil
at next
refueling.
Vehicles with engine oil measuring
system only:
The engine oil level is too low.Add engine oil (page 286) and check the
engine oil level (
page 284).
!Engine oil level warnings should not be ig-
nored. Extended driving with the symbol
displayed could result in serious engine damage
that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

388 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left displayRight displayPossible cause/consequencePossible solution
NEngine Oil Level
Stop car,
switch engine off.There is no oil in the engine. There
is a danger of engine damage.Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon
as it is safe to do so.
Turn off the engine.
Add engine oil (page 286) and check the
engine oil level (
page 284).
Engine Oil Level
Reduce Oil LevelVehicles with engine oil measuring
system only:
You have added too much engine
oil. There is a risk of damaging the
engine or the catalytic converter.Have excess oil siphoned or drained off.
Observe all legal requirements with respect
to its disposal.
Engine Oil Level
Cannot
measure
eng. oil level.Vehicles with engine oil measuring
system only:
The measuring system is malfunc-
tioning.Have the measuring system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Engine Oil Level
Check LevelVehicles with oil dipstick only:
The engine oil has dropped to a crit-
ical level.Check the engine oil level (page 284) and
add oil as required (
page 286).
If you must add engine oil frequently, have the
engine checked for possible leaks.

463 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
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 -35°F (-37°C) and corro-
sion protection.If the antifreeze mixture is effective to
-35°F (-37°C), the boiling point of the cool-
ant in the pressurized cooling system is
reached at approximately 266°F (130°C).
The coolant solution must be used year
round to provide the necessary corrosion
protection and increase in the boil-over
protection. Refer to Maintenance Booklet
for replacement interval.
Coolant system design and coolant used
stipulate the replacement interval. The
replacement interval published in the
Maintenance Booklet is only applicable if
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze solu-
tion or other Mercedes-Benz approved
products of equal specification are used to
renew the coolant concentration or bring it
back up to the proper level.
For information on other Mercedes-Benz
approved products of equal specification,
refer to the Factory Approved Service
Products pamphlet (USA only) or contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.To provide important corrosion protection,
the solution must be at least
50% anticorrosion/antifreeze (equivalent
to freeze protection to approximately
-35°F [-37°C]). If you use a solution that is
more than 55% anticorrosion/antifreeze
(freeze protection to approximately
-49°F [-45°C]), the engine temperature
will increase due to the lower heat transfer
capability of the solution. Therefore,
do not use more than this amount of
anticorrosion/antifreeze.
If the coolant level is low, water and
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze
should be used to bring it up to the proper
level (have cooling system checked for
signs of leakage). Please make sure the
mixture is in accordance with label instruc-
tions.
The water in the cooling system must meet
minimum requirements, which are usually
satisfied by normal drinking water. If you
are not sure about the water quality, con-
tact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
! Add premixed coolant solution only. Adding
water and MB 325.0 Anticorrosion/Antifreeze
separately from each other, could cause engine
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

467 Index
A
ABC 230
Messages in the multifunction
display 361
Oil level 287
ABS 89
Indicator lamp 29, 344
Messages in the multifunction
display 363, 364
Warning lamp 27, 342
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 175
Accessory weight 322
Accident 61
Active Body Control see ABC
Air bags 70
Children in the vehicle 84
Front 73
Head-thorax 74
Knee bag 74
Occupant Classification System
(OCS) 74Passenger 74
Passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp 78
Safety guidelines 72
Air conditioning system see Automatic
climate control system
Air distribution 192, 194
Air pressure 322
Tire inflation pressure 300
Air pump 422
Air recirculation mode 196
Air vents 189
Air volume 193, 195
Alarm system see Anti-theft systems
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 421
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 458, 464
Antiglare, Interior rear view mirror 185
Antilock Brake System see ABS
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft alarm system 98
Immobilizer 98
Tow-away alarm 100
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning
Armrest 239Ashtray 31, 244
Aspect ratio 322
ATF 287
Auto-dimming, Rear view mirrors 185
Automatic central locking 122
Control system 166
Automatic climate control system 188
Air conditioning, Cooling 198
Air conditioning refrigerant 460
Air distribution 192, 194
Air recirculation mode 196
Air vents 189
Air volume 193, 195
Control panel 190
Deactivating 191
Defrosting 187, 195
Residual heat utilization 199
Temperature 193
Temperature sensor 33
Ventilated glove box 200

470 Index
Control system submenus 147
Convenience 166
Instrument cluster 160
Lighting 163
Time 161
Vehicle 166
Convenience feature 206
Coolant 463
Anticorrosion/antifreeze mixing ratio
and quantity 464
Checking coolant level 288
Coolant warning lamp 348
Messages in the multifunction
display 383, 385
Temperature 278
Temperature gauge 141
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps* 136
Replacing bulbs 409
Courtesy lighting 139
Cruise control 214
Messages in the multifunction
display 364, 365
Cup holder 243
Curb weight 323D
Daytime running lamp mode 133
Setting 163
Deep water see Standing water
Defogging, Windshield 196
Defrosting, Front 195
Defrosting, Rear 187
Delayed switch-off
Exterior lamps 164
Interior lighting 165
Department of Transportation see DOT
Difficulties
While driving 60
With starting the engine 54
Digital clock see Clock
Digital speedometer 149
Dimensions, Vehicle 455
Dipstick see Oil dipstick
Direction of rotation (tires) 294
Displays
Digital speedometer 149
Distronic* 156, 220, 222
Maintenance service indicator 330
Multifunction display 143Outside temperature 142, 149
Symbol messages 376
Text messages 361
Vehicle status message memory 156
Vehicle status messages 359
Distance to empty (range), Trip
computer 169
Distance warning function* 229
Activating 230
Deactivating 230
Intermittent warning sound 229
Symbol 222
Distronic* 218
“Resume” function 225
Activating 223
Cleaning system sensor cover 336
Control system 156, 222
Distance warning function* 229
Driving hints 227
System sensor cover 336
Warning and indicator
lamps 27, 220, 221, 229, 350