2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SL55AMG octane

13 Introduction
Operator’s Manual
Operating your vehicle outside the USA
or Canada
If you plan to operate your vehicle in
foreign countries, please be aware that:

Service facilities or replacement parts
may not be readily available,

unleaded gasoline for vehicles with cat-
alytic converters may not be available;
the use of leaded fuels will damage the
catalysts,

gasoline may have a considerably low-
er octane rating, and improper fuel can
cause engine damage.Certain Mercedes-Benz models are
available for delivery in Europe under our
European Delivery Program. For details,
consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center or write to:
In the USA:
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
European Delivery Department
One Mercedes Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645-0350
In Canada:
Mercedes-Benz Canada, Inc.
European Delivery Department
98 Vanderhoof Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4G 4C9

280 Operation
At the gas station
Insert fuel cap 2 into fuel filler neck
and turn fuel cap clockwise until it au-
dibly engages.
Close fuel filler flap 1.
You should hear the latch close shut.
Check regularly and before a long trip
For information on quantities and require-
ments of operating agents, see “Fuels,
coolants, lubricants, etc.” (
page 457).
Open the hood (page 282).
1Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system
2Brake fluid
3Coolant level
Warning!G
Overfilling of the fuel tank may create pres-
sure in the system which could cause a gas
discharge. This could cause the gas to spray
back out when removing the fuel pump noz-
zle, which could cause personal injury.
iOnly use premium unleaded gasoline with a
minimum Posted Octane Rating of 91 (average of
96 RON/86 MON).
Information on gasoline quality can normally be
found on the fuel pump. Please contact gas
station personal in case labels on the pump
cannot be found.
For more information on gasoline, see “Premium
unleaded gasoline” (
page 461), refer to the
Factory Approved Service Products pamphlet
(USA only), or contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz-Center.
iLeaving the engine running and the fuel cap
open can cause the engine malfunction indicator
lamp ú (USA only) or the engine malfunction
indicator lamp ± (Canada only) to illuminate.
For more information, see the “Practical hints”
section (
page 346).


447 Technical data
Engine
Engine
ModelSL 550 (230.471)1
1The quoted data apply only to the standard vehicle. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for the corresponding data of all special bodies and special equipment.
SL 600 (230.477)1
Engine273275
Mode of operation4-stroke engine, gasoline injection4-stroke engine, gasoline injection
No. of cylinders812
Bore3.86 in (98.00 mm)3.23 in (82.00 mm)
Stroke3.56 in (90.50 mm)3.43 in (87.00 mm)
Total piston displacement333.3cu in (5461cm3)336.4 cu in (5 513 cm3)
Compression ratio10.7:19:1
Output acc. to SAE J 1349382 hp/6 000 rpm2
(285 kW/6 000 rpm)
2Premium fuel required. Performance may vary with fuel octane rating.
510 hp/5 000 rpm2
(380 kW/5 000 rpm)
Maximum torque acc. to SAE J 1349391 lb-ft/2 800 - 4 800 rpm
(530 Nm/2 800 - 4 800 rpm)612 lb-ft/1 900 - 3 500 rpm
(830 Nm/1 900 - 3 500 rpm)
Maximum engine speed6 500 rpm5 950 rpm
Firing order1-5-4-2-6-3-7-81-12-5-8-3-10-6-7-2-11-4-9
Poly-V-belt2 398 mm2 335 mm

448 Technical data
Engine
ModelSL 55 AMG (230.474)1
1The quoted data apply only to the standard vehicle. See an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for the corresponding data of all special bodies and special equipment.
SL 65 AMG (230.479)1
Engine113275
Mode of operation4-stroke engine, gasoline injection4-stroke engine, gasoline injection
No. of cylinders812
Bore3.82 in (97.00 mm)3.25 in (82.60 mm)
Stroke3.62 in (92.00 mm)3.66 in (93.00 mm)
Total piston displacement331.8 cu in (5439 cm3)364.9 cu in (5980 cm3)
Compression ratio9:19:1
Output acc. to SAE J 1349510 hp/6 100 rpm2
(380 kW/6 100 rpm)
2Premium fuel required. Performance may vary with fuel octane rating.
603 hp/4 800-5 100 rpm2
(450 kW/4 800-5 100 rpm)
Maximum torque acc. to SAE J 1349530 lb-ft/2 600 - 4 000 rpm
(720 Nm/2 600 - 4 000 rpm)738 lb-ft/2 000 - 4 000 rpm
(1 000 Nm/2 000 - 4 000 rpm)
Maximum engine speed6500 rpm5950 rpm
Firing order1-5-4-2-6-3-7-81-12-5-8-3-10-6-7-2-11-4-9
Poly-V-belt2 462 mm/1 289 mm2335 mm

459 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
ModelCapacityFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Fuel tank
including a reserve ofAll models
SL 550
SL 600
SL 55 AMG
SL 65 AMG21.1 US gal (80.0 l)
2.6 US gal (10.0 l)
2.6 US gal (10.0 l)
3.7 US gal (14.0 l)
3.7 US gal (14.0 l)Premium unleaded gasoline:
Minimum Posted Octane 91
(Avg. of 96 RON/86 MON)
Air conditioning systemR-134a refrigerant and special
PAG lubricant oil (never R-12)
Hydraulic system for retractable hardtop0.42 US qt (0.4 l)MB Hydraulic Fluid
Windshield washer and headlamp cleaning
system7.4 US qt (7.0 l)MB Windshield Washer Concentrate1
1Use MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit” and water for temperatures above freezing point or MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “MB SummerFit”
and commercially available premixed windshield washer solvent/antifreeze for temperatures below freezing point. Follow suggested mixing ratios (page 465).

461 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Premium unleaded gasolineFuel requirements
Only use premium unleaded fuel:

The octane number (posted at the
pump) must be 91 min. It is an average
of both the Research Octane Number
(RON) and the Motor Octane Number
(MON): (RON+MON)/2. This is also
known as the 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 must not exceed 15%.
The ratio of methanol to gasoline must not
exceed 3% plus additional cosolvents.Warning!G
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
personal injury.
Never allow sparks, flame or smoking mate-
rials near gasoline!
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid
inhaling fumes and skin contact, extinguish
all smoking materials.
Direct skin contact with fuels and the
inhalation of fuel vapors are damaging to
your health.
!To maintain the engine’s durability and
performance, premium unleaded gasoline must
be used. If premium unleaded gasoline is not
available and low octane fuel is used, follow
these precautions:

Have the fuel tank only partially filled with
unleaded regular gasoline and fill up with
premium unleaded gasoline as soon as
possible.

Avoid full throttle driving and abrupt
acceleration.

Do not exceed an engine speed of 3 000 rpm
if the vehicle is loaded with a light load such
as two occupants and no luggage.

Do not exceed 2/3 of maximum accelerator
pedal position if the vehicle is fully loaded or
operating in mountainous terrain.