2008 MERCEDES-BENZ SLK280 oil level

Contents
At the gas station .............................. 291
Refueling ...................................... 291
Check regularly and before a
long trip........................................ 292
Engine compartment ......................... 294
Hood ............................................ 294
Engine oil ..................................... 296
Transmission fluid level* .............. 300
Coolant level ................................ 300
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 301
Battery ......................................... 302
Tires and wheels ................................ 304
Important guidelines .................... 304
Tire care and maintenance........... 305
Direction of rotation ..................... 307
Loading the vehicle ...................... 307
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 311
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 313
MOExtended system* .................. 321
Tire labeling.................................. 321
Load identification ....................... 325
DOT, Tire Identification
Number (TIN) ............................... 326
Maximum tire load ....................... 327Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 328
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 328
Tire ply material ............................ 330
Tire and loading terminology......... 331
Rotating tires ................................ 334
Winter driving ..................................... 335
Winter tires ................................... 335
Snow chains.................................. 336
Maintenance....................................... 337
Maintenance service indicator
message ....................................... 337
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator message ............ 338
Maintenance service term
exceeded ...................................... 338
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display ............... 338
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 339
Vehicle care........................................ 340
Cleaning and care of vehicle ......... 340
Practical hints.................................. 347
What to do if … ................................... 348
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 348
Lamp in center console ................ 358
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 360
Where will I find...? ............................. 389
First aid kit.................................... 389
Vehicle tool kit, vehicle jack ......... 389
Spare wheel with collapsible tire .. 392
Spare wheel bolts ......................... 393
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 394
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 394
Locking the vehicle ....................... 395
Manually unlocking the gear
selector lever
(automatic transmission*) ............ 396
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 397
Raising retractable hardtop
manually ....................................... 397
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 398
Replacing bulbs .................................. 400
Bulbs............................................. 400
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 403
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 404

125 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Table continued on next page.
Menu1Menu2Menu3Menu4
Standard displayAMG1AUDIONAV*
(page 127)(page 128)(page 133)(page 135)
Commands/submenus
Run Flat Indicator* (Canada only)
or
TPMS (USA only)Engine oil temperatureSelecting radio stationShow route guidance
instructions, current direction
traveled
Checking coolant temperatureVehicle supply voltageSelecting satellite radio
station* (USA only)
Digital speedometer/outside
temperatureRACETIMEROperating the CD player
Calling up maintenance service
indicatorOverall analysis
Checking engine oil level
(SLK 55 AMG only)Lap analysis
1AMG vehicles only.

127 Controls in detail
Control system
Standard display menu
The multifunction display shows the main
odometer and trip odometer. This default
setting is referred to as the standard
display.
1Main odometer
2Trip odometer
If another display is shown instead of the
standard display:
Press buttonèorÿ repeatedly
until the standard display appears in
the multifunction display.
Press buttonk orj to select
the functions in the standard display
menu.The following functions are available:Checking coolant temperature
FunctionPage
Run Flat Indicator* (Canada only)
or
TPMS (USA only)315
317
Checking coolant temperature127
Displaying digital speedometer
or outside temperature128
Calling up maintenance service
indicator337
Checking engine oil level
(SLK 55 AMG only)296
Warning!G

Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.

Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of
the vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle
until the engine has cooled down.

293 Operation
At the gas station
Coolant
For normal replenishing, use water
(potable water quality).
For more information on coolant, see
“Coolant level” (
page 300) and “Fuels,
coolants, lubricants, etc.” (
page 451).
Engine oil level
For information on engine oil, see “Engine
oil” (
page 296).Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness.
For more information on vehicle lighting,
see “Replacing bulbs” (
page 400).
For information on switching on the exteri-
or lighting, see “Exterior lamp switch”
(
page 109).
Tire inflation pressure
For information on tire inflation pressure,
see “Important notes on tire inflation
pressure” (
page 313).

296 Operation
Engine compartment
Engine oil
The amount of oil your engine needs will
depend on a number of factors, including
driving style. Higher oil consumption can
occur when

the vehicle is new

the vehicle is driven frequently at
higher engine speeds
Engine oil consumption checks should only
be made after the vehicle break-in period.Checking engine oil level with the
control system (SLK 55 AMG only)
When checking the oil level

the vehicle must be parked on level
ground.

with the engine at operating tempera-
ture, the vehicle must have been sta-
tionary for at least 5 minutes with the
engine turned off.

with the engine not at operating tem-
perature, the vehicle must have been
stationary for at least 30 minutes with
the engine turned off.To check the engine oil level via the
multifunction display, do the following:
Switch on the ignition (page 37).
The standard display appears in the
multifunction display (
page 127).
Press buttonk orj on the mul-
tifunction steering wheel repeatedly
until the following message appears in
the multifunction display (
page 122):
!Do not use any special lubricant additives,
as these may damage the drive assemblies.
Using special additives not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may cause damage not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
More information on this subject is available at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

297 Operation
Engine compartment
One of the following messages will
subsequently appear in the multifunc-
tion display:

Engine Oil Level
OK

Add 1.0 qt. (Canada: 1.0 liter)
to reach max. oil level.

Add 1.5 qts. (Canada:
1.5 liters)
to reach max. oil level.

Add 2.0 qts. (Canada:
2.0 liters)
to reach max. oil level.
If necessary, add engine oil.
For adding engine oil, see “Adding
engine oil” (
page 299).
For more information on engine oil, see
“Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(
page 451).Other display messages
If the ignition is not switched on, the fol-
lowing message will appear:
Turn on ignition
to see engine oil level
.
Switch on the ignition (page 37).
If you see the message:
Observe
Waiting Time
If engine is at operating temperature,
wait 5 minutes before repeating check
procedure.
If engine is not at operating tempera-
ture yet, you must wait 30 minutes
before checking oil.If you see the message:
Cannot check engine oil level
with engine on.
Turn off the engine.
If the engine is at operating tempera-
ture, wait 5 minutes before checking
oil.
If the engine is not at operating
temperature yet, you must wait
30 minutes before checking oil.
iIf you want to interrupt the checking
procedure, press buttonk orj on the
multifunction steering wheel (
page 122).
iIf you want to interrupt the checking
procedure, press buttonk orj on the
multifunction steering wheel (
page 122).

298 Operation
Engine compartment
If there is excess engine oil with the engine
at normal operating temperature, the
following message will appear:
Engine Oil Level
Reduce Oil Level
Have excess oil siphoned or drained
off. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
For more information on messages in the
display concerning engine oil, see the
“Practical hints” section (
page 360).Checking engine oil level with the oil
dipstick (SLK 280, SLK 350 only)
When checking the oil level

the vehicle must be parked on level
ground.

with the engine at operating tempera-
ture, the vehicle must have been
stationary for at least 5 minutes with
the engine turned off.

with the engine not at operating tem-
perature, the vehicle must have been
stationary for at least 30 minutes with
the engine turned off.1Oil dipstick
2Upper (max) mark
3Lower (min) mark
To check the engine oil level with the oil
dipstick, do the following:
Open the hood (page 294).
Pull out oil dipstick1.
Wipe oil dipstick1 clean.
Fully insert oil dipstick1 into the
dipstick guide tube.
!Excess oil must be siphoned or drained off.
It could cause damage to the engine and
catalytic converter not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

299 Operation
Engine compartment
Pull out oil dipstick1 again after
approximately 3 seconds to obtain
accurate reading.
The oil level is correct when it is be-
tween the lower (min) mark3 and
upper (max) mark2 of oil dipstick1.
If necessary, add engine oil.
For adding engine oil, see “Adding
engine oil” (
page 299).
For more information on engine oil, see
“Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(
page 451).
For more information on messages in the
multifunction display concerning engine
oil, see the “Practical hints” section
(
page 360).Adding engine oil
SLK 350 (example illustration)
1Filler cap
SLK 55 AMG
1Filler cap
iThe filling quantity between the upper and
lower marks on the oil dipstick is approximately
2.1 US qt. (2.0 l).
!Only use approved engine oils and oil filters
required for vehicles with Maintenance System.
For a listing of approved engine oils and oil
filters, refer to the Factory Approved Service
Products pamphlet (USA only) in your vehicle
literature portfolio, or contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Using engine oils and oil filters of specification
other than those expressly required for the
Maintenance System, or changing of oil and oil
filter at change intervals longer than those called
for by the Maintenance System will result in
engine or emission control system damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.