2009 MERCEDES-BENZ G-Class Owner's Manual

Vehicle equipment ............................146
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) .......146
At the gas station .............................146
Engine compartment ........................148
Tires and wheels ...............................154
Winter driving ...................................175
Driving instructions ..........................176
Maintenance ......................................185
Vehicle care .......................................187
145Operation463_AKB; 2; 52, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.7.12008-12-02T10:52:11+01:00 - Seite 145

switch on the ignition. Otherwise the
incorrect or non-approved fuel will get into
the fuel lines. The fuel system must be
drained completely. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center to have the fuel
system drained completely.
! To prevent damage to the catalytic
converters, only use premium unleaded
gasoline in this vehicle.
Any noticeable irregularities in engine
operation should be repaired promptly.
Otherwise, excessive unburned fuel may
reach the catalytic converter, causing it to
overheat and potentially start a fire.
i Only 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 personnel in case
labels on the pump cannot be found.
For more information on gasoline, see
“Premium unleaded gasoline”
(Y page 254), see “Fuel requirements”
(Y page 255), or contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, or visit
www.mbusa.com (USA only).
The fuel filler flap is located on the right-hand
side of the vehicle towards the rear.
Locking/unlocking the vehicle with the
SmartKey automatically locks/unlocks the
fuel filler flap.
iIn case the central locking system does
not release the fuel filler flap, see “Fuel filler
flap” (Y page 223).
XTurn off the engine.
iLeaving the engine running and the fuel
filler cap open can cause the yellow fuel
tank reserve warning lamp to flash and the
malfunction indicator lamp = (USA
only) or ; (Canada only) to illuminate.
For more information, see also “Practical
hints” (Y page 218).
XRemove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
XOpening: Press fuel filler flap : at the
point indicated by the arrow.
XTurn fuel filler cap ; counterclockwise.XTake off fuel filler cap ;.
! The fuel filler cap is tethered to the fuel
filler neck. Do not drop the cap. It could
damage the vehicle paint finish.
XPlace fuel filler cap ; in direction of arrow
into the holder.
XFully insert filler nozzle unit and refuel.XOnly fill your tank until the filler nozzle unit
cuts out – do not top off or overfill.
! When refueling the vehicle, make certain
that no gasoline comes into contact with
the rear side marker to prevent damaging
the lens.
XClosing: Turn fuel filler cap ; clockwise
until it audibly engages.
iMake sure to close the fuel filler flap
before locking your vehicle as the flap
At the gas station147Operation463_AKB; 2; 52, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.7.12008-12-02T10:52:11+01:00 - Seite 147Z

locking pin prevents closing after you have
locked the vehicle.
XClose fuel filler flap :.
Check regularly and before a long trip
For information on quantities and
requirements of operating agents, see “Fuels,
coolants, lubricants, etc.” (Y page 252).
Check the following:
REngine oil level (Y page 149)
RTire inflation pressure (Y page 156)
RCoolant level (Y page 152)
RVehicle lighting (Y page 226)
RWasher system and headlamp cleaning
system (Y page 153)
RBrake fluid (Y page 152)
Engine compartment
Hood
GWarning!
Do not pull the release lever while the vehicle
is in motion. Otherwise the hood could be
forced open by passing air flow.
This could cause the hood to come loose and
injure you and/or others.
Opening
GWarning!
If you see flames or smoke coming from the
engine compartment, or if the coolant
temperature gauge indicates that the engine
is overheated, do not open the hood. Move
away from vehicle and do not open the hood
until the engine has cooled. If necessary, call
the fire department.
GWarning!
You could be injured when the hood is open –
even when the engine is turned off.
Parts of the engine can become very hot. To
prevent burns, let the engine cool completely
before touching any components on the
vehicle. Comply with all relevant safety
precautions.
GWarning!
To help prevent personal injury, stay clear of
moving parts when the hood is open and the
engine is running.
The radiator fan may continue to run for
approximately 30 seconds or may even
restart after the engine has been turned off.
Stay clear of fan blades.
GWarning!
The engine is equipped with a transistorized
ignition system. Because of the high voltage
it is dangerous to touch any components
(ignition coils, spark plug sockets, diagnostic
socket) of the ignition system
Rwith the engine running
Rwhile starting the engine
Rwhen the ignition is switched on and the
engine is turned manually
XPull hood lock release lever :.
The hood is unlocked.
! To avoid damage to the windshield wipers
or hood, never open the hood if the wiper
148Engine compartmentOperation
463_AKB; 2; 52, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.7.12008-12-02T10:52:11+01:00 - Seite 148

arms are folded forward away from the
windshield.
XLift hood up slightly.XPush safety hook ; in direction of arrow.XPull up on hood.
The hood will be automatically held open at
shoulder height by gas-filled struts.
Closing
GWarning!
When closing the hood, use extreme caution
not to catch hands or fingers. Be careful that
you do not close the hood on anyone.
Make sure the hood is securely engaged
before driving off. Do not continue driving if
the hood can no longer engage after an
accident, for example. The hood could
otherwise come loose while the vehicle is in
motion and injure you and/or others.
XLet the hood drop from a height of
approximately 1 ft (30 cm).
XCheck to make sure the hood is fully
closed.
If you can raise the hood at a point above
the turn signals to the left and right of the
hood, then it is not properly closed. Open
it again and let it drop with somewhat
greater force.
Engine oil
The amount of oil your engine needs will
depend on a number of factors, including
driving style. Increased oil consumption can
occur when the vehicle is new or the vehicle
is driven frequently at higher engine speeds.
Engine oil consumption checks should only
be made after the vehicle break-in period.
! 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.
For further information contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Notes on checking engine oil level
When checking the oil level the vehicle must
be parked on level ground.
G 550: The vehicle must have been stationary
for at least 5 minutes with the engine turned
off.
G 55 AMG: With the engine at operating
temperature, the vehicle must have been
stationary for at least 5 minutes with the
engine turned off.
With the engine not at operating temperature,
the vehicle must have been stationary for at
least 30 minutes with the engine turned off.
Checking engine oil level with the oil
dipstick
On the G 550, you can check the engine oil
level with the oil dipstick.
XOpen the hood (Y page 148).Engine compartment149Operation463_AKB; 2; 52, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.7.12008-12-02T10:52:11+01:00 - Seite 149Z

XPull out oil dipstick :.XWipe oil dipstick : clean.XFully insert oil dipstick : into the dipstick
guide tube.
XPull out oil dipstick : again after
approximately 3 seconds to obtain
accurate reading.
The oil level is correct when it is between
lower (min) mark = and upper (max)
mark ; of oil dipstick :.
iThe filling quantity between the upper and
lower marks on the oil dipstick is
approximately 2.1 US qt. (2.0 l).
XIf necessary, add engine oil.
For more information on engine oil, see
“Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.”
(Y page 252).
For information on messages in the
multifunction display concerning engine oil,
see the “Practical hints” section
(Y page 207).
Checking engine oil level with the
control system
On the G 55 AMG, you can check the engine
oil level with the control system.
XSwitch on the ignition.
The standard display appears in the
multifunction display (Y page 99).
XPress button * or & on the
multifunction steering wheel repeatedly
until the following message appears in the
multifunction display:
One of the following messages will
subsequently appear in the multifunction
display:
REngine Oil
Level
OK
RAdd
1.0 qt
to reach
maximum
oil level.
(Canada: 1.0 liter)
RAdd
1.5 qts
to reach
maximum
oil level.
(Canada: 1.5 liters)
RAdd
2.0 qts
to reach
maximum
oil level.
(Canada: 2.0 liters)
iIf you want to interrupt the checking
procedure, press button * or & on
the multifunction steering wheel.
XIf necessary, add engine oil.
For more information on engine oil, see
“Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.”
(Y page 252).
150Engine compartmentOperation
463_AKB; 2; 52, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.7.12008-12-02T10:52:11+01:00 - Seite 150