2011 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class cooling

air distribution symbol is shown in the
display.
Setting the airflow
Setting the front-compartment airflow
using the front control panel
You can select different airflow settings for
the driver's and front-passenger sides as well
as for the rear compartment.
You can also use COMAND to set the airflow
( Y page 263).
XTurn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.XTo increase/reduce: press the K
rocker switch up or down.
Setting the rear-compartment airflow
using the front control panel
XTurn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.XActivate the Y rear compartment
function via COMAND ( Y page 265).
The rear-compartment climate control can
be controlled via the front control panel
using the Y rear compartment function.XTo increase/reduce: press the K
rocker switch up or down.
Setting the rear-compartment airflow
using the rear control panel
XTurn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.XTo increase/reduce: press rocker switch
J up or down ( Y page 287).
Defrosting the windshield
You can use this function to defrost the
windshield or to defrost the inside of the
windshield and the side windows.
i You should only select the defrosting
function until the windshield is clear again.XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XTo switch on: press the ¬ rocker
switch up or down.
The indicator lamp in the ¬ rocker
switch lights up.
The climate control system switches to the
following functions:
R cooling with air dehumidification on
R high airflow 20
R high temperature 20
R air distribution to the windshield and
front side windows
R air-recirculation mode offXTo switch off: press the ¬ rocker
switch up or down.
The indicator lamp in the ¬ rocker
switch goes out. The previously selected
settings come into effect again. The cooling
with air dehumidification function remains
on. Air-recirculation mode remains
deactivated.
or
XPress the w rocker switch up or down.
or
XPress the K rocker switch up or down.
Maximum cooling MAX COOL
The MAX COOL function is only available in
vehicles for the USA.
MAX COOL is only operational when the
engine is running.
The MAX COOL function is activated
automatically:
R if climate control is set to automatic
( Ã ) on both sides
R if additional cooling is used
The display shows MAX COOL.
20
Depending on the outside temperature.292Operating the climate control systemsClimate control

This is the quickest way to cool the vehicle
interior when the sliding sunroof and the side
windows are closed.
Defrosting the windows
Windows fogged up on the inside
XActivate the "cooling with air
dehumidification" function via COMAND
( Y page 263).XActivate automatic mode Ã.XIf the windows continue to fog up, activate
the defrosting function ( Y page 292).
i
You should only select this setting until
the windshield is clear again.
Windows fogged up on the outside
XActivate the windshield wipers.XActivate automatic climate control.
i You should only select this setting until
the windshield is clear again.
Rear window defroster
Activating/deactivating
GWarning
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driving.
Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.
The rear window heating has a high current
draw. You should therefore switch it off as
soon as the window is clear as it only switches
off automatically after several minutes.
If the battery voltage is too low, the rear
window heating may switch off.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XPress the ¤ rocker switch up or down.
The indicator lamp in the ¤ rocker
switch lights up or goes out.Problems with the rear window heating
The rear window heating has deactivated
itself prematurely or cannot be activated.
XSwitch off any consumers that are not
required, e.g. reading lamps or interior
lighting.
When the battery is sufficiently charged,
the rear window heating is activated again
automatically.
Activating/deactivating air-
recirculation mode
You can deactivate the flow of fresh air if
unpleasant odors are entering the vehicle
from outside. The air already inside the
vehicle will then be recirculated.
GWarning
Fogged windows impair visibility,
endangering you and others. If the windows
begin to fog on the inside, switching off the
air recirculation mode immediately should
clear interior window fogging. If interior
window fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning is activated, or press the ¬
button.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XTo activate: press the g rocker switch
up or down.
The indicator lamp in the g rocker
switch lights up.
i Air-recirculation mode is activated
automatically at high outside
temperatures. The indicator lamp in the
g rocker switch is not lit when
automatic air-recirculation mode is
activated.
Outside air is added after about 30
minutes.
Operating the climate control systems293Climate controlZ

X To deactivate: press the g rocker
switch up or down.
The indicator lamp in the g rocker
switch goes out.
i Air-recirculation mode switches off
automatically:
R after approximately five minutes if
outside temperatures are under about
41 ‡ (5 †)
R after approximately five minutes if
cooling with air dehumidification is
deactivated
R after approximately 30 minutes if outside
temperatures are over about
41 ‡ (5 †)
Switching the residual heat on/off
It is possible to make use of the residual heat
of the engine to continue heating the
stationary vehicle for up to 30 minutes after
the engine has been switched off. The heating
time depends on the temperature that has
been set.
i The blower will run at a low speed
regardless of the airflow setting.
i If you activate the "residual heat" function
at high temperatures, only the ventilation
will be activated. The blower runs at
medium speed.
XTurn the key to position 0 in the ignition
lock or remove it.XTo switch on: press the Ì rocker
switch up or down.
The indicator lamp in the Ì rocker
switch lights up.XTo switch off: press the Ì rocker
switch up or down.
The indicator lamp in the Ì rocker
switch goes out.i Residual heat is deactivated
automatically:
R after about 30 minutes
R when the ignition is switched on
R if the battery voltage drops
R if the coolant temperature is too low
Setting the air vents
Important safety notes
GWarning
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents can be very hot or very
cold (depending on the set temperature). This
could cause burns or frostbite to unprotected
skin in the immediate area of the air vents.
Always keep sufficient distance between
unprotected parts of the body and the air
vents. If necessary, use the air distribution
adjustment to direct the air to air vents in the
vehicle interior that are not in the immediate
area of unprotected skin.
In order to ensure the direct flow of fresh air
through the air vents into the vehicle interior,
please observe the following notes:
R keep the air inlet grille on the hood free of
blockages, such as ice, snow or leaves
R never cover the vents or air inlet and outlet
grilles in the vehicle interior.
i For virtually draft-free ventilation, adjust
the sliders of the air vents to the center
position.
294Setting the air ventsClimate control

Setting the center air vents:Fixed center air vent;Center air vent, right=Center vent thumbwheel, right?Center vent thumbwheel, leftACenter air vent, leftXTo open/close: turn thumbwheels =
and ? up or down.
Setting the side air vents
XTo open/close: turn thumbwheel = up or
down.
iSide window defroster vent : is never
completely shut, even if side air vent ; is
shut.
Setting the air vent in the glove box
When automatic climate control is activated,
the glove box can be ventilated, for instance
to cool its contents. The level of airflow
depends on the airflow and air distribution
settings.
! Close the air vent when heating the
vehicle.
At high outside temperatures, open the air
vent and activate the "cooling with air
dehumidification" function. Otherwise,
temperature-sensitive items stored in the
glove box could be damaged.
XTo open: turn thumbwheel : counter-
clockwise from position 3 to position 2.
XTo close: turn thumbwheel : clockwise
from position 2 to position 3.
Setting the rear-compartment air
vents
Setting the center vents in the rear
compartment
:Rear-compartment air vent, left;Rear-compartment air vent, right=Rear-compartment air vent thumbwheel,
right
Setting the air vents295Climate controlZ

! The coolant level is too low. Avoid making long journeys with too little coolant in the cooling
system. The engine will otherwise be damaged.
The display messages and the corresponding symbol that indicate that the coolant level is
too low must not be ignored.Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M Solutions?
Coolant Low Stop
Vehicle Turn
Engine OffThe coolant is too hot.XPull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.XMake sure that the air supply to the radiator is not blocked, e.g.
by snow, slush or ice.XWait until the display message disappears before restarting the
engine. There is otherwise a risk of engine damage.XPay attention to the coolant temperature display.XIf the temperature increases again, visit a qualified specialist
workshop immediately.The poly-V-belt may have torn.XPull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.XOpen the hood.XCheck whether the poly-V-belt is torn.
If the poly-V-belt is torn:
! Do not continue driving. The engine could otherwise overheat.
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the poly-V-belt is OK:
XWait until the display message disappears before restarting the
engine. There is otherwise a risk of engine damage.XPay attention to the coolant temperature display.XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.GWarning
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 which can occur just by opening the
engine hood. Stay away from the engine if you see or hear steam coming 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.
! If the coolant temperature exceeds 248 ‡(120 †) do not continue driving. The engine will
otherwise be damaged.
398Display messagesOn-board computer and displays

much oil has been added. This can lead to
damage to the engine or the catalytic
converter. Have excess oil siphoned off.
Further information on engine oil
(Y page 513).
XReplace cap : on the filler neck and
tighten clockwise.
Ensure that the cap locks into place
securely.
Checking and adding other service
products
Check coolant level
Only check the coolant level when the vehicle
is on a level surface and the engine has cooled
down.
XTurn the key to position 2 (Y page 299) in
the ignition lock.
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press the
Start/Stop button twice (Y page 299).
XCheck the coolant temperature display in
the instrument cluster.
The coolant temperature must be below
158 ‡ (70 †).
GWarning
In order to avoid any potentially serious burns:
Ruse extreme caution when opening the
hood if there are any signs of steam or
coolant leaking from the cooling system, or
if the coolant temperature display indicates
that the coolant is overheated.
Rdo not remove the pressure cap on the
coolant reservoir if the coolant temperature
is above 158 ‡ (70 †). Allow the engine to
cool down before removing the cap. The
coolant reservoir contains hot fluid and is
under pressure.
Rusing a rag, slowly turn the cap
approximately 1/2 turn to relieve excess
pressure. If opened immediately, scalding
hot fluid and steam will be blown out under
pressure.
Rdo not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts.
XSlowly turn cap : half a turn counter-
clockwise and allow excess pressure to
escape.
XTurn cap : further counter-clockwise and
remove it.
If the coolant is at the level of marker bar
= in the filler neck when cold, there is
enough coolant in coolant expansion
tank ;.
If the coolant is approximately 0.6 in
(1.5 cm) above marker bar = in the filler
neck when warm, there is enough coolant
in coolant expansion tank ;.
XIf necessary, add coolant that has been
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
XReplace cap : and turn it clockwise as far
as it will go.
For further information on coolant, see
(Y page 515).
Windshield washer system/headlamp
cleaning system
The washer fluid reservoir is used for both the
windshield washer system and the headlamp
cleaning system.
450Engine compartmentMaintenance and care

CapacitiesVehicle modelCapacityFuel, coolant,
lubricants etc.Engine oil and
filterS 550 41
S 550 4MATIC 41
S 63 AMG9.0 US qt (8.5 l)Approved engine
oilsS 600
S 65 AMG9.5 US qt (9.0 l)Power steeringAll modelsApproximately 1.6 US qt
(1.5 l)PentosinCooling systemS 550 41
S 550 4MATIC 41Approximately 14.5 US qt
(13.7 l)MB 326.0
Anticorrosion/
AntifreezeS 600Approximately 17.4 US qt
(16.5 l)S 63 AMGApproximately 12.2 US qt
(11.5 l)S 65 AMGApproximately 14.7 US qt
(13.9 l)Tank capacityS 550 41
S 550 4MATIC 4121.9 US gal. (83 l)Premium-grade
unleaded gasoline
(at least 91 octane,
average value
between 96 RON/
86 MON)S 600
S 63 AMG
S 65 AMG23.8 US gal. (90 l)ReserveAll models except
AMG vehicles2.9 US gal. (11 l)AMG vehicles3.7 US gal. (14 l)41 BlueEFFICIENCY.Service products and capacities511Technical dataZ

Coolant
Important safety notes
The coolant is a mixture of water and
antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor. It performs
the following tasks:
R anti-corrosion protection
R antifreeze protection
R raising the boiling point
The cooling system is filled with coolant at the
factory which contains antifreeze/corrosion
inhibitor that ensures protection down to
approximately -35 ‡ (-37 †).
! Only add coolant that has been premixed
with the desired antifreeze protection. You
could otherwise damage the engine.
Further information on coolants and on
filling can be found in the Mercedes-Benz
Specifications for Service Products, MB
Approval 310.1, e.g. on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com . You
can also consult an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.
! Always use a suitable coolant mixture,
even in countries where high temperatures
prevail.
Otherwise, the cooling system will not be
sufficiently protected from corrosion, and
the boiling point will be too low.
If the coolant has antifreeze protection down
to -35 ‡ (-37 †), the boiling point of the
coolant in the pressurized system is
approximately 266 ‡ (130 †).
Your vehicle has a range of aluminum
components. Use of aluminum components
in the engine make it necessary to specifically
match the antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor in
these systems in order to protect the
aluminum parts. Using other antifreeze/
corrosion inhibitors without these
characteristics affects the service life.
The coolant must be used throughout the year
in order to maintain the necessary corrosion
protection and provide protection from
overheating. In the Service Booklet, you can
find information on the intervals for renewal.
The renewal interval is determined by the
coolant type and the cooling system design.
The renewal interval in the Service Booklet is
only valid if the coolant is added or renewed
with Mercedes-Benz approved products.
Therefore, only use MB 326.0 antifreeze/
corrosion inhibitor or another Mercedes-Benz
approved product of the same specification.
Information on other Mercedes-Benz
approved products of the same specification
can be obtained at any authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center or on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com .
The coolant is checked at every service date
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor
concentration in the cooling system should:
R be at least 50%. This will protect the cooling
system against freezing down to around
-35 ‡ (-37 †).
R not exceed 55% (antifreeze protection
down to -49 ‡ (-45 †); otherwise, heat will
not be dissipated as effectively.
If the coolant level is too low, MB 326.0
antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor should be
added. Have the cooling system checked for
leaks.
Windshield and headlamp cleaning
system
GWarning
Washer solvent/antifreeze is highly
flammable. Do not spill washer solvent/
antifreeze on hot engine parts, because it may
ignite and burn. You could be seriously
burned.
XUse MB Windshield Washer Concentrate
MB SummerFit.XAt temperatures above freezing: add 1
part MB SummerFit to 100 parts water, e.g.Service products and capacities515Technical dataZ