2011 MERCEDES-BENZ SLS engine oil

ClosingGWarning!
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 8 in (20 cm).XCheck to make sure the hood is fully
closed.
If you can raise the hood at a point above
the headlamps, 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 consumes 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
XPark the vehicle on level ground.XTurn off the engine at operating
temperature after 30 seconds of idling.Checking engine oil level XOpen the hood ( Y page 322).XUnscrew oil filler cap : with integrated oil
dipstick.XWipe oil dipstick clean.XScrew filler cap : back on as far as it will
go.XUnscrew oil filler cap : once more and
read the oil dipstick.
The oil level is correct when it is between
lower (min) mark = and upper (max)
mark ; of oil dipstick :.
i
The filling quantity between the upper and
lower marks on the oil dipstick is
approximately 1.6 US qt. (1.5 l).
XIf necessary, add engine oil.
For more information on engine oil, see
“Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.”
( Y page 425).
For information on messages in the
multifunction display concerning engine oil,
see the “Practical hints” section
( Y page 383).
Adding engine oil
! Only use approved engine oils and oil
filters required for vehicles with
Maintenance System. For a listing of
approved engine oils and oil filters, contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or
visit http://www.MBUSA.com (USA
only).
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The following will result in engine or
emission control system damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty:
RUsing engine oils and oil filters of
specification other than those expressly
required for the Maintenance System.
RChanging of oil and oil filter at change
intervals longer than those called for by
the Maintenance System.
RUsing any oil additives.
XUnscrew oil filler cap : with integrated oil
dipstick.
XAdd engine oil as required. Be careful not
to overfill with oil.
Be careful not to spill any oil when adding.
Avoid environmental damage caused by oil
entering the ground or water.
! Excess oil must be siphoned or drained
off. It could cause damage to the engine
and emission control system not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
XScrew filler cap : back on filler neck.
Make sure the filler cap engages.
For more information on engine oil, see the
“Technical data” section (Y page 425) and
(Y page 426).
Transmission fluid level
The transmission fluid level does not need to
be checked. If you notice transmission fluid
loss or gearshifting malfunctions, have an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center check the
transmission.
Coolant level
The engine coolant is a mixture of water and
anticorrosion/antifreeze.
When checking the coolant level, the vehicle
must be parked on level ground, and 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 cap on the coolant
expansion tank if the coolant temperature
is above 158‡ (70†). Allow the engine to
cool down before removing the cap. The
coolant expansion tank contains hot fluid
and is under pressure.
RUsing a rag, slowly open the cap
approximately 1/2 turn counterclockwise
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.
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Resetting the maintenance service
indicator
In the event that the maintenance service on
your vehicle is not carried out at an authorized
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 maintenance-relevant
literature for your vehicle.
Such literature is available at any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or directly from
Mercedes-Benz.
! If the maintenance service indicator was
reset inadvertently, have an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center correct it.
Only reset the maintenance service
indicator if the proper maintenance service
has been performed. Not following the
proper maintenance service as described
in the Maintenance Booklet will result in
engine damage and/or other vehicle
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Vehicle care
Cleaning and care of the vehicle
Notes
Regular and proper care will help to maintain
the value of your vehicle.
GWarning!
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the
particular container. Always open your
vehicle’s doors or windows when cleaning the
inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not
designed for cleaning your vehicle.
Always lock away cleaning products and keep
them out of reach of children.
! When cleaning the vehicle, do not use
scouring agents. Never apply strong force
and only use a soft, wet cloth or sponge.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the
surface to be cleaned.
While in operation, even while parked, your
vehicle is subjected to varying external
influences which, if gone unchecked, can
attack the paintwork as well as the vehicle
underbody and cause lasting damage.
Such damage is caused not only by extreme
and varying climatic conditions, but also by:
R Air pollution
R Road salt
R Tar
R Gravel and stone chipping
To avoid paint damage, you should
immediately remove:
R Grease and oil
R Fuel
R Coolant
R Brake fluid
R Bird droppings
R Insects
R Tree resins etc.
Frequent washing reduces and/or eliminates
the aggressiveness and potency of the above
adverse influences.
More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions:
R near the ocean
R in industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)
R during winter operation
You should check your vehicle from time to
time for stone chipping or other damage. Any
damage should be repaired as soon as
possible to prevent corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the underbody of
the vehicle. A prerequisite for a thorough
check is a washing of the underbody followed
by a thorough inspection. Damaged areas
need to be re-undercoated.354Vehicle careOperation
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Have paintwork repairs performed at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Have stone chipping repairs as soon as
possible.
Remove the following immediately if possible.
Do not apply strong force.
R Soak insect remains with insect remover
and rinse them of with water afterwards.
Use a soft bristle toothbrush for remains
that have not come off.
R Soak bird droppings with water and rinse
them of with water afterwards. Use a soft
bristle toothbrush for remains that have not
come off.
R Remove tree resins, grease, oil, wax, and
gasoline with commercially available
benzine.
R Dab off tar splashes or tar stains with tar
remover.
Engine cleaning
Prior to cleaning the engine compartment,
make sure to protect electrical components
and connectors from contact with water and
cleaning agents.
Corrosion protection, such as MB
Anticorrosion Wax should be applied to the
engine compartment after every engine
cleaning. Before applying, all control linkage
bushings and joints should be lubricated. The
poly-V-belt and all pulleys should be
protected from any wax.
Vehicle washing
In the winter, thoroughly remove all traces of
road salt as soon as possible.
When washing the vehicle underbody, do not
forget to clean the inner sides of the wheels.
GWarning!
After washing the vehicle, braking efficiency
may be reduced. Reduced braking efficiency
could cause an accident.
Brake the vehicle significantly after washing
the vehicle. Observe the traffic situation when
doing so. The brake discs will warm up and
dry faster. Drive carefully after washing the
vehicle until the brakes have dried and you
can notice that brake efficiency has been
restored.
Hand-washXDo not use hot water or wash your vehicle
in direct sunlight.XOnly use a soft, wet cloth or sponge to
clean the vehicle.XOnly use a mild vehicle wash detergent,
such as Mercedes-Benz approved Car
Shampoo.XThoroughly spray the vehicle with a
diffused jet of water.XDo not spray directly towards the
ventilation intake.XUse plenty of water and rinse the sponge
and chamois frequently.XRinse with clean water and dry with a
chamois thoroughly.
Do not allow cleaning agents to dry on the
finish.
Automatic car wash
You can have your vehicle washed in an
automatic car wash from the start. Brushless
car washes are preferable.
XTo protect the filter system, activate the air
recirculation mode using button g on
the climate control panel.
! Do not clean your vehicle in an automatic
touchless car wash which uses caustic
spray. Caustic spray will damage the paint
or ornamental moldings.
If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it before
running it through the automatic car wash.
! Make sure the combination switch is set
to wiper setting $. Otherwise, the rain
sensor could activate and cause the wipers
to move unintentionally. This may lead to
vehicle damage.
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Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsÑ
Rear Spoiler
Control System
InoperativeThe Trunk Wing does not retract to its home position completely
and will extend again if possible.
If movement of the Trunk Wing is blocked, for example by ice:XMake sure to eliminate the cause for the blockage.XTurn off the engine and lock the vehicle.XAfter a few minutes, start the engine.
The Trunk Wing will move to its home position.
If the problem still persists or the cause cannot be identified:
XContact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.Ñ
Rear Spoiler
Inoperative Limit
125 mphThe Trunk Wing does not extend into its end position completely.
It will only extend as far as possible.
The vehicle speed is limited to 125 mph (200 km/h).
If movement of the Trunk Wing is blocked, for example by ice:XMake sure to eliminate the cause for the blockage.XTurn off the engine and lock the vehicle.XAfter a few minutes, start the engine.
The Trunk Wing will move to its home position.
If the problem still persists or the cause cannot be identified:
XContact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Vehicle
Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsNThe trunk is open. XClose the trunk ( Y page 240).LYou are driving with the hood open. XStop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as it is safe to do so.XClose the hood ( Y page 322).
There is otherwise danger of an accident.
´You are driving with at least one door open.
The display symbol shows you which doors are open.XClose all doors.+
Take Your Key from
IgnitionYou have forgotten to remove the SmartKey. XRemove the SmartKey from the starter switch.Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display379Practical hintsBA 197 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 27, en-UShereepeVersion: 3.0.3.52010-03-24T15:31:10+01:00 - Seite 379Z

Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M Solutions#The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:
R alternator malfunctioning
R broken poly-V-belt
R a malfunction in the electronic systemXStop immediately in a safe location or as soon as it is safe to do
so and check the poly-V-belt.XIf it is broken: Do not continue to drive. Otherwise the engine
will overheat due to an inoperative water pump which may result
in damage to the engine. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.XIf it is intact: Drive to the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center immediately. Adjust driving to be consistent with
reduced braking responsiveness.4
Check Engine Oil
At Next RefuelingThe engine oil has dropped to a critical level. XCheck the engine oil level ( Y page 323) and add engine oil as
required ( Y page 323).XIf you must add engine oil frequently, have the engine checked
for possible leaks.
If the message Check Engine Oil At Next Refueling appears while the engine is running
and at operating temperature, the engine oil level has dropped to approximately the minimum
level.
The message will be stored in the vehicle status message memory after you have cleared it
from the multifunction display.
Visually check for oil leaks. If there are no obvious oil leaks, drive to the nearest service station
to refill your engine oil to the required level.
For information on approved engine oils contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or visit
http://www.MBUSA.com (USA only).
! Engine oil level warnings should not be ignored. Extended driving with the symbol displayed
could result in serious engine damage that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsCThe fuel level is low.XRefuel at the next gas station.8
Fuel Level LowThe fuel level has dropped below the reserve mark. XRefuel at the next gas station.Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display383Practical hintsBA 197 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 27, en-UShereepeVersion: 3.0.3.52010-03-24T15:31:10+01:00 - Seite 383Z

AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-SPEED TransmissionDisplay messagesPossible causes/consequences and M Solutionsj
Parking Lock
Malfunct. Apply
Parking BrakeThe transmission cannot be shifted to park position P anymore.XMake sure the electronic parking brake is engaged.XBlock the wheels of the vehicle with suitable objects before
leaving the vehicle.XContact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Have the vehicle
transported with all wheels off the ground or towed with the rear
axle raised ( Y page 415).d
Stop Engage 'P'The transmission is malfunctioning. The vehicle is not propelled
anymore and will coast to standstill.XStop the vehicle in a safe location.XContact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.d
Transmission Oil
Cooling
MalfunctionThe coolant pump of the transmission is malfunctioning. The
transmission could overheat.XSelect the AMG menu via the control system ( Y page 287) and
check the transmission fluid temperature.XAvoid heavy load on the engine and transmission such as a
dynamic manner of driving.XWhen the transmission fluid temperature is below 248‡
(120 †), continue to drive to the next authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center.d
Trans. Oil
Overheated Drive
on with CareThe transmission fluid is overheated. Manual program mode M
and limiting the gear range are not available anymore. The engine
output is limited according to the degree of the overheating.XReduce the transmission fluid temperature by moderate driving.What to do if...
Lamps in the instrument cluster
Notes
If any of the following lamps in the instrument
cluster fails to come on during the bulb self-
check when switching on the ignition, have
the respective bulb checked and replaced if
necessary.
When you switch on the ignition, all lamps in
the instrument cluster come on. The low-
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high-beam
headlamp indicator lamp, turn signal
indicator lamps, and the indicator lamp for
the rear fog lamp will only come on if
activated. If a lamp in the instrument cluster
fails to come on when the ignition is switched
on, have it checked and replaced if necessary.388What to do if...Practical hints
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VehicleProblemPossible causes/consequences and M Solutions8The yellow fuel
tank reserve
warning lamp
comes on when
the engine is
running. The fuel level has gone below the reserve mark.XRefuel at the next gas station.
Engine
ProblemPossible causes/consequences and M Solutions;The yellow
engine
malfunction
indicator lamp
comes on when
the engine is
running. There may be a malfunction in
R the fuel management system
R the ignition system
R the emission control system
R systems which affect emissions
Such malfunctions may result in excessive emissions values and
may switch the engine to limp-home (emergency operation) mode.XHave the vehicle checked as soon as possible at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
i Some states may by law require you to visit a workshop as
soon as the engine malfunction indicator lamp comes on. Check
local requirements.
;The yellow
engine
malfunction
indicator lamp
comes on when
the engine is
running.A loss of pressure has been detected in the fuel system. The fuel
cap may not be closed properly or the fuel system may be leaky.XCheck the fuel cap ( Y page 321).XIf it is not closed properly: Close the fuel cap.XIf it is closed properly: Have the fuel system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.çThe red engine
oil temperature
warning lamp is
on while the
engine is
running. In
addition, an
acoustic
warning sounds.The engine oil temperature is above 284‡ (140†).
The engine is not cooled sufficiently and could be damaged.XStop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon as it is safe to do
so and turn off the engine.XLet the engine cool.394What to do if...Practical hints
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