2012 MERCEDES-BENZ G-Class warning

TWR (permissible trailer drawbar
noseweight)
The TWR is the maximum permissible weight
that may
act on the ball coupling of the trailer
tow hitch. Wear indicator
Narrow bars (tread wear bars) that are
distributed over

the tire tread. If the tire tread
is level with the bars, the wear limit of 1
/ 16 in
(1.6 mm) has been reached. Distribution of the vehicle occupants
Distribution of vehicle occupants over
designated seat positions in a vehicle. Maximum permissible payload
weight
Nominal load and luggage load plus
68 kilograms (150 lb) multiplied by the
number of seats in the vehicle. Changing a wheel
Flat tire
The "Roadside Assistance" section
(
Y
page

226) contains information and notes
on how to deal with a flat tire. It also provides
instructions on changing a wheel or mounting
the spare wheel. Interchanging the wheels
G
WARNING
Rotate front and rear wheels only if the tires
are of the same dimension.
If your vehicle is equipped with mixed-size
tires (different

tire dimensions front vs. rear),
tire rotation is not possible. G
WARNING
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. Wheels could become
loose if not tightened with a torque of
96 lb-ft (130 Nm).
Only use

genuine Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts
specified for your vehicle's rims.
The wear patterns on the front and rear tires
differ, depending on the operating conditions.
Rotate the wheels before a clear wear pattern
has formed on the tires. Front tires typically
wear more on the shoulders and the rear tires
in the center.
If your vehicle's tire configuration allows, you
can rotate the wheels according to the
intervals in the tire manufacturer's warranty
book in your vehicle documents. If this is not
available, the tires should then be replaced
every 3000 to 6000 miles
(5000 to 10,000 km), or earlier if the tire wear
requires this. Do not change the direction of
wheel rotation.
Clean the contact surfaces of the wheel and
the brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel
is interchanged. Check the tire pressure and
reactivate the tire pressure monitor
(Y page 249) if necessary.
Information on changing a wheel and
mounting the spare wheel ( Y page 226).
! On vehicles equipped with a tire pressure
monitor, electronic components are
located in the wheel.
Tire-mounting tools should not be used
near the valve. This could damage the
electronic components.
Only have tires changed at a qualified
specialist workshop. Direction of rotation
Tires with a specified direction of rotation
have additional

benefits, e.g. if there is a risk
of hydroplaning. You will only gain these Changing a wheel
265
Wheels and tires Z

benefits if the correct direction of rotation is
maintained.
An
arrow
on the sidewall of the tire indicates
its correct direction of rotation.
You may mount the spare wheel against the
direction of rotation. Adhere to the time
restriction on use as well as the speed
limitation specified on the spare wheel. Storing wheels
Store tires that are not being used in a cool,
dry and preferably dark place. Protect the
tires from oil, grease, gasoline and diesel. Cleaning the wheels
G
WARNING
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles (concentrated-power jets) to clean
your vehicle,

especially for cleaning tires. You
could otherwise damage the tires and cause
an accident. Wheel and tire combinations
Please bear the following in mind
G
WARNING
Replace rims or tires with the same
designation, manufacturer

and type as shown
on the original part. For further information
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If incorrectly sized rims and tires are
mounted, the wheel brakes or suspension
components can be damaged. Also, the
operating clearance of the wheels and the
tires may no longer be correct. G
WARNING
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the tire
tread is worn to minimum tread depth, or if
the tires have sustained damage, replace
them. When replacing rims, only use genuine
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts specified for the
particular
rim

type. Failure to do so can result
in the bolts loosening and possibly an
accident.
Retreaded tires are not tested or
recommended by Mercedes-Benz, since
previous damage cannot always be
recognized on retreads. The operating safety
of the vehicle cannot be assured when such
tires are used. G
WARNING
If you notice sudden significant vibrations or
unusual handling performance or if you
suspect that damage has occurred to the
vehicle, you should activate the hazard
warning lamps, gently reduce speed and
carefully head for an area that is located at a
safe distance from the road.
Check the tires and the underside of the
vehicle for damage. If the vehicle seems
unsafe, have the vehicle towed away to the
nearest Mercedes-Benz Center or tire dealer
to be repaired. G
WARNING
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
might lose control of the vehicle. Continued
driving with

a flat tire or driving at high speed
with a flat tire will cause excessive heat build-
up and possibly a fire.
! For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you only use tires,
wheels and accessories which have been
approved by Mercedes-Benz specifically
for your vehicle. These tires have been
specially adapted for use with the driving
safety systems, such as ABS or ESP ®
.
Only use tires, wheels or accessories
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Certain characteristics, e.g. handling,
vehicle noise emissions or fuel
consumption, may otherwise be adversely
affected. In addition, when driving with a 266
Wheel and tire combinationsWheels and tires

Engine number
Example: G 550
:
Emissions control information plate,
including the certification of both federal
and Californian emissions standards
; Engine number (stamped into the
crankcase) Service products and capacities
Important safety notes
Service products include the following:
R fuels
R lubricants (e.g.
engine oil, transmission oil)
R coolant
R brake fluid
R windshield washer fluid
Vehicle components and their respective
lubricants must match. You should therefore
only use products that have been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Information on tested and approved products
can be obtained at an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center or on the Internet at http://
bevo.mercedes-benz.com .G
WARNING
Comply
with all valid regulations with respect
to handling, storing and disposing of service
fluids. Otherwise, you could endanger
persons or the environment.
Keep service fluids out of the reach of
children. For health reasons, you should prevent
service
fluids

from coming into direct contact
with your skin or clothing.
If a service fluid is swallowed, contact a
physician immediately. 272
Service products and capacities
Technical data

Capacities
Vehicle model Capacity Fuel, coolant,
lubricants, etc.
Engine oil and
filter
G 550 9.5 US qt (9.0 l) Approved engine
oils
G 55 AMG 9.0 US qt (8.5 l)
Power steering
All models Approx. 1.06 US qt (1.0 l) MB power steering
fluid or approved
Dexron III ATF
Cooling system
G 550 Approx. 12.8 US qt (12.1 l) MB 325.0 corrosion
inhibitor/antifreeze
agent
G 55 AMG Approx. 13.4 US qt (12.7 l)
Tank capacity
G 550 25.4 US gal (96.0 l) Unleaded gasoline
(at least 91 octane;
average value of
96 RON/86 MON)
G 55 AMG 25.1 US gal (95.0 l)
Reserve
All models Approx. 5.3 US gal (20.0 l)
Automatic
climate control
All models — Refrigerant R134a
and special PAG
lubricant (never
R12)
Windshield/
headlamp
cleaning
system
All models 7.4 US qt (7.0 l) MB windshield
washer
concentrate
21
( Y page 277)
Mixing ratio for
washer fluid
(Y page 277) Fuel
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
personal injury.
Never allow sparks, flames or smoking
materials near gasoline.
Turn off the engine before refueling. Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid
inhaling fumes and any skin or clothing
contact.
Direct skin contact with fuels and the
inhalation
of

fuel vapors are damaging to your
health.
Premium-grade unleaded gasoline !
To ensure the longevity and full
performance of the engine, only premium-
grade unleaded gasoline may be used.
21 Mixed with water or premixed washer fluid with antifreeze protection. Service products and capacities
273
Technical data Z

Engine oil
Please bear the following in mind The engine oils are matched to the
performance of Mercedes-Benz engines and
service intervals. For this reason, only use
engine
oils
and oil filters that are approved for
vehicles with a service system.
For a list of approved engine oils and oil filters,
consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or go to the Internet site
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com (USA
only).
! Never use engine oil or an oil filter of a
specification other than is necessary to
fulfill the prescribed service intervals. Do
not change the engine oil or oil filter in
order to achieve longer replacement
intervals than those prescribed. You could
otherwise cause engine damage or damage
to the exhaust gas aftertreatment.
Follow the instructions in the service
interval display regarding the oil change.
Otherwise, you may damage the engine and
the exhaust gas aftertreatment.
The table shows which engine oils have been
approved for your vehicle. Model Engine
model MB
Approval
G 550 273 229.5
G 55 AMG 113 229.5
i
MB approval is indicated on the oil
containers.
Additives !
Do not

use any additives in the engine oil.
This could damage the engine.
Engine oil viscosity Viscosity describes the flow characteristics
of
a

fluid. If an engine oil has a high viscosity, this means that it is thick; a low viscosity
means that it is thin.
Select an engine oil with an SAE (viscosity)
classification suitable for the prevailing
outside temperatures. The following table
shows the correct SAE classification to be
used.
The

low-temperature characteristics of
engine oils can deteriorate significantly, e.g.
as a result of aging, soot and fuel deposits. It
is therefore strongly recommended that you
carry out regular oil changes using an
approved engine oil with the appropriate SAE
classification. Refrigerant of the air-conditioning
system
The air-conditioning system is filled with
R134a (HFC) refrigerant and a special PAG
lubricant.
! Never use refrigerant R 12 (CFC) or
mineral lubricants. Otherwise, you could
damage the air-conditioning system. Brake fluid
G
WARNING
The brake fluid constantly absorbs moisture
from the air; this lowers its boiling point.
If the

boiling point of the brake fluid is too low,
vapor pockets may form in the brake system
when the brakes are applied hard (e.g. when
driving downhill). This would impair braking
efficiency. Service products and capacities
275
Technical data
Z

Cooling system
Vehicle
model Antifreeze protection
Approx.
-35 ‡
(-37 †) Approx.
-49 ‡
(-45 †)
G 550 6.4 US qt
(6.05 l) 7.1 US qt
(6.7 l)
G 55 AMG 6.7 US qt
(6.35 l) 7.4 US qt
(7.0 l)
Windshield/headlamp cleaning
system
G
WARNING
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.
X Use windshield washer concentrate MB
SummerFit.
X At temperatures above freezing: add 1
part MB

SummerFit to 100 parts water, e.g.
1.34 fl oz (40 ml) MB SummerFit to 1 gal
(4.0 l) of water.
X At temperatures below freezing: add 1
part MB SummerFit to 100 parts washer
fluid, e.g.

1.34 fl oz (40 ml) MB SummerFit
to 1 gal (4.0 l) of water. Vehicle data
Vehicle data, G 550 (463.237)
The data stated here refers specifically to a
vehicle with standard equipment. Consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for the
data for all vehicle variants and trim levels. Vehicle dimensions, G 550
Vehicle length
22 183.9 in
(4672 mm) Vehicle width
including exterior
mirrors
79.0 in (2007 mm)
Vehicle height
76.8 in (1951 mm)
Wheelbase
112.2 in ( 2850 mm)
Track width
59.7 in (1515 mm)
Ground clearance,
front
9.1 in (232 mm)
Ground clearance,
rear
8.8 in (223 mm)
Turning circle
44.6 ft (13.6 m)
Vehicle weights, G 550
Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating
(GVWR)
23 6615 lbs (3000 kg)
Gross Axle
Weight Rating
(GAWR), front
24 3110 lbs (1410 kg)
Gross Axle
Weight Rating
(GAWR), rear
24 3965 lbs (1800 kg)
Vehicle data, G 55 AMG (463.271)
The data stated here refers specifically to a
vehicle with standard equipment. Consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for the
data for all vehicle variants and trim levels.
22 Including spare wheel.
23 GVWR is the maximum total vehicle weight permissible. Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is the vehicle weight
including fuel, service products, spare wheel, accessories installed, load and, if applicable, trailer drawbar
load. The GVW must never exceed the GVWR.
24 The GAWR is the maximum gross axle weight rating. Vehicle data
277Technical data Z