
!
Make sure that the windshieldw ipers are
not folded away fro mthe windshield. You
could otherwise damage the windshield
wipers or the hood. X
Make sure that the windshield wipers are
turned off.
X Pull release lever 0002on the hood.
The hood is released. X
Reach into the gap, pull hood catch
handle 0003up and lift the hood.
If you lift the hood approximately
15 inches (40cm) the hood is opened and
held open automatically by the gas-filled
struts.
Closing the hood X
Lower the hood and let it fall from a height
of approximately 8 in (20 cm).
X Check that the hood has engaged properly.
If the hood can be raised slightly, it is not
properly engaged. Open it again and close
it with a little more force. Radiator
Vehicles with adiesel engine: do not cover
the radiator, for example with a winter front
or bug cover. The reading softhe on-board-
diagnostic system may otherwise be
inaccurate. Some of these readings are
required by law and must be accurate at all
times. Engine oil
General notes Depending on the driving style, the vehicle
consumes up to 0.9 US qts (0.8 l) of oil over
a distance of 600 miles (1000 km). The oil
consumption may be higher than this when
the vehicle is new or if you frequently drive at
high engine speeds.
Depending on the engine, the oil dipstick may
be in a different location.
When checking the oil level:
R park the vehicle on a level surface.
R the engine should be switched off for
approximately five minutes if the engine is
at normal operating temperature.
R if the engine is not at normal operating
temperature, e.g. if the engine was only
started briefly: wait about 30 minutes
before carrying out the measurement. Engine compartment
365Maintenance and care Z

Example: engine oil cap
X
Turn cap 0002counter-clockwise and remove
it.
X Add engine oil.
If the oil level is at or below the MIN mark
on the oil dipstick, add 1.1 US qt (1.0 liter)
of engine oil.
X Replace cap 0002on the filler neck and turn
clockwise.
Ensure that the cap locks into place
securely.
X Check the oil level agai nwith the oil
dipstick (Y page 366).
Further information on engine oil
(Y page 449). Additional service products
Checking coolant level G
WARNING
The engine cooling system is pressurized,
particularly when the engine is warm. When
opening the cap, you could be scalded by hot
coolan tspraying out. There is a risk of injury.
Let the engine cool down before opening the
cap. Wear eye and hand protection when
opening the cap. Open the cap slowly half a
turn to allow pressure to escape. X
Park the vehicle on a level surface.
Only chec kthe coolant level when the
vehicle is on a level surface and the engine
has cooled down.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 2in the
ignition lock (Y page 157).
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press the
Start/Stop button twice (Y page 158).
X Check the coolant temperature gauge in
the multifunction display.
The coolant temperature must be below
158 ‡ (70 †).
X Turn the SmartKey to position
0(Y page 157) in the ignition lock.
X Slowly turn cap 0002half a turn counter-
clockwise to allow excess pressure to
escape.
X Turn cap 0002further counter-clockwise and
remove it.
If the coolant is at the level of marker bar
001F in the filler neck when cold, there is
enough coolant in coolant expansion
tank 0003.
If the coolant level is approximately 0.6 in
(1.5 cm) above marker bar 001Fin the fuel
filler neck when warm, there is enough
coolant in expansion tank 0003.
X If necessary, add coolant that has been
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
X Replace cap 0002and turn it clockwise as far
as it will go.
For further information on coolant, see
(Y page 451). Engine compartment
367Maintenance and care Z

with the instructions for use on the product
label.
Do not mix other fuel additives with fuel. This
causes unnecessary costs and could damage
the engine.
Diesel Fuel grade
G
WARNING
If you mix diesel fuel with gasoline, the flash
poin tis lower than that of pure diesel fuel.
When the engine is running, exhaust system
components could overheat without being
noticed. There is a risk of fire.
Never refuel with gasoline. Never mix gasoline
with diesel fuel.
! Only use commercially available vehicular
ULTRA-LOW SULFUR DIESEL FUEL (ULSD,
15 ppm maximum sulfur content) that
meets the ASTM D975 standard. If you do
not refuel with ULSD, you may damage the
BlueTEC exhaust gas aftertreatment
system of the vehicle.
! Do not use gasoline to refuel vehicles with
a diesel engine. Do not mix diesel fuel with
gasoline, kerosene or paraffin. This may
otherwise result in damage to the fuel
system and engine.
You will usually find information aboutt he fuel
grade on the pump. If you cannot find the
label on the pump, ask the staff for
assistance.
i For further information, consult a
qualified specialist workshop or on the
Internet at http://www.mbusa.com (USA
only).
Information on refueling (Y page 174).
Bio-diesel -FAME (fatt yacid methyl ester)
Mercedes-Ben zUSA approves the use of bio-
diesel B5 for all BlueTEC diesel engines. The
concentration of bio-diesel in the ULSD may
not exceed 5% by volume. Pure bio-diesel and diesel fuel with a higher
percentage of bio-diesel, such as B20, can
damage the engine and the fuel system. For
this reason, they are not approved.
For more information, consult the gas station
staff. The bio-diesel B5 label on the gasoline
pump mus
tclearly state that the standard for
ULS Dhas been fulfilled. If the label is not
clear, do no trefuel the vehicle.
Do not refuel your vehicle with fuels unless
they have been approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Information on refueling (Y page 174).
Low outside temperatures
i Diesel fuel with improved cold flow
properties is available during the winter
months. Further information about fuel
properties can be obtained from oil
companies, e.g. at gas stations.
Flow improver
To improve the low-temperature resistance of
diesel fuel, a flow improver can be attached.
The effectiveness of a flow improver is not
guaranteed for every fuel.
Only use flow improvers tested and approved
by Mercedes-Benz. Durin guse, please
observe the information on operation.
Correct dosage and sufficient mixing are
decisive in improving low-temperature
resistance with the flow improver.
Overdosage can potentially even decrease
low-temperature resistance and must
therefore be avoided.F ollow the
manufacturer's guidelines on dosage.
Mix the additive into the diesel in good time,
before the flow characteristics of the diesel
become insufficient. Otherwise, malfunctions
can arise through heating the fuel system,
e.g. through parking in a heated garage.
More information about recommended flow
improvers can be obtained from any qualified
specialist workshop. Service products and filling capacities
447Technical data Z

Low outside temperatures
DEF freezes at a temperature of
approximately 12
‡(-11 †). The vehicl eis
delivered from the factory equipped with a
DEFp reheating system. Winter operation can
thus be guaranteed even at temperatures
below 12 ‡ (-11 †).
Additives !
Only use DEF in accordance with ISO
22241. Do not use additives with DEF and
do not dilute DEF with water. This may
destroy the BlueTEC exhaust gas
aftertreatment system.
Purity !
Impurities in DEF (e.g. due to other
service products, cleaning agents or dust)
lead to:
R increased emission values
R damage to the catalytic converter
R engine damage
R malfunctions in the BlueTEC exhaust gas
aftertreatment system
Assuring the purity of DEF is particularly
important with respect to avoiding
malfunctions in the BlueTEC exhaust gas
aftertreatment system.
If DEF is pumped out of the DEF tank, e.g.
during repair work, it must not be returned to
the tank. The purity of the fluid can no longer
be guaranteed.
Filling capacities Model Total capacity
ML 350 BlueTEC 4MAT
IC
7.3 US gal
(27.5 l) Engine oil
General notes !
Never use engine oil or an oil filter of a
specificatio nothe rthan 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.
Comply with the important safety notes for
service products when handling engine oil
(Y page 444).
The engine oils are matched to the
performance of Mercedes-Benz engines and
service intervals. You should therefore only
use engine oils and oil filters that are
approved for vehicles with maintenance
systems.
For a list of approved engine oils and oil filters,
consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. Or visit the website
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
The table shows which engine oils have been
approved for your vehicle. Model Engine
model MB
Approval ML 350
BlueEFFICIENCY
ML 350 4MATIC
BlueEFFICIENCY
276 229.5
ML 550 4MATIC
BlueEFFICIENCY
278 229.5
ML 63 AMG
157 229.5
ML 350 BlueTEC
4MATIC
642 228.51,
229.31,
229.51 Service products and fillingc
apacities
449Technical data Z

Use only SAE 0W-40 or SAE 5W-40 engine oils
for AMG vehicles.
i
MB approval is indicated on the oil
containers.
Filling capacities The following values refer to an oil change
including the oil filter.
Model Capacity
ML 350
BlueEFFICIENCY
ML 350 4MATIC
BlueEFFICIENCY 7.4 US qt (7.0 l)
ML 550 4MATIC
BlueEFFICIENCY 9.0 US qt (8.5 l)
ML 63 AMG
Without external oil
cooler: 9.0 US qt (8.5 l) ML 350 BlueTEC 4
MATIC
8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
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 table shows you
which SAE classifications are 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 regularo
il changes using an
approved engine oil with the appropriate SAE
classification. Brake fluid
G
WARNING
The brake fluid constantly absorbs moisture
fro mt he air. This lowers the boiling point of
the brake fluid. 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. This would impair braking efficiency.
There is a risk of an accident.
You should have the brake fluid renewed at
the specified intervals.
Comply with the important safety notes for
service products when handling brake fluid
(Y page 444).
The brake fluid change intervals can be found
in the Maintenance Booklet.
Only use brake fluid approved by Mercedes-
Benz according to MB Approval 331.0.
Information about approved brake fluid can
be obtained at any qualified specialist
workshop or on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
i Have the brake fluid regularly replaced at
a qualified specialist workshop and have
this confirmed in the Maintenance Booklet. 450
Service products and fillingc
apacitiesTechnical data

Coolant
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If antifreeze comes into contact with hot
components in the engine compartment, it
may ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Let the engine cool down before you add
antifreeze. Make sure that antifreeze is not
spilled next to the fille rneck. Thoroughly
clean the antifreeze from components before
starting the engine.
! Only add coolant that has been premixed
with the desired antifreeze protection .You
could otherwise damage the engine.
Further information on coolants can be
found in the Mercedes-Benz Specifications
for Service Products, MB Specifications for
Service Products 310.1, e.g. on the
Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com. Or
contact a qualified specialist workshop.
! Always use a suitable coolant mixture,
even in countries where high temperatures
prevail.
Otherwise, the engine cooling system is not
sufficiently protected from corrosion and
overheating.
Comply with the important safety precautions
for service products when handling coolant
(Y page 444).
The coolant is a mixture of water and
antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor. It performs
the following tasks:
R corrosion protection
R antifreeze protection
R raising the boiling point
If the coolant has antifreeze protection down
to -35 ‡ (-37 †), the boiling point of the
coolant during operation is approximately
266 ‡ (130 †). The antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor
concentration in the engine cooling system
should:
R
be at least 50%. This will protec tthe engine
cooling system against freezing down to
approximately -35 ‡ (-37 †).
R not exceed 55% (antifreeze protection
down to -49 ‡ [-45 †]). Otherwise, heat
will not be dissipated as effectively.
If the vehicle has lost coolant, add equal
amounts of water and antifreeze/corrosion
inhibitor.
Mercedes-Benz recommends an antifreeze/
corrosion inhibitor concentrate in
accordance with MB Specifications for
Service Products 310.1.
The coolant is checked with every
maintenance interval at a qualified specialist
workshop.
i When the vehicle is first delivered, it is
filled with a coolant mixture that ensures
adequate antifreeze and corrosion
protection.
Filling capacities Model Capacity
ML 350
BlueEFFICIENCY
ML 350 4MATIC
BlueEFFICIENCY
Approx. 11.1 US qt
(10.5 l) ML 550 4MATIC
BlueEFFICIENCY
Approx. 13.6 US qt
(12.9 l) ML 63 AMG
Approx. 12.4 US qt
(11.7 l) ML 350 BlueTEC 4
MATIC
Approx. 12.2 US qt
(11.5 l) i
Use MB 325.0 or MB 326.0 corrosion
inhibitor/antifreeze. Service products and filling capacities
451Technical data Z