2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GL-Class oil change

Problems with the transmission
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
The transmission has
problems shifting gear.The transmission is losing oil.
XHave the transmission checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop immediately.
The acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no
longer changes gear.The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift intosecondgear and reverse gear.
XStop the vehicle.
XShift the transmission to position P.
XSwitch off the engine.
XWait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
XShift the transmission to positionDor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into secondgear; ifRis
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
XHave the transmission checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop immediately.
Transfer case
!
Performance tests may only be carried
out on a 2-axle dynamometer. The brake
system or transfer case could otherwise be
damaged. Contact a qualified specialist
workshop for a performance test.
!Because ESP®is an automatic system,
the engine and ignition must be switched
off (SmartKey in position 0or 1or Start/
Stop button in position 0or 1) when the
electric parking brake is being tested on a
brake dynamometer (maximum
10 seconds).
Braking triggered automatically by ESP
®
may seriously damage the brake system.
!Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with either the front or the rear axle raised,
as doing so will damage the transmission.
This section is only valid for vehicles with 4-
wheel drive (4MATIC). Power is always trans-
mitted to both axles.
Refueling
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and explo-
sion.
You must avoid fire, open flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine
and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating before refueling.
GWARNING
Fuel is poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a risk of injury.
You must make sure that fuel does not come into contact with your skin, eyes or clothing
and that it is not swallowed. Do not inhale fuel
vapors. Keep fuel away from children.
182Refueling
Driving and parking

ues are requiredbylaw and must therefore
always beaccurate.
The outside temperature indicator isnot
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and istherefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Changes inthe outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay.
Indic ated temperatures just above the freez-
ing poin tdo not guarantee that the road sur-
face isfree of ice. The road may still beicy,
especial ly inwooded areas or on bridges. You
should pay special attention to road condi-
tions when temperatures are around the
freezing point.
For more information on driving with snow
chains, see (
Ypage 407).
For more information on driving with summer
tires, see (
Ypage 406).
Observe the notes inthe "Winter operation"
section (
Ypage 406).
Off-road driving
Important safety notes
GWARNIN G
If you driv eon asteep inclin eat an angle or
tur nwhen driving on an incline, th evehicl e
could slip sideways, ti pand rollover. Ther eis a
ris kof an accident.
Always driv eon asteep inclin ein th elin eof
fall (straight up or down )and do no ttur nth e
vehicle.
GWARNIN G
Flammable materia lsuc has leaves, gras sor
twigs may ignit eif they come int ocontact wit h
hot part sof th eexhaust system. Ther eis aris k
of fire.
When driving off road or on unpaved roads,
check th evehicle's underside regularly. In
particular, remove part sof plants or other
flammable materials whic hhave become
trapped .In th ecas eof damage, contact a
qualified specialist workshop.
GWARNIN G
If th evehicl eleve lis high ,th evehicl ecente rof
gravity is raised. This could caus eth evehicl e
to tip ove rmor eeasil yon uphill or downhill
gradients .Ther eis aris kof an accident.
Selec tth elowes tpossible vehicl elevel.
!There isa risk of damage to the vehicle if:
Rthe vehicle becomes stuck, e.g. on a high
curb or an unpaved road
Ryou drive too fast over an obstacle, e.g. a
curb or a hole inthe road
Ra heavy object strikes the undercarriage
or parts of the chassis
In situations like this, the body, the under-
carriage, chassis parts, wheels or tires
could bedamaged without the damage
being visible. Components damaged inthis
way can unexpectedly fail or, inthe case of
an acc ident, no longer withstand the strain
they are designed to.
If the underbody paneling isdamaged,
combusti blematerials such as leaves,
grass or twigs can gather between the
underbody and the underbody paneling. If
these materials come incontact with hot
parts of the exhaust system, they can catch
fire.
In such situations, have the vehicle
checked and repaired immediately at a
qualif ied specialist workshop. Ifon con-
tinuing your journey you notice that driving
safety isimpaired, pullover and st op t
he
vehicle immediately, paying attention to
road and traff iccond itions. Insuch cases,
consult a qualified specialist workshop.
When driving off-road, substances such as
sand, mud and water or water mixed with oil
may get into the brakes. This could result ina
reduced braking effect or intotal brake failure
and also inincreased wear and tear. The brak-
ing characteristics change depending on the
material ingressing the brakes. Clean the
brakes after driving off-road. Ifyou detect a
reduced braking effect or grinding noises,
have the brake system checked inaqualif ied
198Driving tips
Driving and parking

Hiding a service message
XPress the%ora button on the steer-
ing wheel.
Displaying service messages
XSwitch on the ignition.
XPress the =or; button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Serv.
menu.
XPress the9or: button to select the
ASSYST PLUS
submenu and confirm by
pressing the abutton.
The service due date appears in the multi-
function display.
Information about Service
Resetting the ASSYST PLUS service
interval display
!If the ASSYST PLUS service interval dis-
play has been inadvertently reset, this set-
ting can be corrected at a qualified special-
ist workshop.
Have service work carried out as described
in the Maintenance Booklet. This may oth-
erwise lead to increased wear and damage
to the major assemblies or the vehicle.
A qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, will reset
the ASSYST PLUS service interval display
after the service work has been carried out.
You can also obtain further information on
maintenance work, for example.
Special service requirements
The specified maintenance interval takes only
the normal operation of the vehicle into
account. Under arduous operating conditions
or increased load on the vehicle, mainte-
nance work must be carried out more fre-
quently, for example:
Rregular city driving with frequent intermedi-
ate stops
Rif the vehicle is primarily used to travel
short distances
Ruse in mountainous terrain or on poor road
surfaces
Rif the engine is often left idling for long peri- ods
Under these or similar conditions, have, for
example, the air filter, engine oil and oil filter
replaced or changed more frequently. Under
arduous operating conditions, the tires must
be checked more often. Further information
can be obtained at a qualified specialist work-
shop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
Driving abroad
An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network
is also available in other countries. You can
obtain further information from any author-
ized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Care
General notes
HEnvironmental note
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloths in an environmentally responsible man-
ner.
!For cleaning your vehicle, do not use any
of the following:
Rdry, rough or hard cloths
Rabrasive cleaning agents
Care375
Maintenance and care
Z

XBefore cleaning the display, make sure thatit is switched off and has cooled down.
XClean the display surface using a commer-
cially available microfiber cloth and
TFT/LCD display cleaner.
XDry the display surface using a dry micro-
fiber cloth.
Cleaning Night View Assist Plus
!Never clean the camera lens. When clean-
ing the field of vision of the driving systems,
make sure that you do not spray glass
cleaner on the camera lens. If the camera
lens is dirty, visit a qualified specialist work-
shop.
XFold down the camera cover by recess :.
XUse a soft cloth to clean the windshield in
front of camera;.
Cleaning the plastic trim
GWARNING
Care products and cleaning agents containing solvents cause surfaces in the cockpit to
become porous. As a result, plastic parts may
come loose in the event of air bag deploy-
ment. There is a risk of injury.
Do not use any care products and cleaning
agents to clean the cockpit.
!Do not affix the following to plastic surfa-
ces:
Rstickers
Rfilms
Rscented oil bottles or similar items
You can otherwise damage the plastic.
!Do not allow cosmetics, insect repellent
or sunscreen to come into contact with the
plastic trim. This maintains the high-quality
look of the surfaces.
XWipe the plastic trim with a damp, lint-free
cloth, e.g. a microfiber cloth.
XHeavy soiling: use care and cleaning prod-
ucts recommended and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
The surface may change color temporarily.
Wait until the surface is dry again.
Cleaning the steering wheel and gear or
selector lever
XThoroughly wipe with a damp cloth or use
leather care agents that have been recom-
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Cleaning genuine wood and trim ele-
ments
!Do not use solvent-based cleaning agents
such as tar remover, wheel cleaners, pol-
ishes or waxes. There is otherwise a risk of
damaging the surface.
!Do not use chrome polish on trim pieces.
The trim pieces have a chrome look but are
mostly made of anodized aluminum and
382Care
Maintenance and care

Treadwear indicators
Narrow bars (tread wear bars) that are dis-
tributed over the tire tread. If the tire tread is
level with the bars, the wear limit ofáin
(1.6 mm) has been reached.
Occupant distribution
The distribution of occupants in a vehicle at
their designated seating positions.
Total load limit
Nominal load and luggage load plus 68 kg
(150 lbs) multiplied by the number of seats in
the vehicle.
Changing a wheel
Flat tire
The "Breakdown assistance" section
(
Ypage 387) contains information and notes
on how to deal with a flat tire. Information on
driving with MOExtended tires in the event of
a flat tire can be found under "MOExtended
tires (tires with run-flat characteristics"
(
Ypage 387).
Vehicles with an emergency spare wheel:
in the event of a flat tire, mount the emer-
gency spare wheel according to the descrip-
tion under "Mounting a wheel" (
Ypage 428).
Rotating the wheels
GWARNING
Interchanging the front and rear wheels may
severely impair the driving characteristics if
the wheels or tires have different dimensions. The wheel brakes or suspension components
may also be damaged. There is a risk of acci-
dent.
Rotate front and rear wheels only if the wheels and tires are of the same dimensions.
!On vehicles equipped with a tire pressure
monitor, electronic components are loca-
ted in the wheel. Tire-mounting tools should not be used
near the valve. This could damage the elec-
tronic components.
Only have tires changed at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Always observe the instructions and safety
notes in the "Mounting a wheel" section
(
Ypage 428).
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.
On vehicles that have the same size front and
rear wheels, you can rotate the wheels
according to the intervals in the tire manu-
facturer's warranty book in your vehicle docu-
ments. If no warranty book is available, the
tires should be rotated every 3,
000 to
6,000 miles (5,000 to 10,000 km). Depending on tire wear, this may be required earlier. 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 rotated. Check the tire pressure and, if nec-
essary, restart the tire pressure loss warning
system or the tire pressure monitor.
Direction of rotation
Tires with a specified direction of rotation
have additional benefits, e.g. if there is a risk
of hydroplaning. These advantages can only
be gained if the tires are installed correspond-
ing to the direction of rotation.
An arrow on the sidewall of the tire indicates
its correct direction of rotation.
Storing wheels
Store wheels that are not being used in a cool,
dry and preferably dark place. Protect the
tires from oil, grease, gasoline and diesel.
Changing a wheel427
Wheels and tires
Z

Mounting a new wheel
GWARNING
Oiled or greased wheel bolts or damaged
wheel bolts/hub threads can cause the wheel bolts to come loose. As a result, you could
lose a wheel while driving. There is a risk of
accident.
Never oil or grease wheel bolts. In the event of
damage to the threads, contact a qualified
specialist workshop immediately. Have the
damaged wheel bolts or hub threads
replaced/renewed. Do not continue driving.
GWARNING
If you tighten the wheel bolts or wheel nuts
when the vehicle is raised, the jack could tip
over. There is a risk of injury.
Only tighten the wheel bolts or wheel nuts
when the vehicle is on the ground.
!To prevent damage to the paintwork, hold
the wheel securely against the wheel hub
while screwing in the first wheel bolt.
Always pay attention to the instructions and
safety notes in the "Changing a wheel" sec-
tion (
Ypage 427).
Only use wheel bolts that have been designed
for the wheel and the vehicle. For safety rea-
sons, Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
only use wheel bolts which have been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and the respective wheel.
!Always use wheel bolts ;to mount the
"Minispare" emergency spare wheel. Using
other wheel bolts to mount the "Minispare"
emergency spare wheel could damage the
brake system.
:Wheel bolts for all wheels supplied by the
factory
;Wheel bolts for the collapsible spare
wheel
XClean the wheel and wheel hub contact
surfaces.
XSlide the wheel to be mounted onto the
alignment bolt and push it on.
XTighten the wheel bolts until they are fin-
ger-tight.
XUnscrew the alignment bolt.
XTighten the last wheel bolt until it is finger-
tight.
Lowering the vehicle
GWARNING
The wheels could work loose if the wheel nuts and bolts are not tightened to the specified
tightening torque. There is a risk of accident.
Have the tightening torque immediately
checked at a qualified specialist workshop
after a wheel is changed.
Changing a wheel431
Wheels and tires
Z

Low outside temperatures
iDiesel fuel with improved cold flow prop-
erties is available during the winter months.
Further information about fuel properties
can be obtained from oil companies, e.g. at gas stations.
DEF
Important safety notes
Comply with the important safety notes for
service products when handling DEF
(
Ypage 447).
DEF is a water-soluble fluid for the exhaust
gas aftertreatment of diesel engines. It is:
Rnot poisonous
Rcolorless and odorless
Rnot flammable
When you open the DEF container, small
amounts of ammonia vapor may be released.
Ammonia vapors have a pungent odor and are
particularly irritating to the skin, to mucous
membranes and to the eyes. You may expe-
rience a burning sensation in your eyes, nose
and throat. Coughing and watering of the
eyes are possible.
Do not inhale ammonia vapors. Fill the DEF
tank only in well-ventilated areas.
Low outside temperatures
DEF freezes at a temperature of approx-
imately 12 ‡(-11 †). The vehicle is delivered
from the factory equipped with a DEF pre-
heating 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 after-
treatment system.
Purity
!Impurities in DEF (e.g. due to other ser-
vice products, cleaning agents or dust) lead
to:
Rincreased emission values
Rdamage to the catalytic converter
Rengine damage
Rmalfunctions in the BlueTEC exhaust gas
aftertreatment system
Assuring the purity of DEF is particularly
important with respect to avoiding malfunc-
tions in the BlueTEC exhaust gas aftertreat-
ment 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
ModelTotal capacity
GL 350 Blue-
TEC 4MATIC8.8 US gal (33.4 l)
Engine oil
General notes
!Never use engine oil or an oil filter of a
specification other than is necessary to ful- fill 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 inter-
val display regarding the oil change. Other-
wise, you may damage the engine and the
exhaust gas aftertreatment.
When handling engine oil, observe the impor-
tant safety notes on service products
(
Ypage 447).
450Service products and filling capacities
Technical data

The engine oils are matched to the perform-
ance 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 Cen-
ter. Or visit the website
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
The table shows which engine oils have been
approved for your vehicle.
Gasoline enginesMB Approval
All models229.5
Diesel enginesMB Approval
GL 350 Blue-
TEC 4MATIC228.51,
229.31,
229.51, 229.52
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: use only
SAE 0W-40 or SAE 5W-40 engine oils.
iMB approval is indicated on the oil con-
tainers.
Filling capacities
The following values refer to an oil change
including the oil filter.
Missing values were not available at time of
going to print.
ModelCapacity
GL 350 Blue-
TEC 4MATIC8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
GL 450
GL 450 4MATIC7.4 US qt (7.0l)
GL 550 4MATIC9.0 US qt (8.5l)
Mercedes‑AMG
vehicles
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 classification
(viscosity) 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 reg-
ular oil changes using an approved engine oil
with the appropriate SAE classification.
Brake fluid
GWARNING
The brake fluid constantly absorbs moisture
from the 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.
Service products and filling capacities451
Technical data
Z