2018 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS engine

To ensure that the vehicle is safeguarded
against rolling away unintentionally:
Rthe parking brake must be applied.
Rthe transmission must be in positionPand the
SmartKey must be removed from the ignition
lock
Rthe transfer case must not be in the neutral
position
Rthe front wheels must be turned towards the
curb on steep uphill or downhill gradients
Rthe empty vehicle must be secured at the
front axle with a wheel chock or similar
object, for example, on uphill or downhill gra-
dients
Ra laden vehicle must also be secured at the
rear axle with a wheel chock or similar object, for example, on uphill or downhill gradients
Switching off the engine
GWARNING
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral position Nwhen you switch off the engine.
The vehicle may roll away. There is a risk of an
accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked vehi-
cle from rolling away by applying the parking
brake.
XShift the automatic transmission to position
j.
XTurn the SmartKey to position gin the igni-
tion lock and remove it.
The immobilizer is activated.
XApply the parking brake firmly.
XTurn the steering wheel until the steering
wheel lock engages.
If you switch the engine off with the transmis-
sion in position korh the automatic trans-
mission shifts to iautomatically.
If you then open the driver's door or the front-
passenger door or remove the SmartKey from
the ignition, the automatic transmission shifts
to j automatically.
If you switch off the engine while the transmis-
sion is in position i, the automatic transmis-
sion remains in ieven if a door is opened. The
automatic transmission only automatically shifts into
jwhen you remove the SmartKey
from the ignition lock.
Parking brake
GWARNING
If you must brake the vehicle with the parking brake, the braking distance is considerably
longer and the wheels could lock. There is an
increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Only use the parking brake to brake the vehi-
cle when the service brake is faulty. Do not
apply the parking brake too firmly. If the
wheels lock, release the parking brake until
the wheels begin turning again.
GWARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi-
cle, they could set it in motion by, for example:
Rrelease the parking brake.
Rshift the automatic transmission out of the
parking position P.
Rstart the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment and become trapped. There is a risk of
an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
If you brake the vehicle with the parking brake,
the brake lamps will not light up.
If you pull away with the parking brake applied,
a warning tone sounds.
Parking123
Driving and parking
Z

XTo apply:pull parking brake lever ;up
firmly.
When the ignition is switched on, the F
(USA only) or J(Canada only) indicator
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.
XTo release: pull parking brake lever ;
slightly.
XPress release button :and guide parking
brake ;down to the stop.
The F (USA only) or J(Canada only)
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster goes
out.
The vehicle can also be braked during an emer-
gency by using the parking brake.
XTo brake in an emergency: press and hold
release button :and carefully pull parking
brake lever ;upwards.
If you drive on wet roads or dirt-covered surfa-
ces, road salt and/or dirt could get into the
parking brake.
In order to prevent corrosion and a reduction in
the braking power of the parking brake, observe
the following:
Rpull the parking brake up with release but-
ton :depressed from time to time before
beginning a journey
Rdrive for approximately 110 yds (100 m) at a
maximum speed of 12 mph (20 km/h)
Parking the vehicle for a long period
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharging.
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than six
weeks, the vehicle may suffer damage as a
result of lack of use.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop and seek
advice.
iYou can obtain information about trickle
chargers from a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Driving tips
General driving tips
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect, for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
GWARNING
If you operate mobile communication equip-
ment when driving, you may be distracted
from the traffic situation. You could also lose
control of the vehicle. There is a risk of an
accident.
Only operate this equipment when the vehicle
is stationary.
Observe the legal requirements for the country
in which you are driving. Some jurisdictions pro-
hibit the driver from using a mobile phone while driving a vehicle.
If you make a call while driving, always use
hands-free mode. Only operate the telephone
when the traffic situation permits. If you are
unsure, pull over to a safe location and stop
before operating the telephone.
Bear in mind that at a speed of only 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), the vehicle covers a
distance of 44 ft (approximately 14 m)per sec-
ond.
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Observe the following tips to save fuel:
XThe tires should always be inflated to the rec-
ommended tire pressure.
XRemove unnecessary loads.
XRemove roof carriers when they are not nee-
ded.
XWarm up the engine at low engine speeds.
124Driving tips
Driving and parking

XAvoid frequent acceleration or braking.
XHave all service and maintenance work car-
ried out at the specified intervals.
Fuel consumption also increases when driving in
cold weather, in stop-start traffic and in hilly ter-
rain.
Drinking and driving
GWARNING
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
affect your reflexes, perceptions and judg-
ment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal acci-
dent is greatly increased when you drink or
take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or tak-
ing drugs.
Emission control
GWARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces with-
out sufficient ventilation.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous components in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work at peak efficiency if
they are serviced exactly in accordance with the
manufacturer's specifications. Always have
work on the engine carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you use an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center for this purpose. In particular, work
relevant to safety or on safety-related systems
must be carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop.
The engine settings must not be changed under any circumstances. Furthermore, all specific
service work must be carried out at regular
intervals and in accordance with the Mercedes-
Benz service requirements. You can obtain cur- rent information concerning the servicing of
your vehicle at any time from a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. This could be an overview of
the
maintena
nce work or any additional main-
tenance work, for example.
Braking
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
There is an increased danger of skidding and
accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface.
GWARNING
If you select the LOW RANGE off-road gear on
a slippery road surface, the wheels could lose traction:
Rif you remove your foot from the accelera-
tor pedal when driving
Rif off road ABS intervenes when braking
If the wheels lose traction. the vehicle can no
longer be steered. There is an increased dan-
ger of skidding and accidents.
Never select the LOW RANGE off-road gear
when driving on slippery road surfaces.
Information on the parking brake (
Ypage 123).
Downhill gradients
!On long and steep gradients, you must
reduce the load on the brakes by shifting to a
lower gear in good time. This allows you to
take advantage of the engine's braking effect.
This helps you to avoid overheating the
brakes and wearing them out excessively.
When you take advantage of engine braking, a
drive wheel may not turn for some time, e.g.
on a slippery road surface. This could cause
damage to the drive train. This type of damage
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz war-
ranty.
Driving tips125
Driving an d parking
Z

This also applies if cruise control or DISTRONIC
PLUS is activated.
Heavy and light loads
GWARNING
If you rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This increases the stopping distance and can even
cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
!Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately. Drive
on for a short while. This allows the airflow to
cool the brakes more quickly.
Wet roads
If driving in heavy rain for a prolonged period of
time without braking, there may be a delayed
reaction from the brakes when braking for the
first time. This may also occur after the vehicle
has been washed.
You have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance from the
vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the vehicle
washed, brake firmly while paying attention to
the traffic conditions. This will warm up the
brake discs, thereby drying them more quickly
and protecting them against corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads
If you drive on salted roads, a layer of salt resi-
due may form on the brake discs and brake
pads. This can result in a significantly longer
braking distance.
RIn order to prevent any salt build-up, apply the
brakes occasionally while paying attention to
the traffic conditions.
RCarefully depress the brake pedal and the
beginning and end of a journey.
RMaintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead.
Servicing the brakes
!The brake fluid level may be too low, if:
Rif the red brake warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster and
Ryou hear a warning tone while the engine is
running
Observe additional warning messages in the
multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked immediately. Consult a qualified specialist workshop to
arrange this.
!If the brake warning lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster and you hear a warning
tone even though the parking brake has been released, the brake fluid level may be too low.
Observe additional warning messages in the
multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked immediately. This work should be carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop.
!A function or performance test should only
be carried out on a 2-axle dynamometer. If
you wish to operate the vehicle on such a
dynamometer, please consult a qualified spe-
cialist workshop in advance. You could oth-
erwise damage the drive train or the brake
system.
!The ESP®system operates automatically. If
the parking brake is tested on a brake dyna-
mometer (for a maximum of ten seconds), the
engine and the ignition must be switched off.
Braking triggered automatically by ESP
®may
otherwise cause severe damage to the brake
system.
All checks and maintenance work on the brake
system must be carried out at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
126Driving tips
Driving and parking

Drivingon flooded road s
!Do notdrive through floode dareas. Chec k
th edept hof any water befor edrivin gthrough
it .Drive slowly through standin gwater. Oth-
erwise ,water may ente rth evehicle interio ror
th eengin ecompartment. Thi scan damage
th eelectronic component sin th eengin eor
th eautomatic transmission. Water can also
be drawn in by th eengine's air suction nozzles
and this can cause engin edamage.
If you hav eto drive on stretches of road on whic h
water has collected, please bear in min dthat :
Rin th ecas eof standin gwater, th ewater level
mus tbe no higher than th elowe redg eof th e
vehicle bod y
Ryou should drive no faste rthan walkin gpac e
Off-road fording
!Under no circumstances should you accel-
erate befor eenterin gth ewater. The bow
wave could cause water to ente rand damage
th eengin eand other assemblies .
!Do notope nany of th evehicle' sdoors whil e
fording .Otherwise ,water could get into th e
vehicle interio rand damage th evehicle' s
electronic sand interio requipment.
iYou may only drive through fresh water.
RObserv eth esafet ynote s (Ypage 129) and
genera lnote s (Ypage 130) on drivin goff-
road.
REstablis hhow dee pth ewater is and th echar-
acteristic sof th ebod yof water befor eford-
ing.
RSwitc hof fautomatic climat econtro l
RShift th etransfe rcas eto th eoff-road drivin g
position LOW RANGE (Ypage 149).
REngage thedifferential locks if necessary
(Ypage 151).
RAvoid hig hengin espeeds .
REnterand exit th ewater at afla tplac eand at
a steady walkin gpace.
RDrive slowly and at an eve nspeed through th e
water.
REnsur ethat abow wave doe sno tform as you
drive.
RDo no tstop and do no tswitch of fth eengine.
Water offers ahig hdegree of resistance, and
th egroun dis slipper yand i
n som
ecases unstable. Therefore, it is difficult and danger
-
ous to pull away in water.
RClean any mud from th etire tread after ford-
ing.
RApply th ebrake sto dry them after fording .
Always observ eth efording dept hvalues
(
Ypage 290).
Winte rdrivin g
GWARNING
If you shift down on aslipper yroad surfac ein
an attempt to increase th eengine's braking
effect ,th edrive wheels could los etheir grip.
There is an increase ddanger of skidding and
accidents .
Do no tshift down fo radditional engin ebrak-
in g on aslipper yroad surface.
GWARNING
If you selec tth eLO WRANGE off-road gear on
a slipper yroad surface, th ewheels could los e
traction :
Rif you remov eyour foot from th eaccelera-
to rpeda lwhen drivin g
Rif offroad AB Sintervenes when braking
If th ewheels los etraction .th evehicle can no
longer be steered. There is an increase ddan -
ger of skidding and accidents .
Never selec tth eLO WRANGE off-road gear
when drivin gon slipper yroad surfaces.
Hav eyour vehicle winter-proofed at aqualified
specialis tworkshop at th eonset of winter.
Drive particularly carefully on slipper yroad sur -
faces. Avoid sudden acceleration ,steerin gand
braking maneuvers .Do no tuse cruise contro lor
DISTRONIC PLUS.
If th evehicle threatens to skid or canno tbe
stopped when movin gat low speed:
XShift th eautomatic transmissio nto position
i .
The outsid etemperature indicator is no t
designed to serve as an ice-warnin gdevic eand
is therefore unsuitable fo rthat purpose.
Changes in th eoutsid etemperature are dis -
playe dafter ashort delay.
128Driving tips
Driving and parking

General notes
HEnvironmental note
Protection of the environment is of primary
importance. Treat nature with respect.
Observe all prohibiting signs.
Read this section carefully before driving your
vehicle off-road. Practice by driving over more
gentle off-road terrain first.
Familiarize yourself with the characteristics of
your vehicle and the gear shift operation before
driving through difficult terrain.
The following driving systems are specially
adapted to off-road driving:
R4ETS (Ypage 59)
ROff-road ABS (Ypage 59)
RTransfer case (Ypage 149)
RDifferential locks (Ypage 151)
Observe the following notes:
Rstop the vehicle before you drive off-road and,
if necessary, shift the transfer case to the
LOW RANGE off-road gear (
Ypage 149).
REngage the differential locks if necessary
(Ypage 151).
iABS, 4ETS, ESP®and BAS are deactivated
while the differential locks are engaged. This
allows the front wheels to lock briefly, so that
these can dig into a loose surface. However,
please note that locked wheels skid and can
no longer steer.
RCheck that items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
(
Ypage 214).
RTo avoid damaging the vehicle, make sure
there is always sufficient ground clearance.
RAlways keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient.
RAlways keep the engine running and in gear
when driving down an incline.
RDrive slowly and evenly, if necessary at a
walking pace.
REnsure that the wheels are in contact with the
ground at all times.
RDrive with extreme care on unfamiliar off-road
routes where visibility is poor. For safety rea-
sons, get out of the vehicle first and survey
the off-road route.
RCheck the depth of water before fording rivers
and streams.
RWatch out for obstacles.
RAlways keep the doors, rear door, side win-
dows and the sliding sunroof closed while the
vehicle is in motion.
RSwitch off cruise control.
RDo not deviate from marked routes.
RAdapt your speed to the terrain. The rougher,
steeper or more ruts on the terrain, the slower
your speed should be.
RDo not jump with the vehicle. as this will inter-
rupt the vehicle's propulsion.
RAvoid high engine speeds. Drive at appropri-
ate engine speeds (maximum 3,000 rpm).
RDo not shift the automatic transmission to
position i.
RAlways check the vehicle for damage after off-
road driving.
Do not use the HOLD function when driving off-
road, on steep uphill or downhill gradients or on slippery or loose surfaces. The HOLD function
cannot hold the vehicle on such surfaces.
You can obtain further information about mount-
ing special all-terrain tires from a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Checklist before driving off-road
!If the engine oil warning lamp lights up while
the vehicle is in motion, stop the vehicle in a
safe place as soon as possible. Check the
engine oil level. The engine oil warning lamp
warning must not be ignored. Continuing the
journey while the symbol is displayed could
lead to engine damage.
XEngine oil level: check the engine oil level
and add oil if necessary.
When driving on steep gradients, the engine
oil level must be sufficiently high to ensure a
correct oil supply in the vehicle.
XTire-changing tool kit: check that the jack is
working and make sure you have the lug
wrench, a robust tow cable and a folding
spade in the vehicle.
XWheels and tires: check the tire tread depth
and tire pressure.
XCheck for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the wheels/
tires.
XReplace any missing valve caps.
130Driving tips
Driving and parking

keep a safe distance from the vehicle when
doing so in order to avoid injury as a result of
unexpected vehicle movements. After driving
off-road or over obstacles, check the vehicle
for possible damage, especially to the under-
body and the components of the chassis.
!Drive with particular care when driving over
an obstacle while driving up or down a steep
slope.
The vehicle could otherwise tilt and slide side-
ways or tip over.
Observe the following rules when driving over
tree stumps, large stones and other obstacles:
RObserve the safety notes (Ypage 129) and
the general notes (Ypage 130) on off-road
driving.
RShift the transfer case to the off-road driving
position LOW RANGE (Ypage 149).
RAvoid high engine speeds.
RShift the automatic transmission to a low
gear.
RMake sure that you have enough ground
clearance before driving across an obstacle.
RDrive very slowly.
RTry to drive straight over the center of obsta-
cles: front wheel first, then rear wheel.
Traveling uphill
Approach/departure angle
GWARNING
If you drive on a steep incline at an angle or
turn when driving on an incline, the vehicle
could slip sideways, tip and rollover. There is a risk of an accident.
Always drive on a steep incline in the line of
fall (straight up or down) and do not turn the
vehicle.
Always observe the approach/departure angle
values (
Ypage 290).
RObserve the safety notes (Ypage 129) and
general notes (Ypage 130) on driving off-
road.
RDo not drive at an angle on slopes, inclines or gradients, but instead follow the direct line of
fall. Note that the climbing ability of your vehi- cle depends on the terrain conditions.
RBefore driving on extreme uphill and downhill
gradients, shift the transfer case to the LOW
RANGE off-road gear (
Ypage 149).
REngage the differential locks if necessary
(Ypage 151).
RDrive slowly.
RAccelerate gently and make sure that the
wheels are gripping.
RAvoid high engine speeds, except when driv-
ing on sandy and muddy routes with high driv-
ing resistance.
RAvoid high engine speeds – drive at an appro-
priate engine speed (maximum 3,000 rpm).
RWhen driving down an incline, make use of the
engine's bra king effect. Observe the engine
speed; do not overrev the engine.
Further information on the maximum engine
speed (
Ypage 160).
RShift the automatic transmission to a low gear appropriate for tackling an uphill gradient or a
long, steep downhill gradient.
Hill start assist will aid you when pulling away on
a hill. For further information about hill start
assist, see (
Ypage 107).
Maximum gradient-climbing capability
Always observe the maximum gradient climbing ability values (Ypage 290).
Hilltops
When driving up an uphill gradient, slightly
reduce pressure on the accelerator immediately
before reaching the brow of the hill (do not shift
the transmission into N). Make use of the vehi-
cle's own impetus to travel over the brow.
This style of driving prevents:
Rthe vehicle from lifting off the ground on the
brow of a hill
Rloss of traction
Rthe vehicle from traveling too quickly down
the other side
Driving downhill
RDrive slowly.
RDo not drive at an angle down steep inclines.
Steer into the line of fall and drive with the
front wheels aligned straight. Otherwise, the
vehicle could slip sideways, tip and rollover.
132Driving tips
Driving an d parking

RBefore tackling steep downhill gradients, shift
the automatic transmission to a low gear.
By doing so, you will use the braking effect of
the engine to reduce the speed. If this is not
sufficient, brake gently. When doing so, make
sure that the vehicle is facing in the direction
of the line of fall.
RObserve the notes on driving in mountainous
terrain (Ypage 132).
RCheck that the service brake is working nor-
mally after a long downhill stretch.
When driving at speeds below 37 mph
(60 km/h), off-road ABS is activated and the
front wheels lock cyclically during braking. The
digging-in effect achieved in the process
reduces the stopping distance on off-road ter-
rain. This limits steering capability.
Driving systems
Cruise control
General notes
Cruise control maintains a constant road speed
for you. It brakes automatically in order to avoid
exceeding the set speed. Change into a lower
gear in good time on long and steep downhill
gradients.
This is especially important if the vehicle is
laden. By doing so, you will make use of the
braking effect of the engine. This relieves the
load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic con-
ditions make it appropriate to maintain a steady
speed for a prolonged period. You can store any
road speed above 20 mph (30 km/h).
Do not activate cruise control on off-road jour-
neys.
Important safety notes
Cruise control can neither reduce the risk of an
accident if you fail to adapt your driving style nor override the laws of physics. Cruise control can-
not take into account the road, traffic and
weather conditions. Cruise control is only an
aid. You are responsible for maintaining a safe
distance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle
speed, for braking in good time and for staying in
lane. Do not use cruise control:
Rin road and traffic conditions that do not allow
you to maintain a constant speed, e.g. in
heavy traffic, on winding roads or on rough
terrain
Ron slippery road surfaces. Braking or accel-
erating could cause the drive wheels to lose
traction and the vehicle could then skid
Rin poor visibility, e.g. due to fog, heavy rain or
snow
If there is a change of drivers, advise the new
driver of the speed stored.
iThe speed indicated in the speedometer
may differ slightly from the speed stored.
Cruise control lever
:Activates or increases speed
;Activates or reduces speed
=Deactivates cruise control
?Activates at the current speed/last stored
speed
When you activate cruise control, the stored
speed is shown in the multifunction display for
five seconds.
Speedometer with segments: when cruise
control is activated, the segments from the
stored speed to the end of the scale light up.
Storing, maintaining and calling up a
speed
Storing and maintaining the current
speed
You can store the current speed if you are driv-
ing faster than 20 mph (30 km/h).
Driving systems133
Driving and parking
Z