2019 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS engine

Engine compartment
Hood
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the hood is unlatched, it may open up when the vehicle is in motion and block your view.
There is a risk of an accident.
Never unlatch the hood while driving. Before
every trip, ensure that the hood is locked. G
WARNING
When opening and closing the hood, it may
suddenly fall into the closed position. There is a risk of injury to persons within range of
movement of the hood.
Open and close the hood only when no one is
within its range of movement. G
WARNING
Opening the hood when the engine is over-
heated or when there is a fire in the engine
compartment could expose you to hot gases
or other service products. There is a risk of
injury.
Let an overheated engine cool down before
opening the hood. If there is a fire in the
engine compartment, keep the hood closed
and contact the fire department. G
WARNING
The engine compartment contains moving
components. Certain components, such as
the radiator fan, may continue to run or start
again suddenly when the ignition is off. There is a risk of injury.
If you need to do any work inside the engine
compartment:
R switch off the ignition
R never reach into the area where there is a
risk of danger from moving components,
such as the fan rotation area R
remove jewelry and watches
R keep items of clothing and hair, for exam-
ple, away from moving parts G
WARNING
The ignition system and the fuel injection sys- tem work under high voltage. If you touch
components which are under voltage, you
could get an electric shock. There is a risk of
injury.
Never touch components of the ignition sys-
tem or fuel injection system when the ignition is switched on.
Electrically live components include ignition
coils, spark plug connectors and the test socket. To ensure the flow of fresh air through the air
vents into the vehicle interior, please observe
the following notes (Y page 136):
Opening the hood G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot.
Working in the engine compartment poses a
risk of injury.
Where possible, let the engine cool down and touch only the components described in the
following. G
WARNING
When the hood is open and the windshield
wipers are set in motion, you can be injured by the wiper linkage. There is a risk of injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before opening the hood.
! Make sure that the windshield wipers are
not folded away from the windshield. You
could otherwise damage the windshield wip-
ers or the hood. Engine compartment
321Maintenance and care Z

X
Make sure that the windshield wipers are
turned off.
X Pull release lever 0043on the hood.
The hood is released. X
Reach into the gap, pull hood catch handle 0044
up and lift the hood.
If you lift the hood by approximately 15 in
(40 cm), the hood is opened and held open
automatically by the gas-filled strut.
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
Do not cover up the radiator, such as with a
thermal mat or insect protection cover. Other-
wise, the values of the European on-board diag- nostics may be affected. Some of these read-
ings are required by law and must be accurate at all times. Engine oil
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot.
Working in the engine compartment poses a
risk of injury.
Where possible, let the engine cool down and touch only the components described in the
following. G
WARNING
Opening the hood when the engine is over-
heated or when there is a fire in the engine
compartment could expose you to hot gases
or other service products. There is a risk of
injury.
Let an overheated engine cool down before
opening the hood. If there is a fire in the
engine compartment, keep the hood closed
and contact the fire department. G
WARNING
If engine oil comes into contact with hot com- ponents in the engine compartment, it may
ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Make sure that engine oil is not spilled next to
the filler neck. Let the engine cool down and
thoroughly clean the engine oil off the com-
ponents before starting the engine.
General notes Depending on your driving style, the vehicle
consumes up to 0.9 US qt (0.8 liters) of oil per
600 miles (1,000 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. 322
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care

When checking the oil level:
R
park the vehicle on a level surface.
R the engine should be switched off for approx-
imately five minutes if the engine is at normal
operating temperature.
R if the engine is not at normal operating tem-
perature, e.g. if the engine was only started
briefly, wait about 30 minutes before carrying
out the measurement.
Checking the engine oil level using the
oil dipstick Example: vehicles with a gasoline engine
X Pull out oil dipstick 0043.
X Wipe off oil dipstick 0043.
X Slide oil dipstick 0043into the dipstick guide
tube as far as it will go and take it out again.
If the level is between MIN mark 0087and MAX
mark 0044, the engine oil level is correct.
X If the engine oil level has dropped to MIN mark
0087 or below, add 1.1 US qt (1.0 liter) of engine
oil.
Adding engine oil H
Environmental note
When adding oil, take care not to spill any. If
oil enters the soil or waterways, it is harmful to the environment.
! Use only engine oils and oil filters that are
approved for vehicles with a service system. A list of the engine oils and oil filters that have
been tested and approved in accordance with
Mercedes-Benz Specifications for Service
Products is available at any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. The following cause engine failure or damage
to the exhaust system:
R Use of engine oils and oil filters that have
not been expressly approved for the service
system
R Replacement of engine oil and oil filter after
the replacement interval specified by the
service system has expired
R Use of engine oil additives
! Do not add too much oil. adding too much
engine oil can result in damage to the engine or to the catalytic converter. Have excess
engine oil siphoned off. Example: engine oil cap
X Turn cap 0043counter-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 0043on the filler neck and tighten
clockwise.
Ensure that the cap locks into place securely.
X Check the oil level again with the oil dipstick
(Y page 323).
Further information on engine oil (Y page 386). Additional service products
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot.
Working in the engine compartment poses a
risk of injury. Engine compartment
323Maintenance and care
Z

Where possible, let the engine cool down and
touch only the components described in the
following. G
WARNING
The cooling system is pressurized, particularly when the motor is warm. If you open the cap, you could be scalded if hot coolant sprays out.
There is a risk of injury.
Let the engine cool down before you open the
cap. Wear protective gloves and protective
eyewear when opening. Open the cap slowly
to release pressure.
The coolant level may only be checked and cool- ant refilled when the engine and engine coolingsystem have cooled down. G
WARNING
Windshield washer concentrate is highly flam- mable. If windshield washer concentrate getsonto hot components of the engine or the
exhaust system, it can ignite. There is a risk of
fire and injury.
Make sure that windshield washer concen-
trate is not spilled in the vicinity of the filler
neck.
Checking coolant level X
Park the vehicle on a level surface.
Only check the coolant level when the vehicle
is on a level surface and the engine has cooled
down.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0048in the igni-
tion lock (Y page 140).
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press the
Start/Stop button twice (Y page 142).X
Check the coolant temperature gauge in the
multifunction display.
The coolant temperature must be below
158 ‡ (70 †).
X Turn the SmartKey to position in the ignition
lock 0092(Ypage 140).
X On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press the
Start/Stop button (Y page 142).
X Press the Start/Stop button (Y page 142).
X Slowly turn cap 0043half a turn counter-clock-
wise and allow excess pressure to escape.
X Turn cap 0043further counter-clockwise and
remove it.
If the coolant is at the level of marker bar 0087
in the filler neck when cold, there is enough
coolant in coolant expansion tank 0044.
If the coolant level is approximately 0.6 in
(1.5 cm) above marker bar 0087in the filler neck
when warm, there is enough coolant in expan- sion tank 0044.
X If necessary, add coolant that has been tested
and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
X Replace cap 0043and turn it clockwise as far as
it will go.
For further information on coolant, see
(Y page 387).
Adding washer fluid to the windshield
washer system Example: washer fluid reservoir
X To open: pull cap0043upwards by the tab.
X Add the premixed washer fluid.
X To close: press cap 0043onto the filler neck
until it engages.
If the washer fluid level drops below the recom- mended minimum of 1 liter, a message appears in the multifunction display prompting you to
add washer fluid (Y page 273).324
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care

Further information on windshield washer fluid
(Y page 388). ASSYST PLUS
Service message
i If the scheduled service intervals are excee-
ded, this may result in damage to the vehicle.
You can obtain up-to-date information concern-
ing the servicing of your vehicle from a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or at
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
i The ASSYST PLUS service interval display
does not show any information on the engine
oil level. Observe the notes on the engine oil
level (Y page 322).
The multifunction display shows a service mes-
sage for several seconds, e.g.:
R Service A in .. Days Service A in .. Days
R Service A Due
Service A Due
R Service A Exceeded by .. Days
Service A Exceeded by .. Days
Depending on the operating conditions of the
vehicle, the remaining time or distance until the next service due date is displayed.
The letter A
A or B B, possibly in connection with a
number or another letter, shows the type of ser-
vice. A
A stands for a minor service and B
Bfor a
major service.
Further information can be obtained at a quali-
fied specialist workshop.
The ASSYST PLUS service interval display does
not take into account any periods of time during
which the battery is disconnected.
Maintaining the time-dependent service sched-
ule:
X Note down the service due date displayed in
the multifunction display before disconnect-
ing the battery.
or
X After reconnecting the battery, subtract the
battery disconnection periods from the ser-
vice date shown on the display. Hiding a service message
X Press the 0038or0076 button on the steering
wheel. Displaying service messages
X Switch on the ignition.
X Press the 0059or0065 button on the steering
wheel to select the Serv. Serv.menu.
X Press the 0063or0064 button to select the
ASSYST
ASSYST PLUS
PLUSsubmenu and confirm by press-
ing the 0076button.
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 display
has been inadvertently reset, this setting can
be corrected at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Have service work carried out as described in the Maintenance Booklet. This may otherwise
lead to increased wear and damage to the
major assemblies or the vehicle.
A qualified specialist workshop 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 increased load on the vehicle,
maintenance work must be carried out more
frequently, for example:
R Regular city driving with frequent intermedi-
ate stops
R If the vehicle is primarily used to travel short
distances
R Use in mountainous terrain or on poor road
surfaces
R If the engine is often left idling for long periods
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 workshop. ASSYST PLUS
325Maintenance and care Z

front-passenger door when the engine is
switched off. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission selects park position
005Dauto-
matically and locks the wheels. You can
prevent this by shifting the automatic trans- mission to 005Cbeforehand.
R Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO:
Do not open the driver's door or front-
passenger door when the engine is
switched off. Otherwise, the automatic
transmission selects park position 005Dauto-
matically and locks the wheels.
Observe the following to make sure that the
automatic transmission stays in position 005C:
X Make sure the vehicle is stationary and the
ignition is switched off.
X Turn the SmartKey to position in the ignition
lock 0048(Ypage 140).
Use the SmartKey instead of the Start/Stop
button on vehicles with KEYLESS-GO.
X Depress and hold the brake pedal.
X Shift the automatic transmission to position
005C.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the electric parking brake.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the SmartKey
in the ignition lock.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
If the vehicle is very dirty, pre-wash it before
cleaning it in an automatic car wash.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off wax from the windshield and the wiper blades. This
will prevent smears and reduce wiping noises
caused by residue on the windshield.
Washing by hand In some countries, washing by hand is only
allowed at specially equipped washing bays.
Observe the legal requirements in all countries
concerned.
X Do not use hot water and do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight.
X Use a soft sponge to clean.
X Use a mild cleaning agent, such as a car
shampoo approved by Mercedes-Benz.
X Thoroughly hose down the vehicle with a gen-
tle jet of water.
X Do not point the water jet directly towards the
air inlets. X
Use plenty of water and rinse out the sponge
frequently.
X Rinse the vehicle with clean water and dry
thoroughly with a chamois.
X Do not let the cleaning agent dry on the paint-
work.
When using the vehicle in winter, remove all
traces of road salt deposits carefully and as
soon as possible.
Power washers G
WARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage to the tires or chassis components. Compo-
nents damaged in this way may fail unexpect-edly. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced imme-
diately.
! Always maintain a distance of at least 12 in
(30 cm) between the vehicle and the power
washer nozzle. Information about the correct
distance is available from the equipment
manufacturer.
Move the power washer nozzle around when
cleaning your vehicle.
Do not aim directly at any of the following:
R Tires
R Door gaps, roof gaps, joints, etc.
R Electrical components
R Battery
R Plug-type couplings
R Light bulbs
R Seals
R Trim elements
R Ventilation slots
Damaged seals or electrical components can
lead to leaks or failures.
! Vehicles with decorative film: parts of your
vehicle are covered with decorative film.
Maintain a distance of at least 27.5 in (70 cm)
between the film-covered parts of the vehicle and the nozzle of the power washer.
Information about the correct distance is
available from the equipment manufacturer. Care
327Maintenance and care Z

X
Make sure that the vehicle is stationary and
the SmartKey is in position 0048in the ignition
lock.
X Open the camera cover for cleaning via the
multimedia system (see Digital Operator's
Manual).
X To clean the camera: use clean water and a
soft cloth to clean the camera lens 0043.
360° camera: if you drive at speeds above
20 mph (30 km/h) or with the SmartKey in posi- tion 0092or0047 in the ignition lock, the cover of
the 360° camera closes.
Cleaning the exhaust pipe G
WARNING
The exhaust tail pipe and tail pipe trim can
become very hot. If you come into contact
with these parts of the vehicle, you could burn
yourself. There is a risk of burns.
Always be particularly careful and supervise
children closely around the exhaust pipe and
the exhaust pipe trims. Allow these compo-
nents to cool down before touching them.
! Vehicles with black exhaust pipes: black
chromed screens should not be polished with a chrome polish. They will otherwise lose their
black shine. For optimal care, the screens
should be rubbed with a lightly oiled cloth
after every car wash. Commercially available
engine and care oils are suitable for this.
For heavier soiling, you can apply a fine paint- work polish with a microfiber cloth. Remove
the excess polish residue after polishing.
Impurities combined with the effects of road grit
and corrosive environmental factors may cause flash rust to form on the surface. You can
restore the original shine of the exhaust pipe by
cleaning it regularly, especially in winter and
after washing.
X Clean the exhaust pipe with a chrome care
product tested and approved by Mercedes-
Benz.
Cleaning the trailer tow hitch H
Environmental note
Dispose of rags soaked in oil and grease in an environmentally responsible manner. !
Do not clean the ball coupling with a power
washer. Do not use solvents.
! Please note the care instructions in the
trailer coupling manufacturer's operating
instructions. The ball coupling must be cleaned if it becomes
dirty or corroded.
X Remove rust on the ball of the ball coupling,
e.g. with a wire brush.
X Remove dirt with a clean, lint-free cloth or a
brush.
X After cleaning, lightly oil or grease ball cou-
pling 0043.
X Check that the vehicle's trailer tow hitch is
working properly.
i You can also have the maintenance work on
the ball coupling and the trailer tow hitch car-
ried out by a qualified specialist workshop. Interior care
Cleaning the display !
For cleaning, do not use any of the following:
R alcohol-based thinner or gasoline
R abrasive cleaning agents
R commercially-available household cleaning
agents
These may damage the display surface. Do
not put pressure on the display surface when
cleaning. This could lead to irreparable dam-
age to the display. Care
331Maintenance and care Z

X
Stop the vehicle on solid, non-slippery and
level ground, as far away as possible from
traffic.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away
(Y page 158).
X If possible, bring the front wheels into the
straight-ahead position.
X Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
make sure that the normal vehicle level is
selected (Y page 187).
X Vehicles with the Off-Road Engineering
package:
make sure that the normal level is
selected (Y page 180).
X Switch off the engine.
X Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO: remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock.
X Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: open the driv-
er's door.
The vehicle electronics are now in position
0092. This means no SmartKey is in the ignition
lock.
X Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock
(Y page 140).
X Make sure that the passengers are not endan-
gered as they do so. Make sure that no one is
near the danger area while a wheel is being
changed. Anyone who is not directly assisting in the wheel change should, for example,
stand behind the barrier.
X Get out of the vehicle. Pay attention to traffic
conditions when doing so.
X Close the driver's door.
X Unload heavy luggage.
i Only operate the tire inflation compressor
using a 12 V socket, even if the ignition is
turned off (Y page 307).
An emergency cut-out ensures that the on-
board voltage does not drop too low. If the on-
board voltage is too low, the power to the
sockets is automatically cut. This ensures
that there is sufficient power to start the
engine. MOExtended tires (tires with run-flat
properties)
General notes With MOExtended tires (tires with run flat char-
acteristics), you can continue to drive your vehi- cle even if there is a total loss of pressure in one
or more tires. The affected tire must not show
any clearly visible damage.
You can recognize an MOExtended tire by the
MOExtended marking which appears on the
sidewall of the tire. You will find this marking
next to the tire size designation, the load-bear-
ing capacity and the speed index (Y page 367).
MOExtended tires may only be used in conjunc-
tion with an active tire pressure loss warning
system or with an active tire pressure monitor.
If a pressure loss warning message appears in the multifunction display:
R observe the instructions in the display mes-
sages (Y page 268).
R check the tire for damage
R if driving on, observe the following notes
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode is approximately 50 miles (80 km) when the vehi-
cle is partially laden and approximately 18 miles
(30 km) when the vehicle is fully laden.
In addition to the vehicle load, the driving dis-
tance possible depends upon:
R Vehicle speed
R Road condition
R Outside temperature
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode
may be reduced by extreme driving conditions
or maneuvers, or it can be increased through a
moderate style of driving.
The driving distance possible in run-flat mode is counted from the moment the tire pressure loss warning appears in the multifunction display.
You must not exceed a maximum permissible
speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
i When replacing one or all tires, please
observe the following specifications for your
vehicle's tires:
R Size
R Type and
R The "MOExtended" mark
If a tire has gone flat and cannot be replaced with an MOExtended tire, a standard tire may 336
Flat tireBreakdown assistance