check oil MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV 2012 Owners Manual

ECO start/stop function
Deactivating/activatin g................. 146
General information .......................145
Electronic Stability Program
see ESP ®
(Electroni cStability Program)
Electronic Traction System
see 4ETS (Electronic Traction System)
Emergenc yclosing
Sof ttop ............................................ 82
Emergency key element
Function/notes ................................ 70
General notes .................................. 70
Removing ......................................... 70
Emergency locking
Vehicle ............................................. 75
Emergency unlocking
Vehicle ............................................. 74
Engine
Display message ............................ 237
ECO start/stop function ................145
Engine number ............................... 341
Jump-starting ................................. 313
Running irregularl y......................... 148
Starting problems ..........................148
Starting the engine with the key ....144
Stopping ........................................ 163
Warning lamp (engine diagnostics) 259
Engine electronics
Notes ............................................. 339
Problem (fault) ............................... 148
Engine oil
Additives ........................................ 346
Checking the oil level ..................... 291
Display message ............................ 239
Filling capacity ............................... 346
Notes about oil grades ................... 345
Temperature (on-board computer) .225
Topping up ..................................... 293
Viscosity ........................................ 346
Environmental protection
Note ................................................ .20
Returning an end-of-life vehicle .......20
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Pro-
gram) AMG menu (on-board computer) ...226
Deactivating/activating ...................63
Display message ............................ 229Function/notes ................................ 62
Important safety guidelines
.............62
Trailer stabilisatio n.......................... 63
Warning lamp ................................. 256
Exhaus ttail pipe (cleaning instruc-
tions) .................................................. 299
Exterior lighting see Lights
Exterior mirrors
Adjusting ......................................... 99
Anti-dazzle mode (automatic) ........100
Folding in/ou t(automatically) .......100
Folding in/ou t(electrically) .............99
Folding in whe nlocking (on-board
computer) ...................................... 225
Out of position (troubleshooting) ...100
Parking position ............................. 101
Resetting ....................................... 100
Storing settings (memory function) 102 F
Faul tmessage
see Display messages
Filler cap
see Fuel filler flap
Fire extinguisher ............................... 305
First-aid kit ......................................... 305
Fitting awheel
Removing awheel .......................... 332
Fitting wheels
Fitting awheel ............................... 332
Raising the vehicle .........................330
Securing the vehicle against roll-
ing away ........................................ 330
Flat tyre
Preparing the vehicle .....................309
Floormat ............................................ .286
Foglamps Switching on/off ........................... 106
Folding the seat backrest (rear)
forwards/back .................................. 269
Frequencies Garage door opene r....................... 283
Mobile phone ................................. 339
Two-way radio ................................ 339
Fron tfoglam p(display message) ....236 Index
9

Off-road driving
Checklist ........................................1 70
Driving on sand .............................. 171
Important safety notes ..................169
Travelling uphill .............................. 172
Off-road fording ................................. 167
Off-road system 4MATIC .......................................... 197
Oil
see Engine oil
On-board computer
AMG menu ..................................... 225
Assistance menu ........................... 220
Audi omenu ................................... 217
Convenience submenu ..................224
Display messages ..........................228
DISTRONI CPLUS ........................... 187
Factory setting submenu ...............225
Heating submenu ........................... 223
Important safety notes ..................210
Instrument cluster submenu ..........221
Ligh tsubmenu ............................... 222
Menu overview .............................. 214
Message memory .......................... 228
Navigation menu ............................ 216
Operating vide oDVD ..................... 218
Operation ....................................... 213
RACETIMER ................................... 226
Service menu ................................. 220
Settings menu ............................... 221
Standard displa y............................ 215
Telephone menu ............................ 218
Trip menu ...................................... 215
Vehicle submenu ........................... 223
Operating safety
Diagnostics connection ...................22
Operating system
see On-board computer
Outside temperature display ...........212
Overhead control panel ......................34
Override feature Rea rside windows ........................... 60 P
Pain tcode .......................................... 340
Paintwork (cleaning instructions) ...297 Parking
............................................... 163
Engaging par kposition .................. 150
Important safety notes ..................163
Position of exterior mirror, front-
passenger side ............................... 101
see PARKTRONIC
Parking aid
see Exterior mirrors
see PARKTRONIC
Parking brake
Display message ............................ 231
Operating ...................................... .164
Warning lamp ................................. 259
Parking lamps
Changing bulbs .............................. 116
Display message ............................ 236
Switching on/off ........................... 108
Parking lamps (changing bulbs) ......116
PARKTRONIC Deactivating/activating .................199
Driving system ............................... 197
Function/notes ............................. 197
Important safety notes ..................197
Problem (fault) ............................... 200
Sensor range ................................. 198
Trailer towing ................................. 199
Warning displa y............................. 199
PASSENGE RAIRBAG OFF warning
lamp ...................................................... 50
Petrol .................................................. 342
Plastic trim (cleaning instructions) .300
Power supply (trailer) .......................208
Programming Key .................................................. 69
Program selector button ..................152
Pulling away Automatic transmission .................144 Q
Qualifie dspecialis tworkshop ...........22 R
RACETIMER Deleting alll aps............................. 227
Displaying and starting ..................226
Displaying the intermediate time ...226 Index
13

Problems with the automatic transmission
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
The transmission has
problems shifting gear. The transmission is losing oil.
X
Have 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 into
secondgear and reverse gear.
X Stop.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition lock.
X Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into secondgear; ifRis
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop immediately. You hear a warning
tone. You have:
R
switched off the engine
R opened the driver's door
R not moved the selector lever to position P
X Move the selector lever to P.Refuelling
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and explo-
sion.
You must avoid fire, naked flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine
and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating before
refuelling. G
WARNING
Fuels are poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a danger of injury.
Do not swallow fuel or let it come into contact
with skin, eyes or clothing. Do not inhale fuel vapours. Keep fuels out of the reach of chil-
dren.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
R Wash the fuel off any affected areas of skin
with water and soap immediately.
R If you get fuel in your eyes, rinse them thor-
oughly with clean water immediately. Seek
immediate medical attention.
R If fuel is swallowed, seek immediate medi-
cal attention. Do not induce vomiting.
R Change any clothing that has come into
contact with fuel immediately. G
WARNING
Do not use petrol to refuel vehicles with a die-
sel engine. Do not mix diesel with petrol. This 156
RefuellingDriving and parking

Off-road driving
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you drive up a steep incline at an angle or
turn on a steep incline, the vehicle could slip
sideways, tip and overturn. There is a risk of
an accident.
When driving up an incline, drive into the line
of fall (upwards or downwards in a straight
line) and do not turn.
! G350 BlueTEC:
The level in the AdBlue ®
tank needs to be
sufficiently high to compensate for driving
at extreme angles when driving off-road.
Before driving off-road, make sure that the
tank contains a minimum of ten litres.
When driving off-road, sand, mud and water,
possibly mixed with oil, for example, could get
into the brakes. This may lead to a reduction
in braking performance or total brake failure
as a result of increased wear. The braking
characteristics will vary, depending on the
substances that get int othe brakes. Cleant he
brakes after driving off-road. If you notice
grinding noises or a reduction in braking per-
formance, have the brake system checked at
a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
Adapt your driving style to the altered braking
characteristics.
Driving off-road increases the possibility of
damage to the vehicle, which may cause
assemblies or systems to fail. Adapt your
driving style to the conditions of the terrain.
Drive carefully. Have vehicle damage rectified
immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop. Observe the following when on hilly roads:
R
Do not shift the transmission to position
N.
R If the gradient is too steep for your vehicle,
back up in reverse gear.
R Do not continuously depress the brake
pedal, as doing so could cause you to lose
control.
General notes H
Environmental note
Protection of the environment is of primary
importance. Treat nature with respect.
Observe all prohibiting signs.
Read this section before driving your vehicle
off-road. Practise by travelling over more gen-
tle off-road terrain first.
The following driving systems are specially
adapted to off-road driving:
R 4ETS (Y page 62)
R Transfer case (Y page 201)
R Differential locks (Y page 204)
Observe the following notes:
R stop your vehicle and, if necessary, shift the
transfer case to LOW
RANGE(Y page 202) before driving off-
road.
R AMG vehicles: to shift the transfer case to
LOW RANGE, deactivate the ECO start/
stop function (Y page 146).
R engage the differential locks, if necessary
(Y page 204)
i ABS,4 ETS, ESP ®
and BAS are deactivated
while the differential locks are engaged.
This allows the front wheels to lock briefly,
so tha tthey can dig into a loose surface.
However, please note that locked wheels
skid and can no longer steer. Driving tips
169Driving and parking Z

R
Chec kthat items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
(Y page 271).
R To avoid damaging the vehicle, make sure
there is always sufficient ground clearance.
R Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient.
R Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a slope.
R Drive slowly and evenly, if necessary at
walking pace.
R Ensure that the wheels are in contact with
the ground at all times.
R Drive with extreme care on unknown off-
road routes where visibility is poor. For
safety reasons, get out of the vehicle first
and survey the off-road route.
R Check the depth of water before fording
rivers and streams.
R When fording, do not stop and do not
switch off the engine.
R Look out for obstacles such as rocks, holes,
tree stumps and furrows.
R Always keep the doors, the rear door or
tailgate (G-Class Cabriolet), the side win-
dows and the sliding sunroof closed while
the vehicle is in motion.
R Switch off cruise control and variable
SPEEDTRONIC.
R Do not stray from marked routes or paths.
R Adapt your speed to the terrain. The
rougher, steeper or more ruts on the ter-
rain, the slower your speed should be.
R Drive slowly and at a constant speed
through the water. Ensure that a bow wave
does not form as you drive.
R On sand, drive quickly to overcome the roll-
ing resistance. Otherwise, the vehicle could
dig itself into the sand.
R Do not jump with the vehicle as this will
interrupt the vehicle's propulsion. R
Avoid high engine speeds. Drive at appro-
priate engine speeds.
R Always check the vehicle for damage after
off-road driving.
i Information about retrofitting special all-
terrain tyres is available from any qualified
specialist workshop.
i Do not use the HOLD function when driv-
ing off-road, on steep uphill or downhill gra-
dients or on slippery or loose surfaces. The
HOLD function cannot hold the vehicle on
such surfaces.
Checklist before driving off-road !
If the engine oil warning lamp lights up
during the journey, stop the vehicle in a
safe place as soon as is possible. Check the
engine oil level. The warning given by the
engine oil warning light must not be
ignored. Continuing your journey when the
symbol is shown may result in engine dam-
age.
X Engine oil level: check the engine oil and
top it up if necessary.
Only then does the engine receive enough
oil when the vehicle is standing on a steep
incline.
X G3 50 BlueTEC: have the AdBlue ®
level
checked at a qualified specialist workshop
(Y page 160).
X Tyre-change tool kit: check that the jack
is working and make sure you have the
wheelbrace, a robust tow cable and a fold-
ing spade in the vehicle.
X Wheels and tyres: check the tyre tread
depth and tyre pressure.
X Check for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the
wheels/tyres.
X Replace any missing valve caps.
X Replace dented or damaged wheels.
X Carry a sound spare wheel. 170
Driving tipsDriving and parking

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
# The battery is no
tbeing charged.
Aw arning tone also sounds.
Possible causes:
R faulty alternator
R torn poly-V-belt
R a malfunction in the electronics
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attentio ntoroad and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Open the bonnet.
X Check whether the poly-V-belt is torn.
If the poly-V-belt is torn:
! Do not continue driving. The engine could otherwise overheat.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the poly-V-belt is OK:
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 4
Check eng. oil
lev. when next
refuelling The engine oil level has dropped to the minimum level.
Aw
arning tone also sounds.
X Chec kthe oil level when next refuelling, at the latest
(Y page 291).
X If necessary, top up the engine oil (Y page 293).
X Have the engine checked at a qualified specialist workshop if
the engine oil needs topping up more often than usual. 4
Engine oil level
Stop vehicle Turn
engine off The engine oil level is too low. There is a risk of engine damage.
X
Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Top up the engine oil (Y page 293) and check the oil level
(Y page 291). 4
Add
1 litre engine
oil when next refu‐
elling AMG vehicles: the engine oil level is too low.
X
Check the oil level when next refuelling, at the latest
(Y page 291).
X If necessary, top up the engine oil (Y page 293).
X Have the engine checked at a qualified specialist workshop if
the engine oil needs topping up more often than usual. 4
Cannot measure
engine oil level The measuring system is malfunctioning.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Display messages
239On-board computer and displays Z

Opens the bonnet
The release lever on the bonnet is in the foot-
well on the left-hand side of the vehicle when
viewed in the direction of travel.
X Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
switched off.
X Pull release lever :on the bonnet.
The bonnet is released. Vehicles with a petrol engine
Vehicles with a diesel engine X
Lift the bonnet slightly.
X Petrol engine: push the handle of bonnet
catch ;in the direction of the arrow and
lift the bonnet.
X Diesel engine: pull the handle of bonnet
catch ;in the direction of the arrow and
lift the bonnet.
Closing the bonnet G
WARNING
Make sure that nobody can become trapped
as you close the bonnet.
X Lower the bonnet and let it fall from a
height of approximately 20 cm.
X Check that the bonnet has engaged prop-
erly.
If the bonnet can be raised slightly, it is not
properly engaged. Open it again and close
it with a little more force. Radiator
i Vehicles with adiesel engine: do not
cover the radiator. Do not use thermal
mats, insect protection covers or anything
similar. Doing so can cause the Onboard
Diagnostics System to display inaccurate
values. Some of these values are legally
required and must always be correct. Engine oil
Notes on oil level Depending on your driving style, the vehicle
consumes up to 0.
8lof oil per 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. Engine compartment
291Maintenance and care Z

Checking the oil level using the oil dip-
stick
Example
:oil dipstick
On the G 65 AMG, the oil level can be checked
using the on-board computer only.
On all other models, the dipstick must be
used to chec kthe engine oil level.
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 the engine should be switched off for at
least 30 minutes if the engine is not at
operating temperature (i.e. if you only start
the engine briefly).
X Pull oil dipstick :out of the oil dipstick
tube.
X Wipe off oil dipstick :.
X Slowly slide oil dipstick :into the guide
tube to the stop, and take it out again.
The oil level is correct if the level is between
MIN mark =and MAX mark ;.
X Top up the oil if necessary.
Checking the oil level using the on-
board computer !
Do not add too much oil. Topping up with
too much engine oil can result in damage
to the engine or to the catalytic converter.
Have excess engine oil siphoned off.
G6 5 AMG: the oil level can be checked using
the on-board computer only. On all other models, the dipstic
kmust be
used to chec kthe engine oil level.
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.
X Make sure that the key is in position 2in
the ignition lock.
X Press the &or* button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the following message: The measurement takes a few seconds. You
will see one of the following messages in the
multifunction display:
R Engine oil level OK R
Add 1.0 l to reach maximum oil level
R
Add 1.5 litres to reach maximum oil level
R
Add 2.0 l to reach maximum oil level
X
Top up the oil if necessary.
If the engine is at normal operating tempera-
ture and the Engine oil Reduce oil level message appears, the engine oil level
is too high.
X Have excess oil siphoned off.
If the Switch ignition on to check engine oil level message appears:
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock (Y page 143).
If the Observe waiting time message
appears: 292
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care

X
If the engine is at normal operating tem-
perature: repeat the measuremen tafter
about five minutes.
X If the engine is not at normal operating
temperature: (e.g. if the engine was only
started briefly) repeat the measurement
after about 30 minutes.
If the Engine oil level Not when engine on message appears:
X Switch off the engine.
X If the engine is at normal operating tem-
perature: wait about five minutes before
carrying out the measurement.
X If the engine is not at normal operating
temperature: e.g. if the engine was only
started briefly, wait approximately
30 minutes before carrying out the meas-
urement.
i If you wish to cancel the measurement,
press the *or& button on the mul-
tifunction steering wheel.
Adding engine oil H
Environmental note
When topping up the oil, take care not to spill
any. If oil enters the soil or waterways, it is
harmful to the environment.
! Do not add too much oil .Ifthe oil level is
above the "max" mark on the dipstick, too
much oil has been added. This can lead to
damage to the engine or the catalytic con-
verter. Have excess oil siphoned off. Engine oil cap (example:
G 65 AMG) X
Turn cap :anti-clockwise and remove it.
X Top up with the amount of oil required.
Observe the specifications in the on-board
computer when doing so or fill carefully to the
maximum mark on the oil dipstick.
For further information on engine oil, see
(Y page 345).
i The difference between the minimum
mark and the maximum mark on the oil
dipstick is approximately 2litres.
X Replace cap :on the filler neck and
tighten clockwise.
Make sure that the cap locks securely into
place. Other service products
Checking the coolant level G
WARNING
The cooling system is pressurised. Therefore,
only unscrew the cap once the engine has
cooled down. The coolan ttemperature dis-
play must be less than 70 †. Otherwise, you
could be scalded if hot coolant escapes. X
Park the vehicle on a level surface.
Only chec kthe coolant level if the vehicle
is on a level surface and the engine has
cooled down.
X Turn the key to position 2(Ypage 143) in
the ignition lock. Engine compartment
293Maintenance and care Z

The ASSYST service interval display does not
take into account any periods of time during
which the battery is disconnected.
Hiding aservice message X
To hide the service message, press the
% back button on the multifunction
steering wheel ( Ypage 31)( Ypage 214).
Displaying service messages Use the buttons on the multifunction steering
wheel.
X Switch the ignitio non.
X Press VorU to select the standard
display menu on the steering wheel
(Y page 215).
X Press &or* to select the ASSYST
service interval display.
The ¯ or± service symbol and the
service due date are displayed.
Information about Service Arduous operating conditions or increased
loads on the vehicle will require some service
work to be performed more often than for a
vehicle in normal use. Such arduous condi-
tions include regular city driving with frequent
intermediate stops and use in mountainous
terrai noronp oor road surfaces.
For example, if the vehicle is used under ardu-
ous operating conditions, have air filters,
engine oil and oil filters changed frequently
and check the wheels often.F urther informa-
tion can be obtained at a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Ben zService
Centre. Fuel/water separator
H
Environmental note
Dispose of service products in an environ-
mentally-responsible manner. !
If you continue driving without having the
fuel/water separator serviced, this could
cause damage to the engine. Any resulting
damage is not covered by the warranty.
If the fuel/water separator needs servicing,
the following message appears in the multi-
function display: You will also hear a brief warning tone.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop as
soon as possible. Care
General notes
Regular care of your vehicle is a condition for
retaining the quality in the long term.
Use care products and cleaning agents rec-
ommended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
! For cleaning your vehicle, do not use any
of the following:
R dry, rough or hard cloths
R abrasive cleaning agents
R solvents
R cleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces or protective
films with hard objects, e.g. a ring or ice
scraper. You could otherwise scratch or
damage the surfaces and protective film. H
Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloths in an environmentally responsible man-
ner.
! Do not park up the vehicle for an extended
period straight after cleaning it, particularly Care
295Maintenance and care Z