check oil MERCEDES-BENZ GL 2012 User Guide

damage to the engine or the catalytic
converter. Have excess oil siphoned off.
For further information on engine oil, see
( Y page 375).XReplace cap : on the filler neck and
tighten clockwise.
Ensure that the cap locks into place
securely.
Checking and adding other service
products
Checking the coolant level
Only check the coolant level when the vehicle
is on a level surface and the engine has cooled
down.
XTurn the SmartKey to position
2 (Y page 149) in the ignition lock.
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press the
Start/Stop button twice ( Y page 149).XCheck the coolant temperature gauge in
the multifunction display.
The coolant temperature must be below
158 ‡ (70 †).GWARNING
In order to avoid any potentially serious burns:
R use extreme caution when opening the
hood if there are any signs of steam or
coolant leaking from the cooling system, or
if the coolant temperature display indicates
that the coolant is overheated.
R do not remove the pressure cap on the
coolant reservoir if the coolant temperature
is above 158 ‡ (70 †). Allow the engine to
cool down before removing the cap. The
coolant reservoir contains hot fluid and is
under pressure.
R using a rag, slowly turn the cap
approximately 1
/ 2 turn to relieve excess
pressure. If opened immediately, scalding
hot fluid and steam will be blown out under
pressure.
R do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts.XSlowly turn cap : half a turn counter-
clockwise and allow excess pressure to
escape.XTurn cap : further counter-clockwise and
remove it.
If the coolant is at the level of marker bar
= in the filler neck when cold, there is
enough coolant in coolant expansion
tank ;.
If the coolant is approximately 0.6 in
(1.5 cm) above marker bar = in the filler
neck when warm, there is enough coolant
in coolant expansion tank ;.XIf necessary, add coolant that has been
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz.XReplace cap : and turn it clockwise as far
as it will go.
For further information on coolant, see
( Y page 376).
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system
The washer fluid reservoir is used for both the
windshield washer system and the headlamp
cleaning system.
i Vehicle components and their service
products must match. You should,
Engine compartment303Maintenance and careZ

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.
Cleaning the wheels
GWARNING
Do not use power washers with circular-jet
nozzles (dirt grinders) to clean your vehicle, in
particular the tires. You could otherwise
damage the tires and cause an accident.
Wheel and tire combinations
Please bear the following in mind
! For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you only use Tires and
wheels which have been approved by
Mercedes-Benz specifically for your
vehicle.
These tires have been specially adapted for
use with the control systems, such as ABS
or ESP ®
, and are marked as follows:
R MO = Mercedes-Benz Original
R MOE = Mercedes-Benz Original Extended
(tires featuring run-flat characteristics)
R MO1 = Mercedes-Benz Original (only
certain AMG tires)
Mercedes-Benz Original Extended tires
may only be used on wheels that have been
specifically approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Only use tires, wheels or accessories
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Certain characteristics, e.g. handling,
vehicle noise emissions or fuel
consumption, may otherwise be adversely
affected. In addition, when driving with a
load, tire dimension variations could cause
the tires to come into contact with the
bodywork and axle components. This could
result in damage to the tires or the vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz accepts no liability for
damage resulting from the use of tires,
wheels or accessories other than those
tested and approved.
Further information about tires, wheels and
approved combinations can be obtained
from any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
i The Tire and Load Information placard
with the recommended tire pressures is
attached to the B-pillar on the driver's side.
Further information about driving at high
speeds or driving with vehicle loads that are
lighter than the maximum vehicle load can
be found in the tire pressure table on the
inside of the fuel filler flap. Check tire
pressures regularly, and only when the tires
are cold. Comply with the maintenance
recommendations of the tire manufacturer
in the vehicle document wallet.
For further information on the recommended
tire inflation pressure and on tire pressures
for specific driving conditions, see
( Y page 341).
i Notes on the vehicle equipment – always
equip the vehicle:
R with tires of the same size on a given axle
(left/right)
R with the same type of tires at a given time
(summer tires, winter tires, MOExtended
tires)
i Vehicles equipped with MOExtended tires
are not equipped with a TIREFIT kit at the
factory. It is therefore recommended that
you additionally equip your vehicle with a
TIREFIT kit if you mount tires that do not
feature run-flat properties, e.g. winter tires.
A TIREFIT kit can be obtained from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
i On the following pages, you can find
information on approved wheel rims and
tire sizes for equipping your vehicle with
winter tires. Winter tires are not available
from the factory as standard equipment or
optional extras.Wheel and tire combinations363Wheels and tiresZ

Motor Octane Number (MON): (RON +
MON) / 2, also known as knock resistance.
Reformulated Gasoline (RFG) and/or
unleaded gasoline with additives can be used
if the concentration of the additives in the fuel
does not exceed 10%, e.g.:
R Ethanol
R TAME
R ETBE
R IPA
R TBA
For MTBE, the concentration should not
exceed 15%.
The concentration of methanol in gasoline
including other additives must not exceed 3%.
Using mixtures of methanol and ethanol is not
permitted. Gasohol, a mixture of 10% ethanol
and 90% unleaded gasoline, can be used.
All of these mix fuels must fulfill the fuel
requirements, e.g.:
R knock resistance
R boiling point
R vapor pressure
Diesel engines – Important safety notes
! Only use commercially available ULTRA-
LOW SULFUR DIESEL FUEL (ULSD, 15 ppm
MAXIMUM SULFUR) that meets the
ASTM D975 standard. Failure to use
ULTRA-LOW SULFUR DIESEL FUEL (ULSD)
can severely damage the vehicle's exhaust
gas aftertreatment system.
! Do not fill the tank with gasoline. Do not
blend diesel fuel with gasoline or kerosene.
Otherwise, the fuel system and the engine
could be damaged.
To prevent malfunctions, diesel fuel with
improved flow characteristics is available in
the winter months. Check with your gas
station.
Information on the fuel grade can usually be
found on the gas pump. If the information
cannot be found on the gas pump, ask the gas
station personnel. For further information,consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
or go to the Internet site
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
Diesel engines – Fuels containing
biodiesel (FAME [fatty acid methyl ester])
Mercedes-Benz USA approves the use of B5
(ULSD with a maximum of up to five percent
by volume biodiesel) for all diesel engines
with common rail direct injection (CDI) and
BlueTEC.
Pure biodiesel and diesel fuels that have a
higher percentage of biodiesel, e.g. B20, can
damage the fuel system and the engine and
are therefore not approved.
For further information, please ask the gas
station personnel. The label on the gas pump
must indicate clearly that the B5 biodiesel
blend fulfills the ULSD standard. If the label
is not clear, do not refuel the vehicle.
Do not refuel your vehicle with fuels unless
they have been approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Additives in gasoline
One of the major problems with poor quality
fuels is the creation of carbon deposits during
the combustion process. Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you use fuel brands
containing additives that prevent the build-up
of carbon deposits.
If you use fuels without these additives for an
extended period of time, there may be a build
up of carbon deposits, especially on the inlet
valves and in the combustion chamber.
This could lead to engine running problems,
e.g.:
R longer engine warm-up phase
R uneven idle
R engine noise
R misfiring
R loss of power
In areas where the availability of gasoline with
relevant additives is not adequate, carbon
deposits can form. In this case, Mercedes-
Benz recommends the use of additives that
Service products and capacities373Technical dataZ

when the brakes are applied hard (e.g. when
driving downhill). This would impair braking
efficiency.
You should have the brake fluid renewed at
regular intervals. The brake fluid change
intervals can be found in the Service Booklet.
Only use brake fluid approved by Mercedes-
Benz. Information about approved brake
fluids can be obtained from any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Coolant
Important safety notes
The coolant is a mixture of water and
antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor. It performs
the following tasks:
R anti-corrosion protection
R antifreeze protection
R raising the boiling point
The engine cooling system is filled at the
factory with coolant which contains an
antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor that ensures
protection down to approximately -35 ‡
(-37 † ).
! Only add coolant that has been premixed
with the desired antifreeze protection.
Otherwise, the engine could be damaged.
Further information on coolants and on
filling can be found in the Mercedes-Benz
Specifications for Service Products, MB
Approval 310.1, e.g. on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com . You can
also consult an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
! Always use a suitable coolant mixture,
even in countries where high temperatures
prevail.
Otherwise, the cooling system will not be
sufficiently protected from corrosion, and
the boiling point will be too low.
If the coolant has antifreeze protection down
to -35 ‡ (-37 † ), the boiling point of the
coolant in the pressurized system is
approximately 266 ‡ (130 † ).
Your vehicle has a range of aluminum
components. Use of aluminum components
in the engine make it necessary to specifically
match the antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor in
these systems in order to protect the
aluminum parts. Using other antifreeze/
corrosion inhibitors without these
characteristics affects the service life.
The coolant must be used throughout the year
in order to maintain the necessary corrosion
protection and provide protection from
overheating. In the Service Booklet, you can
find information on the intervals for renewal.
The renewal interval is determined by the
coolant type and the engine cooling system
design. The renewal interval in the Service
Booklet is only valid if the coolant is renewed
or replenished with Mercedes-Benz approved
products. Therefore, only use MB 326.0
antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor or another
Mercedes-Benz approved product of the
same specification.
Information on other products with the same
specifications that are approved by
Mercedes-Benz can be obtained at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or on the
Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com .
The coolant is checked at every maintenance
interval at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
The antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor
concentration in the engine cooling system
should:
R be at least 50%. This will protect the engine
cooling system against freezing down to
approximately -35 ‡ (-37 † ).
R not exceed 55% (antifreeze protection to
-49 ‡ [-45 † ]); otherwise, heat will not
dissipate as effectively.
If the coolant level is too low, MB 326.0
antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor should be
added. Have the engine cooling system
checked for possible leaks.376Service products and capacitiesTechnical data