oil change MERCEDES-BENZ GL 2016 Owners Manual

Problems with the transmission Problem
Possible causes/consequences and P 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 second gear and reverse gear.X
Stop the vehicle. X
Shift the transmission to position P .X
Switch off the engine. X
Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine. X
Shift the transmission to position D or R .
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into second gear; if R is
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear. X
Have 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 0 or 1 or Start/
Stop button in position 0 or 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
G WARNING
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.
G WARNING
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.182
Refueling
Driving and parking

ues are required by law and must therefore
always be accurate.
The out side temperature indicator is not
designed to ser ve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay.
Indic ated temperatures just above the freez-
ing poin t do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especial ly in wooded areas or on bridges. You
should pay special attention to road condi-
tions when temperatures are around the
freezing poin t.
For more information on driving wit h snow
chains, see ( Y
page 407).
For more information on driving wit h summer
tires, see ( Y
page 406).
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section ( Y
page 406).
Off-road driving
Important safety notes
G WARNIN G
If you driv e on a steep inclin e at an angle or
tur n when driving on an incline, th e vehicl e
could slip sideways, ti p and rollover. Ther e is a
ris k of an accident.
Always driv e on a steep inclin e in th e lin e of
fall (straight up or down ) and do no t tur n th e
vehicle.
G WARNIN G
Flammable materia l suc h as leaves, gras s or
twigs may ignit e if they come int o contact wit h
hot part s of th e exhaust system. Ther e is a ris k
of fire.
When driving off road or on unpaved roads,
check th e vehicle's underside regularly. In
particular, remove part s of plants or other
flammable materials whic h have become
trapped . In th e cas e of damage, contact a
qualified specialist workshop. G WARNIN G
If th e vehicl e leve l is high , th e vehicl e cente r of
gravity is raised. This could caus e th e vehicl e
to tip ove r mor e easil y on uphill or downhill
gradients . Ther e is a ris k of an accident.
Selec t th e lowes t possible vehicl e level.
! There is a risk of damage to the vehicle if: R
the vehicle becomes stuck, e.g. on a high
curb or an unpaved road R
you driv e too fast over an obstacle, e.g. a
curb or a hole in the road R
a heavy object strikes the undercarriage
or parts of the chassis
In situations lik e this, the body, the under-
carriage, chassis parts, wheels or tires
could be damaged without the damage
being vis ible. Components damaged in th is
way can unexpectedly fail or, in the case of
an acc iden t, no longer withstand the strain
they are designed to.
If the underbody paneling is damaged,
combusti ble materials such as leaves,
grass or twigs can gather between the
underbody and the underbody paneling. If
these materials come in contact wit h hot
parts of the exhaust system, they can catch
fire.
In such situations, have the vehicle
checked and repaired immediately at a
qualif ied spec ialist worksho p. If on con-
tinuing your jo urney you notice that driv ing
safety is impaired, pull over and st op the
v eh
icle immediately, paying attention to
road and traff ic cond it ions. In such cases,
consult a qualif ied spec ialist worksho p.
When driv ing off-road, substances such as
san d, mud and water or water mixed wit h oil
may get into the brakes. This could result in a
reduced braking effect or in total brake failure
and also in increased wear and tear. The brak-
ing characteristics change depe nding on the
material ingressing the brakes. Clean the
brakes after driv ing off-road. If you detect a
reduced braking effect or grinding noises,
have the brake system checked in a qualif ied198
Driving tips
Driving and parking

Hiding a service message X
Press the 8 or v button on the steer-
ing wheel.
Displaying service messages X
Switch on the ignition. X
Press the Y or e button on the steer-
ing wheel to select the Serv.
menu.X
Press the c or d button to select the
ASSYST PLUS
submenu and confirm by
pressing the v button.
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: 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 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
H Environmental 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: R
dry, rough or hard cloths R
abrasive cleaning agents Care 375
Maintenance and care Z

X
Before cleaning the display, make sure that
it is switched off and has cooled down. X
Clean the display surface using a commer-
cially available microfiber cloth and
TFT/LCD display cleaner. X
Dry 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.
X
Fold down the camera cover by recess C .
X
Use a soft cloth to clean the windshield in
front of camera D . Cleaning the plastic trim
G WARNING
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: R
stickers R
films R
scented 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. X
Wipe the plastic trim with a damp, lint-free
cloth, e.g. a microfiber cloth. X
Heavy 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 X
Thoroughly 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 and382
Care
Maintenance and care

Mounting a new wheel
G WARNING
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.
G WARNING
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 ( Y
page 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 D to mount the
"Minispare" emergency spare wheel. Using
other wheel bolts to mount the "Minispare"
emergency spare wheel could damage the
brake system. C
Wheel bolts for all wheels supplied by the
factory D
Wheel bolts for the collapsible spare
wheel
X
Clean the wheel and wheel hub contact
surfaces. X
Slide the wheel to be mounted onto the
alignment bolt and push it on. X
Tighten the wheel bolts until they are fin-
ger-tight. X
Unscrew the alignment bolt. X
Tighten the last wheel bolt until it is finger-
tight.
Lowering the vehicle
G WARNING
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 wheel 431
Wheels and tires Z

Low outside temperatures
i Diesel 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
( Y
page 447).
DEF is a water-soluble fluid for the exhaust
gas aftertreatment of diesel engines. It is: R
not poisonous R
colorless and odorless R
not 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: R
increased emission values R
damage to the catalytic converter R
engine damage R
malfunctions 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
Model Total capacity
GL 350 Blue-
TEC 4MATIC 8.8 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
( Y
page 447).450
Service 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 engines MB Approval
All models
229.5
Diesel engines MB Approval
GL 350 Blue-
TEC 4MATIC 228.51,
229.31,
229.51, 229.52
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: use only
SAE 0W-40 or SAE 5W-40 engine oils.
i MB 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.
Model Capacity
GL 350 Blue-
TEC 4MATIC 8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
GL 450
GL 450 4MATIC 7.4 US qt (7.0 l)
GL 550 4MATIC
9.0 US qt (8.5 l)
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
G WARNING
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 capacities 451
Technical data Z

Comp ly wit h the important safety notes for
service products when han dlin g brake fluid
( Y
page 447).
The brake fluid change intervals can be found
in the Maintenance Booklet.
On ly use brake fluid appr oved by Mercedes-
Benz according to MB Approval 331.0.
In formation about approved brake fluid can
be obtained at any qualif ied specialist work-
shop or on the In ternet at
http:/ /be vo.mercedes-benz.co m.
i Have the brake fluid regularly replaced at
a qualified specialist workshop and the
replacement confirmed in the Maintenance
Booklet.
Coolant
Important safety notes
G WARNING
If antifreeze comes into contact with hot com-
ponents in the engine compartment, it may
ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Let the engine cool down before you add anti-
freeze. Make sure that antifreeze is not spilled
next to the filler neck. Thoroughly clean the
antifreeze from components before starting
the engine.
! Only add coolant that has been premixed
with the desired antifreeze protection. You
could otherwise damage the engine.
Further information on coolants can be
found in the Mercedes-Benz Specifications
for Service Products, MB BeVo 310.1, e.g.
on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com. Or con-
tact a qualified specialist workshop.
! Always use a suitable coolant mixture,
even in countries where high temperatures
prevail.
Otherwise, the engine cooling system is not
sufficiently protected from corrosion and
overheating. i Have the coolant regularly replaced at a
qualified specialist workshop and the
replacement confirmed in the Maintenance
Booklet.
Comply with the important safety precautions
for service products when handling coolant
( Y
page 447).
The coolant is a mixture of water and anti-
freeze/corrosion inhibitor. It performs the
following tasks: R
corrosion protection R
antifreeze protection R
raising the boiling point
If the coolant has antifreeze protection down
to -35 ‡( -37 †), the boiling point of the cool-
ant during operation is approximately 266 ‡
(130 †).
The antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor concentra
-
tio n 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
down to -49 ‡ [-45 †]). Other wise, heat
will not be dissipated as effectively.
Mercedes-Benz recommends an antifreeze/
corrosion inhibitor concentrate in accord-
ance with MB Specifications for Service Prod-
ucts 310.1.
i When the vehicle is first delivered, it is fil-
led with a coolant mixture that ensures
adequate antifreeze and corrosion protec-
tion.
i The coolant is checked with every main-
tenance interval at a qualified specialist
workshop.452
Service products and filling capacities
Technical data