engine oil MERCEDES-BENZ GLS 2017 User Guide

R
LOW RANGE offroad gear (vehicles with the
Offroad Engineering package) ( Y
page 219)R
Differential lock (vehicles with the Off-Road
Engineering package) ( Y
page 218)R
Off-road ABS ( Y
page 64)R
Off-road 4ETS ( Y
page 67)R
Off-road ESP ®
( Y
page 68)R
AIRMATIC package (vehicle level)
( Y
page 186) R
DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation)
( Y
page 216)
Observe the following notes: R
Stop the vehicle before starting to drive along
an off-road route. If necessary, select the off-
road program ( Y
page 218) or shift to the
LOW RANGE off-road gear ( Y
page 219).R
Select a vehicle level that is suitable for the
terrain. To avoid damaging the vehicle, make
sure there is always sufficient ground clear-
ance. R
Check that items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
( Y
page 299). R
Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient. Activate
DSR ( Y
page 216).R
Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a slope. R
Adapt your speed to the terrain. The rougher,
steeper or more ruts on the terrain, the slower
your speed should be. R
Do not jump with the vehicle as this will inter-
rupt the vehicle's propulsion. R
Drive 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. R
Look out for obstacles, such as rocks, holes,
tree stumps and furrows. R
Always keep the doors, the tailgate, the side
windows and the sliding sunroof closed while
the vehicle is in motion. R
Do not shift the automatic transmission to
transmission position N .R
Observe the notes on off-road fording
( Y
page 167).
i 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 sur-
faces.
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. X
Engine 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. X
DEF tank (BlueTEC vehicles): check the
level and add if necessary ( Y
page 156).X
Tire-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. X
Wheels and tires: check the tire tread depth
and tire pressure. X
Check for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the wheels/
tires. X
Replace any missing valve caps. X
Replace dented or damaged wheels. X
Rims: dented or bent rims can result in a loss
of tire pressure and damage the tire bead.
Before driving off-road, check the wheels and
replace them if necessary.
Checklist after driving off-road
! If you detect damage to the vehicle after
driving off-road, have the vehicle checked
immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Driving over rough terrain places greater
demands on your vehicle than driving on normal
roads. After driving off-road, check the vehicle.
This allows you to detect damage promptly and
reduce the risk of an accident to yourself and
other road users. X
If the Offroad or Offroad Plus drive program
is selected: select the Individual , Sport ,Driving tips 169
Driving and parking Z

X
Make sure that the windshield wipers are
turned off. X
Pull release lever C on the hood.
The hood is released.
X
Reach into the gap, pull hood catch handle D
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
Vehicles with a diesel engine: do not cover
the radiator, for example with a winter front or
bug cover. The readings of the on-board-diag-
nostic system may otherwise be inaccurate.
Some of these readings 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
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.
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.320
Engine compartment
Maintenance and care

Cleaning the sensors
! If you clean the sensors with a power
washer, make sure that you keep a distance
of at least 11.8 in (30 cm ) betwee n the vehicl e
and the power washer nozzle. Information
about the correct distance is available from
the equipment manufacturer.
X
Clean sensors C of the driving systems with
water, car shampoo and a soft cloth.
Cleaning the rear view camera and 360°
camera
! Do not clean the camera lens and the area
around the rear view camera or 360° camera
with a power washer. X
Make sure that the vehicle is stationary and
that the SmartKey is in position 2 in the igni-
tion lock. X
Open the camera cover for cleaning via the
multimedia system (see the separate operat-
ing instructions). X
To clean the camera: use clean water and a
soft cloth to clean the camera lens C .
360°camera: if you drive at speeds above
20 mph (30 km/h) or with the SmartKey in posi-
tion 0 or 1 in the ignition lock, the cover of the
360° camera closes automatically.
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 injury.
Always be particularly careful around the
exhaust tail pipe and the tail pipe trim. Allow
these components to cool down before touch-
ing them.
! Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 vehicles with black
exhaust pipes: black chromed exhaust tips
should not be polished with a chrome polish.
They will otherwise lose their black shine. For
optimal care, the faceplates 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.328
Care
Maintenance and care

be required earlier. Do not change the direction
of wheel rotation.
Clean the contact surfaces of the wheel and the
brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel is rota-
ted. Check the tire pressure and, if necessary,
restart the tire pressure loss warning system or
the tire pressure monitor ( Y
page 353).
Direction of rotation Tires with a specified direction of rotation have
additional benefits, e.g. if there is a risk of hydro-
planing. These advantages can only be gained if
the tires are installed corresponding to the
direction of rotation.
An arrow on the sidewall of the tire indicates its
correct direction of rotation.
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.
Mounting a wheel
Preparing the vehicle X
Vehicle with emergency spare wheel:
when mounting the emergency spare wheel in
the event of a flat tire, follow the additional
notes on vehicle preparation under "Flat tire"
( Y
page 331). X
Stop the vehicle on solid, non-slippery and
level ground. X
Apply the electric parking brake manually. X
Bring the front wheels into the straight-ahead
position. X
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the automatic transmission to position
P . X
Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
make sure that the normal vehicle level is
selected ( Y
page 188).X
Vehicles with the Off-Road Engineering
package: make sure that the normal level is
selected ( Y
page 182).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 on-board electronics now have status 0 .
This is the same as the SmartKey having been
removed. X
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock
( Y
page 138). X
If included in the vehicle equipment, remove
the tire-change tool kit from the vehicle. X
Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away.
i Apart from certain country-specific varia-
tions, vehicles are not equipped with a tire-
change tool kit. For information on which
tools are required to perform a wheel change
on your vehicle, consult an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Necessary tire-changing tools can include, for
example: R
Jack R
Wheel chock R
Lug wrench
Securing the vehicle to prevent it from
rolling away
If your vehicle is equipped with a wheel chock, it
can be found in the tire-change tool kit
( Y
page 331).
The folding wheel chock is an additional safety
measure to prevent the vehicle from rolling
away, for example when changing a wheel. X
Fold both plates upwards C .X
Fold out lower plate D .X
Guide the lugs on the lower plate fully into the
openings in base plate

If standard unleaded gasoline is unavailable
and you have to refuel with unleaded gasoline
of a lower grade, observe the following pre-
cautions: R
Only fill the fuel tank to half full with regular
unleaded gasoline and fill the rest with pre-
mium-grade unleaded gasoline as soon as
possible. R
Do not drive at the maximum speed. R
Avoid sudden acceleration and engine
speeds over 3,000 rpm.
You will usually find information about the fuel
grade on the pump. If you cannot find the label
on the pump, ask the staff for assistance.
i For further information, consult a qualified
specialist workshop or visit
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
As a temporary measure, if the recommended
fuel is not available, you may also use regular
unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of
87 AKI/91 RON. This may reduce engine per-
formance and increase fuel consumption. Avoid
driving at full throttle and sudden acceleration.
Never refuel using gasoline with a lower AKI.
Information on refueling ( Y
page 154).
Additives
! Operating the engine with fuel additives
added later can lead to engine failure. Do not
mix fuel additives with fuel. This does not
include additives for the removal and preven-
tion of residue buildup. gasoline must only be
mixed with additives recommended by
Mercedes-Benz. Comply with the instructions
for use on the product label. More information
about recommended additives can be
obtained from any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use bran-
ded fuels that have additives.
The fuel quality available in some countries may
not be sufficient. Residue could build up in the
fuel injection system as a result. In such cases,
and in consultation with an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center, the fuel may be mixed
with the cleaning additive recommended by
Mercedes-Benz. You must observe the notes
and mixing ratios specified on the container. Diesel Fuel grade
G WARNING
If you mix diesel fuel with gasoline, the flash
point is lower than that of pure diesel fuel.
When the engine is running, exhaust system
components could overheat without being
noticed. There is a risk of fire.
Never refuel with gasoline. Never mix gasoline
with diesel fuel.
! Only use Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD),
otherwise it may lead to increased wear and
damage to the fuel system, engine and
exhaust system.
! Do not use the following: R
gasoline R
diesel with a bio-diesel content greater
than 5% (e.g. B20) R
bio-diesel R
vegetable oil R
paraffin R
kerosene R
marine diesel R
heating oil
Do not mix such fuels with diesel fuel and do
not use any special additives. Otherwise,
engine damage may occur.
! In countries outside USA and Canada, only
use sulfur-free diesel with a sulfur content
under 50 ppm. Otherwise, the emission con-
trol system could be damaged.
You will usually find information about the fuel
grade on the pump. If you cannot find the label
on the pump, ask the staff for assistance.
Information on refueling ( Y
page 154).
Low outside temperatures
i Diesel fuel with improved cold flow proper-
ties is available during the winter months.
Further information about fuel properties can
be obtained from oil companies, e.g. at gas
stations.380
Service products and filling capacities
Technical data

DEF
Important safet y notesComply wit h th e important safet y note s fo r ser -
vic e products when handlin g DE F ( Y
page 378).
DE F is a water-soluble flui d fo r th e exhaus t gas
aftertreatmen t of diesel engines. It is:R
no t poisonousR
colorles s and odorlessR
no t flammable
Whe n you ope n th e DE F container, small
amount s of ammonia vapor may be released.
Ammoni a vapor s hav e a pungen t odo r and are
particularly irritatin g to th e skin , to mucous
membrane s and to th e eyes . You may experi-
ence a burning sensation in your eyes , nose and
throat . Coughin g and watering of th e eyes are
possible.
Do no t inhale ammonia vapors. Fil l th e DE F tank
only in well-ventilated areas.
Low outsid e temperaturesDE F freezes at a temperature of approximately
12 ‡ (-11 †). The vehicle is delivered from th e
factory equipped wit h a DE F preheatin g system.
Winte r operation can thus be guaranteed eve n
at temperature s belo w 12 ‡ (-11 †).
Additives
! Only use DE F in accordance wit h IS O
22241. Do no t use additive s wit h DE F and do
no t dilut e DE F wit h water. Thi s may destroy
th e BlueTE C exhaus t gas aftertreatmen t sys -
tem.
Purity
! Impurities in DE F (e.g. due to other servic e
products , cleanin g agents or dust ) lead to :R
increase d emission valuesR
damage to th e catalytic converterR
engin e damageR
malfunction s in th e BlueTE C exhaus t gas
aftertreatmen t syste m
Assurin g th e purit y of DE F is particularly impor -
tant wit h respec t to avoidin g malfunction s in th e
BlueTE C exhaus t gas aftertreatmen t system.
If DE F is pumped out of th e DE F tank , e.g. durin g
repair work, it mus t no t be returned to th e tank . The purit y of th e flui d can no longer be guaran-
teed.
Filling capacities Model Tota l capacity
GLS 350 d 4MATIC
10.2 US gal
(38.7 l)
Engin e oil
General notes
! Never use engin e oil or an oil filte r of a spec-
ification other than is necessary to fulfill th e
prescribed servic e intervals. Do no t chang e
th e engin e oil or oil filte r in order to achiev e
longer replacement intervals than those pre -
scribed. You could otherwise cause engin e
damage or damage to th e exhaus t gas after-
treatment.
Follow th e instruction s in th e servic e interval
display regardin g th e oil change. Otherwise ,
you may damage th e engin e and th e exhaus t
gas aftertreatment.
Whe n handlin g engin e oil, observ e th e important
safet y note s on servic e products ( Y
page 378).
The engin e oils are matched to th e performanc e
of Mercedes-Ben z engines and servic e intervals.
You should therefore only use engin e oils and oil
filters that are approved fo r vehicles wit h main -
tenance systems .
Fo r a list of approved engin e oils and oil filters ,
consult an authorized Mercedes-Ben z Center.
Or visit th e websit e
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.co m.
The table shows which engine oils have been
approved for your vehicle.Service products and filling capacities 381
Technical data Z

Gasoline engines MB-Freigabe or
MB-Approval
All models
229.5
Diesel engines MB-Freigabe or
MB-Approval
GLS 350 d 4MATIC
228.51, 229.31,
229.51, 229.52
Mercedes-AMG vehicles: only use SAE 0W-40
or SAE 5W-40 engine oils.
i MB approval is indicated on the oil contain-
ers.
Filling capacities The following values refer to an oil change
including the oil filter.
Model Capacity
GLS 350 d 4MATIC
8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
GLS 550 4MATIC
Mercedes ‑ AMG
vehicles 9.0 US qt (8.5 l)
Al l ot her models
7.4 US qt (7.0 l)
Ad ditives
! Do not use any additives in the engine oil.
This could damage the engine.
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. Comply with the important safety notes for ser-
vice products when handling brake fluid
( Y
page 378).
The brake fluid change intervals can be found in
the Maintenance Booklet.
Only use brake fluid approved by Mercedes-
Benz in accordance with MB-Freigabe or MB-
Approval 331.0.
Information about approved brake fluid can be
obtained at any qualified specialist workshop or
on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.co m.
i Have the brake fluid regularly replaced at a
qualified specialist workshop in accordance
with the replacement intervals 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 Ser-
vice Products, MB BeVo 310.1, e.g. on the
Internet at http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
Or contact 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 replace-
ment confirmed in the Maintenance Booklet.382
Service products and filling capacities
Technical data

Comp ly wit h the impo rtant safety notes for ser-
vice products when han dlin g coolant
( Y
page 378).
The coolant is a mixture of water and ant i-
freeze/corrosion inh ibit or. It is respon sible for
the foll owin g:R
Anti-corrosion protection R
Antifreeze protection R
Raisin g the boiling poin t
If the coolant has antifreeze protection down to
-35 ‡ (-37 †), the boilin g poin t of the coolant
during operation is appr oximately 266 ‡
(130 †).
The antifreeze concentrate /c orrosion inh ibit or
concentration in the engine co olin g system
sho uld: R
be at least 50 %. This will protect the engine
co olin g system against freezing down to
approximate ly -35 ‡ (-37 †).R
not exceed 55% (antifreeze protection down
to -49 ‡ [-45 †]). Otherwise, heat will not be
dissipat ed as effectively.
Mercedes-Benz recommen ds an antifreeze/
corrosion inh ibit or concentrate in accordance
wit h MB Spe cifications for Service Products
310.1.
i When the veh icle is first deliv ere d, it is fille d
wit h a coolant mixture that ensures adequate
antifreeze and anti-corrosion protection.
i The coolant is checked wit h every mainte-
nance interval at a qualif ied spec ialist work-
sho p.
Filling capacities Model Capacity
Mercedes ‑ AMG
vehicles Approx. 11.9 US qt
(11.3 l)
GLS 350 d 4MAT IC
Approx. 12.2 US qt
(11.5 l)
GLS 550 4MATIC
Approx. 12.0 US qt
(11.4 l)
All other mod els
Approx. 10.3 US qt
(9.7 l) Windshield washer system
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Windshield washer concentrate could ignite if
it comes into contact wit h hot engine compo-
nents or the exhaust system. There is a risk of
fire and injury.
Make sure that no windshie ld washer con-
centrate is spilled next to the filler neck.
! On ly MB SummerFit and MB WinterF it
washer fluid should be mixed together. The
spray nozzles may otherwise become
blocked.
Do not use distilled or de-ionized water. Other-
wise, the level sensor may give a false reading.
When handling washer fluid, observe the impor-
tant safety notes on service products
( Y
page 378).
At temperatures above freezing: X
Fill the washer fluid reservoir wit h a mixture of
water and windshie ld washer fluid, e.g. MB
SummerFit.
Add 1 part MB SummerFit to 100 parts water.
At temperatures below freezing: X
Fill the washer fluid reservoir wit h a mixture of
water and washer fluid, e.g. MB WinterFit.
For the correct mixing ratio refer to the infor-
mation on the antifreeze reservoir.
i Add windshie ld washer fluid, e.g. MB Sum-
merFit or MB WinterFit, to the washer fluid all
year roun d.
Climate control system refrigerant
Important safety notes The clim ate control system of your vehicle is fil-
led wit h refrigerant R ‑ 134a.
The instruction label regarding the refrigerant
type used can be found on the radiator cross
member.
! Only the refrigerant R ‑ 134a and the PAG oil
approved by Mercedes-Benz may be used.
The appr oved PAG oil may not be mixed wit h
any other PAG oil that is not appr oved forService products and filling capacities 383
Technical data Z