engine coolant MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class 2011 W221 User Guide

! The coolant level is too low. Avoid making long journeys with too little coolant in the cooling
system. The engine will otherwise be damaged.
The display messages and the corresponding symbol that indicate that the coolant level is
too low must not be ignored.Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M Solutions?
Coolant Low Stop
Vehicle Turn
Engine OffThe coolant is too hot.XPull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.XMake sure that the air supply to the radiator is not blocked, e.g.
by snow, slush or ice.XWait until the display message disappears before restarting the
engine. There is otherwise a risk of engine damage.XPay attention to the coolant temperature display.XIf the temperature increases again, visit a qualified specialist
workshop immediately.The poly-V-belt may have torn.XPull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.XOpen the hood.XCheck whether the poly-V-belt is torn.
If the poly-V-belt is torn:
! Do not continue driving. The engine could otherwise overheat.
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the poly-V-belt is OK:
XWait until the display message disappears before restarting the
engine. There is otherwise a risk of engine damage.XPay attention to the coolant temperature display.XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.GWarning
Driving when your engine is overheated can cause some fluids which may have leaked into the
engine compartment to catch fire. You could be seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause serious burns which can occur just by opening the
engine hood. Stay away from the engine if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of the
vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle until the engine has cooled down.
! If the coolant temperature exceeds 248 ‡(120 †) do not continue driving. The engine will
otherwise be damaged.
398Display messagesOn-board computer and displays

Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M Solutions?The engine fan is faulty.XAt coolant temperatures below 248 ‡ (120 †), continue driving
to the next qualified specialist workshop.XAvoid subjecting the engine to heavy loads, e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain, and stop-start driving.#The battery is not being charged.
Possible causes are:
R a faulty alternator
R a torn poly-V-belt
R a malfunction in the electronicsXPull over and stop the vehicle safely and switch off the engine,
paying attention to road and traffic conditions.XOpen the hood.XCheck whether the poly-V-belt is torn.
If the poly-V-belt is torn:
! Do not continue driving. The engine could otherwise overheat.
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the poly-V-belt is OK:
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.4
Check Engine Oil at
Next RefuelingVehicles with oil dipstick: the oil level has dropped to a critical
level.XCheck the oil level ( Y page 447).XIf necessary, add the engine oil ( Y page 449).XHave the engine checked for leaks if engine oil has to be added
more often than usual.4
Check Engine Oil
Level(Add 1 quart)
(USA only)
Check Engine Oil
Level(Add 1 Liter)
(Canada only)Vehicles without an oil dipstick: the engine oil level is too low.XCheck the oil level ( Y page 447).XIf necessary, add the engine oil ( Y page 447).XHave the engine checked for leaks if engine oil has to be added
more often than usual.
Information on approved engine oils can be obtained from any qualified specialist workshop
or on the Internet at http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
! The oil level is too low. Avoid long journeys with too little engine oil. There is a risk of
engine damage.
Display messages399On-board computer and displaysZ

Vehicle equipment
iThis manual describes all the standard
and optional equipment of your vehicle
which was available at the time of
purchase. Country-specific differences are
possible. Note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all functions described.
Engine compartment
Hood
Opening the hood
GWarning
Do not pull the release lever while the vehicle
is in motion. Otherwise, the hood could be
forced open by passing air flow.
This could cause the hood to come loose and
injure you and/or others.
GWarning
Hybrid vehicles: ensure that you read the
"HYBRID" supplement. You may otherwise fail
to recognize dangers.
GWarning
Do not open the hood when the engine is
overheated. You could be seriously injured.
Observe the coolant temperature gauge to
determine whether the engine may be
overheated. If you see flames or smoke
coming from the engine compartment, move
away from the vehicle. Wait until the engine
has cooled. If necessary, call the fire
department.
GWarning
There is a risk of injury if the hood is open,
even if the engine is not running.
Some engine components can become very
hot.
To avoid the risk of burns, only touch those
components described in the Operator's
Manual and observe the relevant safety notes.
GWarning
To help prevent personal injury, stay clear of
moving parts when the hood is open and the
engine is running.
The radiator fan may continue to run for
approximately 30 seconds or may even
restart after the engine has been turned off.
Stay clear of fan blades.
GWarning
The engine is equipped with a transistorized
ignition system. Because of the high voltage,
it is dangerous to touch any components
(ignition coils, spark plug sockets, diagnostic
socket) of the ignition system:
Rwith the engine running
Rwhile starting the engine
Rwhen the ignition is switched on and the
engine is turned manually
XMake sure that the windshield wipers are
switched off.
GWarning
The windshield wipers and wiper linkage
could be set in motion.
When the hood is open, you or others could
be injured by the wiper linkage.
Make sure that the windshield wipers are
switched off. Remove the SmartKey or make
sure that no ignition position has been
selected with KEYLESS-GO. All indicator
lamps must be off in the instrument cluster.
446Engine compartmentMaintenance and care

much oil has been added. This can lead to
damage to the engine or the catalytic
converter. Have excess oil siphoned off.
Further information on engine oil
(Y page 513).
XReplace cap : on the filler neck and
tighten clockwise.
Ensure that the cap locks into place
securely.
Checking and adding other service
products
Check coolant level
Only check the coolant level when the vehicle
is on a level surface and the engine has cooled
down.
XTurn the key to position 2 (Y page 299) in
the ignition lock.
On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, press the
Start/Stop button twice (Y page 299).
XCheck the coolant temperature display in
the instrument cluster.
The coolant temperature must be below
158 ‡ (70 †).
GWarning
In order to avoid any potentially serious burns:
Ruse 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.
Rdo 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.
Rusing 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.
Rdo 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 515).
Windshield washer system/headlamp
cleaning system
The washer fluid reservoir is used for both the
windshield washer system and the headlamp
cleaning system.
450Engine compartmentMaintenance and care

Engine number:Emissions control information label,
including the certification of both federal
and Californian emissions reference
values
;Engine number (stamped into the
crankcase)
=VIN (on the lower edge of the windscreen)
Service products and capacities
Important safety notes
Service products include the following:
Rfuels
Rlubricants (e.g. engine oil, transmission oil)
Rcoolant
Rbrake fluid
Rwindshield washer fluid
Vehicle components and their respective
lubricants must match. You should therefore
only use products that have been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Information on tested and approved products
can be obtained at an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center or on the Internet at http://
www.mbusa.com (USA only).
GWarning
Comply with all valid regulations with respect
to handling, storing and disposing of service
fluids. Otherwise, you could endanger
persons or the environment.
Keep service fluids out of the reach of
children.
For health reasons, you should prevent
service fluids from coming into direct contact
with your skin or clothing.
If a service fluid is swallowed, contact a
physician immediately.
510Service products and capacitiesTechnical data

CapacitiesVehicle modelCapacityFuel, coolant,
lubricants etc.Engine oil and
filterS 550 41
S 550 4MATIC 41
S 63 AMG9.0 US qt (8.5 l)Approved engine
oilsS 600
S 65 AMG9.5 US qt (9.0 l)Power steeringAll modelsApproximately 1.6 US qt
(1.5 l)PentosinCooling systemS 550 41
S 550 4MATIC 41Approximately 14.5 US qt
(13.7 l)MB 326.0
Anticorrosion/
AntifreezeS 600Approximately 17.4 US qt
(16.5 l)S 63 AMGApproximately 12.2 US qt
(11.5 l)S 65 AMGApproximately 14.7 US qt
(13.9 l)Tank capacityS 550 41
S 550 4MATIC 4121.9 US gal. (83 l)Premium-grade
unleaded gasoline
(at least 91 octane,
average value
between 96 RON/
86 MON)S 600
S 63 AMG
S 65 AMG23.8 US gal. (90 l)ReserveAll models except
AMG vehicles2.9 US gal. (11 l)AMG vehicles3.7 US gal. (14 l)41 BlueEFFICIENCY.Service products and capacities511Technical dataZ

Vehicle modelCapacityFuel, coolant,
lubricants etc.Air-
conditioning
systemAll models—Refrigerant R134a
and special PAG
lubricant (never
R 12)Windshield/
headlamp
cleaning
systemAll models6.9 US qt (6.5 l)MB windshield
washer
concentrate 42
( Y page 515)
Mixing ratio for
washer fluid
( Y page 515)Fuel
Important safety notesGWarning
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
personal injury.
Never allow sparks, flames or smoking
materials near gasoline.
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid
inhaling fumes and any skin or clothing
contact.
Direct skin contact with fuels and the
inhalation of fuel vapors are damaging to your
health.
Premium-grade unleaded gasoline
! To ensure the longevity and full
performance of the engine, only premium-
grade unleaded gasoline must be used.
If premium-grade unleaded gasoline is
unavailable and regular gasoline is used,
observe the following precautions:
R only fill the fuel tank to half full with
regular unleaded gasoline and add the
rest as soon as possible with premium-
grade unleaded gasoline.
R do not drive at the maximum speed.
R avoid sudden acceleration.
R when the vehicle is carrying a light cargo,
e.g. two passengers without luggage, do
not allow the engine to rev above
3000 rpm.
R when the vehicle is fully loaded or being
operated in mountainous terrain, do not
depress the accelerator pedal further
than 2
/ 3 of the pedal travel.
Fuel requirements
Use only premium-grade unleaded gasoline.
The octane number should be at least 91.
Details can be found on the gas pump. The
octane number is the average value of the
Research Octane Number (RON) and 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
42Mixed with water or premixed washer fluid with antifreeze protection.512Service products and capacitiesTechnical data

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 cooling system is filled with coolant at the
factory which contains antifreeze/corrosion
inhibitor that ensures protection down to
approximately -35 ‡ (-37 †).
! Only add coolant that has been premixed
with the desired antifreeze protection. You
could otherwise damage the engine.
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 cooling system design.
The renewal interval in the Service Booklet is
only valid if the coolant is added or renewed
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 Mercedes-Benz
approved products of the same specification
can be obtained at any authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center or on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com .
The coolant is checked at every service date
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor
concentration in the cooling system should:
R be at least 50%. This will protect the cooling
system against freezing down to around
-35 ‡ (-37 †).
R not exceed 55% (antifreeze protection
down to -49 ‡ (-45 †); otherwise, heat will
not be dissipated as effectively.
If the coolant level is too low, MB 326.0
antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor should be
added. Have the cooling system checked for
leaks.
Windshield and headlamp cleaning
system
GWarning
Washer solvent/antifreeze is highly
flammable. Do not spill washer solvent/
antifreeze on hot engine parts, because it may
ignite and burn. You could be seriously
burned.
XUse MB Windshield Washer Concentrate
MB SummerFit.XAt temperatures above freezing: add 1
part MB SummerFit to 100 parts water, e.g.Service products and capacities515Technical dataZ