oil change MERCEDES-BENZ SL-Class 2016 R231 Owner's Manual

Useful information
i
This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional equip-
ment of your vehicle available at the time of
publication of the Operator's Manual.
Country-specific differences are possible.
Please note that your vehicle may not be
equipped with all features described. This
also applies to safety-related systems and
functions.
iRead the information on qualified special-
ist workshops (
Ypage 34).
Notes on breaking-in a new vehicle
Important safety notes
The sensor system of some driving and driv-
ing safety systems adjusts automatically
while a certain distance is being driven after
the vehicle has been delivered or after
repairs. Full system effectiveness is not
reached until the end of this teach-in proce-
dure.
New and replaced brake pads and discs only
reach their optimum braking effect after sev-
eral hundred kilometers of driving. Compen-
sate for this by applying greater force to the
brake pedal.
The first 1000 miles (1500 km)
The more you look after the engine when it is
new, the more satisfied you will be with its
performance in the future.
RYou should therefore drive at varying vehi-
cle and engine speeds for the first
1,000 miles (1,500 km).
RAvoid heavy loads, e.g. driving at full throt-
tle, during this period.
RChange gear in good time, before the tach-
ometer needle is Ôof the way to the red
area of the tachometer.
RDo not manually shift to a lower gear to
brake the vehicle.
RTry to avoid depressing the accelerator
pedal beyond the point of resistance (kick-
down).
RIdeally, for the first 1,000 miles (1,500 km),
drive in program C.
After 1,000 miles (1,500 km), you can
increase the engine speed gradually and bring
the vehicle to full speed.
Additional breaking-in notes for Mercedes-
AMG vehicles:
RDo not drive faster than 85 mph
(140 km/h) for the first 1,000 miles
(1,500 km).
ROnly allow the engine to reach a maximum
engine speed of 4,500 rpm briefly.
RChange gear in good time.
You should also observe these notes on
breaking in if the engine or parts of the drive
train on your vehicle have been replaced.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed.
Self-locking rear axle differential
(Mercedes-AMG vehicles)
Your vehicle is equipped with a self-locking
differential on the rear axle.
Change the oil to improve protection of the
rear axle differential:
Rafter a breaking-in period of 1,850 miles
(3,000 km)
Revery 31,000 miles (50,000 km) or
3 years
These oil changes prolong the service life of
the differential. Have the oil change carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop.
150Notes on breaking-in a new vehicle
Driving and parking

Problems with the transmission
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
The transmission has
problems shifting gear.The transmission is losing oil.
XHave 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 intosecondgear and reverse gear.
XStop the vehicle.
XShift the transmission to position P.
XSwitch off the engine.
XWait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
XShift the transmission to positionDor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into secondgear; ifRis
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
XHave the transmission checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop immediately.
Refueling
Important safety notes
GWARNING
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.
GWARNING
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.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
RWash away fuel from skin immediately
using soap and water.
RIf fuel comes into contact with your eyes,
immediately rinse them thoroughly with
clean water. Seek medical assistance with-
out delay.
RIf fuel is swallowed, seek medical assis-
tance without delay. Do not induce vomit-
ing.
RImmediately change out of clothing which
has come into contact with fuel.
GWARNING
Electrostatic buildup can create sparks and
ignite fuel vapors. There is a risk of fire and
explosion.
Always touch the vehicle body before opening
the fuel filler flap or touching the fuel pump
nozzle. Any existing electrostatic buildup is
thereby discharged.
168Refueling
Driving and parking

Displaying service messages
XSwitchon th eignition .
XPress th e= or; buttonon th esteer -
in g whee lto selec tth eServ.
menu.
XPress th e9 or: buttonto selec tth e
ASSYST PLU S
submenuand confirm by
pressing th ea button.
The servic edue dat eappears in th emulti-
function display.
Information about Service
Resetting th eASSYS TPLUS service
interva ldisplay
!If th eASSYST PLU Sservic einterval dis -
play has been inadvertentl yreset ,this set -
ting can be correcte dat aqualified special-
ist workshop .
Hav eservic ewor kcarrie dout as described
in th eMaintenance Booklet .Thi smay oth-
erwise lead to increase dwear and damage
to th emajor assemblies or th evehicle.
A qualified specialis tworkshop ,e.g. an
authorized Mercedes-Ben zCenter, will reset
th eASSYST PLU Sservic einterval display
after th eservic ewor khas been carrie dout .
You can also obtain further information on
maintenance work, fo rexample.
Specia lservice requirement s
The specifiedmaintenance interval take sonly
th enormal operation of th evehicle into
account. Under arduous operatin gcondition s
or increase dload on th evehicle, mainte -
nance wor kmus tbe carrie dout more fre-
quently, fo rexample:
Rregular city drivin gwit hfrequent intermedi-
at estops
Rif th evehicle is primarily used to trave l
short distances
Ruse in mountainous terrain or on poo rroad
surfaces
Rif th eengin eis ofte nlef tidlin gfo rlon gperi-
ods
Under these or similar conditions, have, fo r
example, th eair filter, engin eoil and oil filte r
replaced or changed more frequently. Under
arduous operatin gconditions, th etires mus t
be checke dmore often. Further information
can be obtained at aqualified specialist work-
shop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Ben zCen -
ter.
Drivin gabroad
An extensive Mercedes-Ben zServic enetwor k
is also available in other countries. You can
obtain further information from any author -
ized Mercedes-Ben zCenter.
Car e
Note son car e
HEnvironmental not e
Dispose of empty packagin gand cleanin g
cloths in an environmentally responsible man -
ner.
!Fo rcleanin gyour vehicle, do no tuse any
of th efollowing :
Rdry, rough or har dcloths
Rabrasiv ecleanin gagents
Rsolvents
Rcleanin gagents containin gsolvents
Do no tscrub .
Do no ttouch th esurfaces or protective
films wit hhar dobjects ,e.g. arin gor ic e
scraper. You could otherwise scratch or
damage th esurfaces and protective film.
!Do no tpar kth evehicle fo ran extended
period straight after cleanin git,particularly
after havin gcleaned th ewheels wit hwhee l
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could caus e
increase dcorrosion of th ebrake discs and
brake pads/linings. Fo rthis reason ,you
Care541
Maintenance and care
Z

XBefore cleaning the display, make sure thatit is switched off and has cooled down.
XClean the display surface using a commer-
cially available microfiber cloth and
TFT/LCD display cleaner.
XDry 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.
XTo clean the windshield on the inside in
front of the camera lens: fold down the
cover of camera ;using the recess.
XUse a soft cloth to clean the windshield in
front of camera ;.
To clean the thermal imaging camera in
the radiator trim: thermal imaging cam-
era :is cleaned at regular intervals when the
windshield washer system is operated.
XUse clear water and a soft cloth to clean
thermal imaging camera :when it is very
dirty.
Cleaning the plastic trim
GWARNING
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:
Rstickers
Rfilms
Rscented 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.
XWipe the plastic trim with a damp, lint-free
cloth, e.g. a microfiber cloth.
XHeavy soiling: use car care and cleaning
products 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
XThoroughly 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 and
can lose their shine if chrome polish is
used. Use a damp, lint-free cloth instead
when cleaning the trim pieces.
If the chrome-plated trim pieces are very
dirty, you can use a chrome polish. If you
Care547
Maintenance and care
Z

Tire-mounting tools should not be used
near the valve. This could damage the elec-
tronic components.
Only have tires changed at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Always pay attention to the instructions and
safety notes when changing a wheel
(
Ypage 589).
The wear patterns on the front and rear tires
differ, depending on the operating conditions.
Rotate the wheels before a clear wear pattern
has formed on the tires. Front tires typically
wear more on the shoulders and the rear tires
in the center.
On vehicles that have the same size front and
rear wheels, you can rotate the wheels
according to the intervals in the tire manu-
facturer's warranty book in your vehicle docu-
ments. If no warranty book is available, the
tires should be rotated every 3,000 to
6,000 miles (5,000 to 10,000 km). Depending on tire wear, this may 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 rotated. Check the tire pressure and, if nec-
essary, restart the tire pressure loss warning
system.
Direction of rotation
Tires with a specified direction of rotation
have additional benefits, e.g. if there is a risk
of hydroplaning. These advantages can only
be gained if the tires are installed correspond-
ing 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
XStop the vehicle on solid, non-slippery and
level ground.
XUnload the vehicle. The jack can only be
used when the vehicle is unladen.
XApply the electric parking brake manually.
XBring the front wheels into the straight-
ahead position.
XShift the transmission to position P.
XSwitch off the engine.
XVehicles without KEYLESS-GO:remove
the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
XVehicles with KEYLESS-GO: open the
driver's door.
The on-board electronics now have status
0. This is the same as the SmartKey having
been removed.
XVehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock
(
Ypage 152).
XIf included in the vehicle equipment,
remove the tire-change tool kit from the
vehicle.
XSafeguard the vehicle against rolling away.
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
(
Ypage 550).
Changing a wheel589
Wheels and tires
Z

Service products and filling capaci-
ties
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Service products may be poisonous and haz-
ardous to health. There is a risk of injury.
Comply with instructions on the use, storage
and disposal of service products on the labels
of the respective original containers. Always
store service products sealed in their original
containers. Always keep service products out
of the reach of children.
HEnvironmental note
Dispose of service products in an environ-
mentally responsible manner.
Service products include the following:
RFuels
RLubricants (e.g. engine oil, transmission oil)
RCoolant
RBrake fluid
RWindshield washer fluid
RClimate control system refrigerant
Comply with all valid regulations with respect
to handling, storing, and disposing of service
fluids.
Components and service products must be
matched. You should therefore only use prod-
ucts that have been tested and approved by
Mercedes-Benz.
Information about tested and approved prod-
ucts can be obtained from an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
You can recognize service products approved
by Mercedes-Benz by the following inscrip-
tion on the containers:
RMB-Freigabe (e.g. MB-Freigabe 229.51)
RMB-Approval (e.g. MB-Approval 229.51)
Other designations or recommendations indi-
cate a level of quality or a specification in
accordance with an MB Sheet Number (e.g. MB 229.51). They have not necessarily been
approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Fuel
Important safety notes
GWARNING
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.
GWARNING
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.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
RWash away fuel from skin immediately
using soap and water.
RIf fuel comes into contact with your eyes,
immediately rinse them thoroughly with
clean water. Seek medical assistance with-
out delay.
RIf fuel is swallowed, seek medical assis-
tance without delay. Do not induce vomit-
ing.
RImmediately change out of clothing which
has come into contact with fuel.
Tank capacity
ModelTotal capa- city
All models19.8 US gal(75.0 l)
Service products and filling capacities603
Technical data
Z

the instructions for use on the product
label. More information about recommen-
ded additives can be obtained from any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use
branded fuels that have additives.
The quality of the fuel available in some coun-
tries may not be sufficient. Residue could
build up in the injection system as a result. In
such cases, and in consultation with an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center, the gaso-
line may be mixed with the cleaning additive
recommended by Mercedes-Benz. You must
observe the notes and mixing ratios specified
on the container.
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
(
Ypage 603).
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.co m.
The table shows which engine oils have been
approved for your vehicle.
ModelMB-Freigabe or MB- Approval
All models229.5
Mercedes ‑AMG vehicles: use only
SAE 0W-40 or SAE 5W-40 engine oils.
iMB approval is indicated on the oil con-
tainers.
Filling capacities
The following values refer to an oil change
including the oil filter.
ModelCapacity
SL 4006.9 US qt (6.5 l)
SL 5508.5 US qt (8.0l)
Mercedes‑AMG
SL 6310 US qt (9.5l)
Mercedes‑AMG
SL 6511.6 US qt(11.0 l)
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.
Service products and filling capacities605
Technical data
Z

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
GWARNING
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.
When handling brake fluid, observe the
important safety notes on service products
(
Ypage 603).
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 work-
shop or on the Internet at
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
iHave the brake fluid regularly replaced at
a qualified specialist workshop and the
replacement confirmed in the Maintenance
Booklet.
Coolant
Important safety notes
GWARNING
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.
iHave 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
(
Ypage 603).
The coolant is a mixture of water and anti-
freeze/corrosion inhibitor. It performs the
following tasks:
Rcorrosion protection
Rantifreeze protection
Rraising the boiling point
If the coolant has antifreeze protection down
to -35 ‡
( -37 †),the boiling point of the cool-
606Service products and filling capacities
Technical data