transmission oil MERCEDES-BENZ SL500 2006 R230 Owner's Manual

ContentsOperation......................................... 255
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 256
Driving instructions ............................ 257
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 257
Drinking and driving ..................... 257
Pedals .......................................... 257
Power assistance ......................... 258
Brakes .......................................... 258
Driving off..................................... 260
Parking ......................................... 261
Tires ............................................. 261
Hydroplaning ................................ 262
Tire traction .................................. 263
Tire speed rating .......................... 263
Winter driving instructions ........... 264
Standing water ............................. 265
Passenger compartment .............. 266
Driving abroad .............................. 266
Control and operation of radio
transmitters.................................. 266
Catalytic converter ....................... 267
Emission control........................... 267
Coolant temperature .................... 268At the gas station .............................. 269
Refuelling ..................................... 269
Check regularly and before a
long trip........................................ 271
Engine compartment ......................... 272
Hood ............................................ 272
Engine oil ..................................... 274
Transmission fluid level ................ 277
Oil level in the ABC system .......... 277
Coolant ........................................ 278
Battery ......................................... 279
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system ........... 280
Tires and wheels ................................ 281
Important guidelines .................... 281
Tire care and maintenance ........... 282
Direction of rotation ..................... 284
Loading the vehicle ...................... 284
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 291
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 293
MOExtended system* .................. 300
Tire labeling.................................. 300
Load identification ....................... 304
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 305Maximum tire load ....................... 306
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 307
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 308
Tire ply material ........................... 310
Tire and loading terminology........ 310
Rotating tires ............................... 313
Winter driving .................................... 315
Winter tires .................................. 315
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 316
Snow chains................................. 317
Maintenance...................................... 318
Maintenance service indicator
message ...................................... 318
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display .............. 319
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 320
Vehicle care....................................... 321
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 321

140 Controls in detailControl system
Standard display menu
1Main odometer
2Outside temperature
3Current gear selector lever position
4Trip odometer
5Automatic transmission program mode 
Press button è or ÿ repeatedly
until you see the standard display
menu in the multifunction display.
You can modify the standard display menu.
Instead of the outside temperature, you
can choose the digital speedometer to be
displayed by changing the setting in the
Select display
function of the
Inst. cluster
submenu (
page 149).

Press button k or jto select
the functions in the standard display
menu.
The following functions are available:
Display digital speedometer

Press button k or juntil the
digital speedometer appears in the
multifunction display.
The current vehicle speed appears in
the right multifunction display if select-
ed (
page 149).
iThe headings used in the menus table
are designed to facilitate navigation
within the system and are not neces-
sarily identical to those shown in the
control system displays.
The first function displayed in each
menu will automatically show you
which part of the system you are in.
Function
Page
Calling up digital speedometer
140
Calling up maintenance service
indicator
319
Checking tire inflation pressure
293
Checking engine oil level
274

277 Operation
Engine compartment
SL 65 AMG1Filler cap
Unscrew filler cap1 from filler neck.

Add engine oil as required. Be careful
not to overfill with oil.
Be careful not to spill any oil when adding.
Avoid environmental damage caused by oil
entering the ground or water.

Screw filler cap1 back on filler neck.
For more information on engine oil, see the
“Technical data” section (
page 445) and
(
page 447).
Transmission fluid level
The transmission fluid level does not need
to be checked. If you notice transmission
fluid loss or gear shifting malfunctions,
have an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
check the automatic transmission. Oil level in the ABC system
The oil level in the ABC system does not
need to be checked. If there is visible oil
loss or if malfunction messages appear in
the display, have an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center check the ABC
system.
!Excess oil must be siphoned or drained
off. It could cause damage to the
engine and catalytic converter not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

310 OperationTires and wheelsTire ply material
1Plies in sidewall
2Plies under tread
This marking tells you about the type of
cord and number of plies in the sidewall
and under the tread.
Tire and loading terminology
Accessory weight
The combined weight (in excess of those
standard items which may be replaced) of
automatic transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows, power
seats, radio, and heater, to the extent that
these items are available as
factory-installed equipment (whether
installed or not).
Air pressure
The amount of air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of the tire.
Air pressure is expressed in pounds per
square inch (psi), or kilopascal (kPa) or
bars.
Aspect ratio
Dimensional relationship between tire
section height and section width
expressed in percentage.Bar
Another metric unit for air pressure. There
are 14.5038 pounds per square inch (psi)
to 1 bar; there are 100 kilopascals (kPa)
to 1 bar.
Bead
The tire bead contains steel wires wrapped
by steel cords that hold the tire onto the
rim.
Cold tire inflation pressure
Tire inflation pressure when your vehicle
has been sitting for at least 3 hours or driv-
en no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Curb weight
The weight of a motor vehicle with stan-
dard equipment including the maximum
capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, and, if so
equipped, air conditioning and additional
optional equipment, but without passen-
gers and cargo.
iFor illustration purposes only. Actual
data on tires are specific to each vehi-
cle and may vary from data shown in
above illustration.

445 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
CapacitiesVehicle components and their respective
lubricants must match. Therefore use only
products tested and approved by
Mercedes Benz.Please refer to the Factory Approved Ser-
vice Products pamphlet, or inquire at your
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Engine with oil filter
SL 500
SL 600
SL 55 AMG
SL 65 AMG
7.9 US qt (7.5 l)
8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
9.0 US qt (8.5 l)
8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
Approved engine oils
Automatic transmission
SL 500
SL 600
SL 55 AMG
SL 65 AMG
9.2 US qt (8.7 l)
8.0 US qt (7.5 l)
9.1 US qt (8.6 l)
8.0 US qt (7.5 l)
MB Automatic Transmission Fluid
Rear axle
SL 500
SL 600
SL 55 AMG
SL 65 AMG
1.3 US qt (1.2 l)
1.3 US qt (1.2 l)
1.5 US qt (1.4 l)
1.3 US qt (1.2 l)
Hypoid gear oil SAE 85 W 90
Hypoid gear oil SAE 85 W 90
Hypoid gear oil SAE 85 W 90
Hypoid gear oil SAE 75 W 140
Hydraulic system for active body control (ABC)
approx. 4.3 US qt (4.0 l)
MB Hydraulic Fluid
Power steering
approx. 1.1 US qt (1.0 l)
MB Power Steering Fluid (Pentosin
CHF 11S)
Front wheel hubs
approx. 3.0 oz (85 g) each
High temperature roller bearing grease
Brake system
1.1 US qt (1.05 l)
MB Brake Fluid (DOT 4+)

455 Technical terms
Engine number
The number set by the manufacturer
and placed on the cylinder block to
uniquely identify each engine pro-
duced.
ESP
®(Electronic S
tability P
rogram)
Improves vehicle handling and direc-
tional stability.
ETD
(E
mergency T
ensioning D
evice)
Device which deploys in certain frontal
and rear collisions exceeding the sys-
tem's threshold to tighten the seat
belts.
->SRSFSS (Canada vehicles)
(F
lexible S
ervice S
ystem)
Maintenance service indicator in the
multifunction display that informs the
driver when the next vehicle mainte-
nance service is due. FSS evaluates en-
gine temperature, oil level, vehicle
speed, engine speed, distance driven
and the time elapsed since your last
maintenance service, and calls for the
next maintenance service accordingly.
GAWR
(G
ross A
xle W
eight R
ating)
(
page 311)
Gear range
Number of gears which are available to
the automatic transmission for shifting.
The automatic gear shifting process
can be adapted to specific operating
conditions using the gear selector le-
ver.GPS
(G
lobal P
ositioning S
ystem)
Satellite-based system for relaying
geographic location information to and
from vehicles equipped with special re-
ceivers. Employs CD digital maps for
navigation.
GVW
(G
ross V
ehicle W
eight)
(
page 311)
GVWR
(Gross V
ehicle W
eight R
ating)
(
page 311)
Head-thorax airbag
Installed in the doors, these airbags
protect occupants during side impact
collisions exceeding a preset thresh-
old. Unlike normal side airbags,
head-thorax airbags are also designed
to provide protection for the head area.

461 Index
A
ABC 219, 453
Messages in display 347
Oil level 277
ABS 83, 453
Indicator lamp 27, 333
Messages in the multifunction
display 349
Warning lamp 25, 332
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 166
Accessory weight 310
Accident 57
Active Body Control see ABC
Air conditioning system see Automatic cli-
mate control system
Air distribution 184, 185
Air pressure 310
Tire inflation pressure 291
Air pump 384, 408
Air recirculation mode 187
Air vents 181
Air volume 184, 186
AIRBAG OFF
Warning lamp 344Airbags 65
Children 66
Front 70
Head-thorax 70, 71
Knee bag 70
Passenger 70
Alarm system see Anti-theft systems
Alignment bolt (vehicle tool kit) 407, 453
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 446, 451
Antiglare, Interior rear view mirror 177
Antilock Brake System see ABS
Anti-theft systems
Anti-theft alarm system 91
Immobilizer 91
Tow-away alarm 93
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning
Armrest 229
Ashtray 29, 233
Aspect ratio 310
ATF 277
Auto-dimming, Rear view mirrors 177
Automatic central locking 112
Control system 155Automatic climate control system 180
Air conditioning, Cooling 189
Air conditioning refrigerant 447
Air distribution 184, 185
Air recirculation mode 187
Air vents 181
Air volume 184, 186
Control panel 181
Deactivating system 183
Defrosting 179, 186
Residual heat utilization 190
Temperature 184
Temperature sensor 31
Automatic lighting control, Interior
lighting 130
Automatic locking when driving 112
Automatic shift program 168

466 IndexEngine oil 274, 447
Adding 276, 445
Additives 447
Checking level 274
Consumption 274
Filler neck 276
Messages in the multifunction
display 275, 369
Recommended engine oils and
filters 447
ESP
®
82, 85, 455
Switch 30
Switching off 86
Switching on 87
Synchronizing 354
Warning lamp 25, 332
ETD 74, 455
Safety guidelines 69
Warning and indictor lamps 341
Exterior lamp switch 123
Exterior rear view mirrors 44, 177
F
Filler neck, Engine oil 276
First aid kit 383Flat tire 399
Preparing the vehicle 399
Spare wheel 383, 404
TIREFIT kit 384, 399
Flexible Service System see FSS
Fluids
Automatic climate control
system 445
Automatic transmission 277, 445
Brake system 271, 445, 447
Capacities 445
Engine coolant 278, 445, 450
Engine oil 274, 445, 447
Power steering 445
Retractable hardtop, Hydraulics 445
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system 445
Fog lamps 126
Messages in the multifunction
display 375, 377
Replacing bulbs 392
Front airbags 70
Front lamps see Headlamps
Front passenger front airbag off indicator
lamp 78
FSS (Canada only) 318, 455Fuel 269
Additives 449
Capacity, Fuel tank 445
Consumption statistics 157
Filler flap 269
Fuel reserve warning lamp 27, 338
Gasoline additives 449
Gauge 27
Premium unleaded gasoline 270,
446, 448
Refuelling 269
Requirements 448
Fuel cap
Messages in the multifunction
display 371
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Capacities 445
Functions (control system) 137
Fuse chart see Vehicle tool kit
Fuses 425
G
Garage door opener 247
Gasoline see Fuel
GAWR 311, 455