coolant MERCEDES-BENZ SLK CLASS 2004 Owner's Manual

279 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Engine oils
Engine oils are specifically tested for their
suitability in our engines. Therefore, use
only engine oils recommended by
Mercedes-Benz. Information on approved
engine oils is available in the Factory Ap-
proved Service Products pamphlet, or at
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.Please follow FSS or Service Booklet rec-
ommendations for scheduled oil changes.
Failure to do so could result in engine dam-
age not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Engine oil additives
Do not blend oil additives with engine oil.
They may damage the engine.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from
blending oil additives are not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Air conditioning refrigerant
R-134a (HFC) refrigerant and special
PAG lubricating oil is used in the air condi-
tioning system.Never use R-12 (CFC) or mineral-based
lubricating oil, otherwise damage to the
system will occur.
Brake fluid
During vehicle operation, the boiling point
of the brake fluid is continuously reduced
through the absorption of moisture from
the atmosphere. Under extremely strenu-
ous operating conditions, this moisture
content can lead to the formation of bub-
bles in the system, thus reducing the sys-
tem’s efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be re-
placed every two years, preferably in the
spring.
Only brake fluid approved by
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center will pro-
vide you with additional information.
!Always check the oil filler cap
(page 171) for important informa-
tion pertaining to the engine oil need-
ing to meet a specific Mercedes-Benz
specification (e.g. MB 229.5). If such
information is printed on the oil filler
cap, only use an engine oil from the list
of approved engine oils in the Factory
Approved Service Products pamphlet
that meets the specification indicated
on the oil filler cap.
Using engine oils of other specification
may cause the FSS to incorrectly deter-
mine the next service interval and will
result in engine damage not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

280 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants etc.Premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel requirements
Use only premium unleaded gasoline
meeting ASTM standard D 439:

The octane number (posted at the
pu mp ) m ust b e 91 m i n. It is an a ve ra ge
of both the Research (R) octane num-
ber and the Motor (M) octane number:
(R+M) / 2). This is also known as the
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.
Unleaded gasoline containing oxygenates
such as ethanol, IPA, IBA and TBA can be
used provided the ratio of any one of these
oxygenates to gasoline does not exceed
10%; MTBE not to exceed 15%.
The ratio of methanol to gasoline must not
exceed 3% plus additional cosolvents.
Using mixtures of ethanol and methanol is
not allowed. Gasohol, which contains 10%
ethanol and 90% unleaded gasoline, can be
used.
These blends must also meet all other fuel
requirements, such as resistance to spark
knock, boiling range, vapor pressure etc.
Gasoline additives
A major concern among engine manufac-
turers is carbon build-up caused by gaso-
line. Mercedes-Benz recommends only the
use of quality gasoline containing additives
that prevent the build up of carbon depos-
its.
After an extended period of using fuels
without such additives, carbon deposits
can build up especially on the intake valves
and in the combustion area, leading to
engine performance problems such as:

Warm-up hesitation


Unstable idle


Knocking/pinging


Misfire


Power loss
Do not blend any specific fuel additives
with fuel. This only results in unnecessary
costs and may be harmful to engine opera-
tion.
!To maintain the engine’s durability and
performance, premium unleaded gaso-
line must be used. If premium unleaded
is not available and low octane fuel is
used, follow these precautions:

Have the fuel tank only partially
filled with unleaded regular and fill
up with premium unleaded as soon
as possible.


Avoid full throttle driving and abrupt
acceleration.


Do not exceed an engine speed of
3000 rpm if the vehicle is loaded
with a light load such as two per-
sons and no luggage.


Do not exceed
2/3of maximum ac-
celerator pedal position if the vehi-
cle is fully loaded or operating in
mountainous terrain.

281 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from
poor fuel quality or from blending specific
fuel additives are not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Coolants
The engine coolant is a mixture of water
and anticorrosion / antifreeze, which pro-
vides:

Corrosion protection


Freeze protection


Boiling protection (by increasing the
boiling point)
The cooling system was filled at the factory
with a coolant providing freeze protection
to approximately -22°F (-30°C) and corro-
sion protection.
If the antifreeze mixture is effective to
-22°F (-30°C), the boiling point of the cool-
ant in the pressurized cooling system is
reached at approximately 266°F (130°C).The coolant solution must be used
year-round to provide the necessary corro-
sion protection and increase boil over-pro-
tection. Refer to Service Booklet for
replacement interval.
Coolant system design and coolant used
stipulate the replacement interval. The re-
placement interval published in the Ser-
vice Booklet is only applicable if MB 325.0
anticorrosion/antifreeze solution or other
Mercedes-Benz approved products of
equal specification (see Factory Approved
Service Products pamphlet) are used to re-
new the coolant concentration or bring it
back up to the proper level.
To provide important corrosion protection,
the solution must be at least 45% anticor-
rosion/antifreeze (equivalent to freeze
protection to approx. -22°F [-30°C]). If you
use a solution that is more than 55% anti-
corrosion/antifreeze (freeze protection to
approx. -49°F [-45°C]), the engine temper-
ature will increase due to the lower heat transfer capability of the solution. There-
fore, do not use more than this amount of
anticorrosion/antifreeze.
If the coolant level is low, water and MB
Anticorrosion /Antifreeze should be used
to bring it up to the proper level (have cool-
ing system checked for signs of leakage).
Please make sure the mixture is in accor-
dance with label instructions.
The water in the cooling system must meet
minimum requirements, which are usually
satisfied by normal drinking water. If you
are not sure about the water quality, con-
sult your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.

282 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants etc.Anticorrosion/antifreeze
Your vehicle contains a number of alumi-
num parts. The use of aluminum compo-
nents in motor vehicle engines
necessitates that anticorrosion/antifreeze
coolant used in such engines be specifical-
ly formulated to protect the aluminum parts. (Failure to use such anticorro-
sion/antifreeze coolant will result in a
significantly shortened service life.)
Therefore, the following product is strongly
recommended for use in your vehicle:
Mercedes-Benz 325.0 Anticorrosion/Anti-
freeze Agent.Before the start of the winter season (or
once a year in hot southern regions), you
should have the anticorrosion/antifreeze
concentration checked. The coolant is also
regularly checked each time you bring your
vehicle to your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for service.
Anticorrosion/antifreeze quantityModel
Approx. freeze protection–35°F (–37°C)
–49°F (–45°C)
SLK 230 Kompressor
4.9 US qt (4.7 l)
5.4 US qt (5.1 l)
SLK 320
5.9 US qt (5.6 l)
6.5 US qt (6.1 l)
SLK 32 AMG
7.7 US qt (7.3 l)
8.5 US qt (8.0 l)

283 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc.
Windshield washer system and head-lamp washer system*
Both the windshield and headlamp*
washer systems are supplied from the
windshield washer fluid reservoir.
The washer fluid reservoir has a capacity of
approximately 7.4 US qt (7.0 l).
Refill the reservoir with MB Windshield
Washer Concentrate "S" and water (or
concentrate and commercially avail-
able premixed windshield washer
solvent / antifreeze, depending on am-
bient temperatures).Windshield and headlamp* washer
fluid mixing ratio
For temperatures above freezing point, use
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S”
and water:


1 part “S” to100 parts water
[40ml“S” to 1gallon (4l) water]
For temperatures below freezing point, use
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S”
and commercially available premixed
windshield washer solvent / antifreeze:


1part“S” to 100parts solvent
[40 ml “S” to 1 gallon (4 liters) solvent].
Warning!
G
Washer solvent/antifreeze is highly flamma-
ble. Do not spill washer solvent/antifreeze
on hot engine parts because it may ignite
and burn. You can be seriously burned.

289 Technical terms
Lock button
Button on the door which indicates
whether the door is locked or un-
locked. Pushing the lock button down
on an individual door from inside will
lock that door.
MON
(M
otor O
ctane N
umber)
The Motor Octane Number for gasoline
as determined by a standardized
method. It is an indication of a gaso-
line's ability to resist undesired detona-
tion (knocking). The average of both
the MON (Motor Octane Number) and
->RON (Research Octane Number) is
posted at the pump, also known as
ANTI-KNOCK INDEX.Overspeed range
Engine speeds within the red marking
of the tachometer dial. Avoid this
engine speed range, as it may result in
serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Poly-V-belt drive
Drives engine-components (alternator,
AC compressor, etc.) from the engine.
Power train
Collective term designating all compo-
nents used to generate and transmit
motive power to the drive axles, includ-
ing


engine


clutch/torque converter


transmission


drive shaft


axle shafts/axlesProgram mode selector switch
Used to switch the automatic transmis-
sion between standard operation S and
winter operation W.
Remote Vehicle Diagnostics
Transmission of vehicle data and cur-
rent location to the Mercedes-Benz
Customer Assistance Center for sub-
scribers to Tele Aid service.
REST
(Residual engine heat utilization)
Feature that uses the engine heat
stored in the coolant to heat the vehi-
cle interior for a short time after the en-
gine has been turned off.
Restraint systems
Seat belts, belt tensioners, airbags and
child restraint systems. As indepen-
dent systems, their protective func-
tions complement one another.

293 Index
A
ABS 22, 66, 287
Malfunction indicator lamp 201
Warning lamp 201
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 98
Accident
In case of 46
Activating
Air conditioning 107
Air recirculation mode 106
Anti-theft alarm system 71
Climate control 103
ESP 70
Exterior headlamps 43
Hazard warning flasher 86
Headlamps 43
High beams 85
Ignition 29
Immobilizer 71
Rear window defroster 101
Residual heat 107
Seat heater* 82
Tow-away alarm 72
Windshield wipers 44Activating automatic central locking 80
Adding
Coolant 181
Engine oil 179
Additional turn signals 226
Adjusting 30
Air distribution 105
Air volume 105
Backrest tilt 32, 33
Exterior rear view mirror 35
Head restraint height 32
Inside rear view mirror 35
Instrument cluster illumination 89
Manual seat 31
Mirrors 35
Seat cushion tilt 33
Seat fore and aft adjustment 31, 33
Seat height 31, 33
Seats 30
Telescoping steering column* 34
Adjusting headlamp aim
Horizontal headlamp aim 232
Vertical headlamp aim 231
Air conditioning 106Activating 107
Deactivating 107
Air conditioning refrigerant 279
Air distribution
Adjusting 105
Air pressure see Tire inflation
pressure 186
Air recirculation mode 106
Activating 106
Deactivating 106
Air volume
Adjusting 105
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp 211
Airbags 53
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system 287
BabySmartTM deactivation
system 62
Children 54
Front 56
Passenger 56
Safety guidelines 55
Side impact 57

295 Index
BAS/ESP
Malfunction indicator lamp 200
Batteries, Remote control
Check lamp 75
Batteries, remote control
Changing 218
Battery discharged
Jump starting 254
Battery, vehicle 183, 251
Charging 252
Disconnecting 252
Reconnecting 252
Reinstalling 252
Removing 252
Block heater 189
Bolts
For spare wheel 213
Brake assist system (BAS) 287
Brake fluid 279
Brake lamp bulbs 227
Brake lamp, high mounted 227
Brakes 162
Warning lamp 204Break-in period 160
Bulbs, replacing 226
Additional turn signals 226
Backup lamps 227
Brake lamps 227
Fog lamps 226
Front lamps 226
High beam 226
High mounted brake lamp 227
License plate lamps 227, 231
Low beam 226
Parking lamps 226, 227, 229
Rear fog lamp 227
Rear fog lamps 230
Side marker lamps 226, 230
Standing lamps 226, 227, 229
Tail lamp assemblies 227, 230
Turn signal lamps 226, 227
Button
Audio system 115C
CAC (Customer Assistance Center) 287
California
Important notice 9
Calling up
Service indicator 191
CAN system 287
Capacities
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. 277
Casette mode
Playing cassettes 118
Catalytic converter 169
CD changer* 122, 215
Removing and installing 122
CD mode 121
Center console 23
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp 211
Lower part 24
Storage compartment 140
Upper part 23

296 IndexCentral locking
From inside 80
Unlocking from inside 80
Certification label 266
Changing CDs
CD mode 121
Charging
Vehicle battery 252
CHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator
lamp 205
Checking
Coolant level 173, 180
Oil level 172, 175
Tire inflation pressure 173
Vehicle lighting 173
Child safety 60
Airbags 54
Infant and child restraint systems 57,
60
Cigarette lighter 143
Cleaning
Cloth upholstery 197Cup holder 196
Gear selector lever 196
Hard plastic trim items 196
Headliner 197
Instrument cluster 196
Leather upholstery 197
Light alloy wheels 196
Plastic and rubber parts 197
Rear window 195
Seat belts 197
Steering wheel 196
Windows 195
Windshield 45
Wiper blades 195
Cleaning*
Headlamps 99
Climate control 102
Adjusting air distribution 105
Adjusting air volume 105
Air conditioning 106
Air recirculation mode 106
Deactivating the climate control
system 110
Defogging windshield 110
Defrosting 109Reactivating the climate control
system 110
Rear window defroster 101
Residual heat utilization 107
Residual ventilation 107
Setting the temperature 104
Clock 21
Setting 91
Closing
Glove box 139
Hood 175
Retractable hardtop 221
Side windows 128
Trunk lid 78
Windows 128
Closing hardtop
In an emergency 221
Cloth upholstery
Cleaning 197
Cockpit 18, 287
Coin holder 142
Collapsible tire 287

297 Index
Combination switch 85
High beam flasher 44, 85
Turn signals 43
Windshield wipers 44
Consumer information 284
Control and operation of radio
transmitters 168
Coolant 180, 281
Adding 181
Anticorrosion/antifreeze
quantity 281
Capacities 277
Checking level 180
Temperature 170
Temperature gauge 89
Coolant level
Checking 173, 180
Cruise control 136, 287
Canceling 137
Driving downhill 137
Driving uphill 137
Fine adjustment 138
Saving current speed 137
Setting speeds 138Cruise control lever 136
For cruise control 136
Cup holder 140
Cleaning 196
Customer Assistance Center (CAC) 287
D
Daytime running lamp mode 84
Deactivating
Air conditioning 107
Air recirculation mode 106
Alarm 71
Anti-theft alarm system 71
Climate control 103
Cruise control 137
ESP 69
Hazard warning flasher 86
Headlamps 48
Immobilizer 71
Rear window defroster 101
Residual heat 108
Seat heater* 82
Tow-away alarm 72Deactivating automatic central
locking 80
Deep water see Standing water 168
Defogging
Windshield 110
Defrosting 109
Difficulties
While driving see Problems while
driving 45
With starting 41
Direction of rotation (tires) 186
Discharged battery
Jump starting 254
Disconnecting
Vehicle battery 252
Display elements
Audio system 112
Displays
Messages 176
Service indicator 190
Door unlock
With Tele Aid 151
Doors
Opening from inside vehicle 77
Opening from outside 75