recommended oil MERCEDES-BENZ SLK350 2006 R171 Owner's Manual

ContentsOperation......................................... 291
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ......... 292
Driving instructions ............................ 293
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 293
Drinking and driving ..................... 293
Pedals .......................................... 293
Power assistance ......................... 293
Brakes .......................................... 294
Driving off..................................... 296
Parking ......................................... 296
Tires ............................................. 297
Hydroplaning ................................ 297
Tire traction .................................. 298
Tire speed rating .......................... 298
Winter driving instructions ........... 299
Standing water ............................. 300
Passenger compartment .............. 301
Driving abroad .............................. 301
Control and operation of radio
transmitter ................................... 301
Catalytic converter ....................... 302
Emission control........................... 302
Coolant temperature .................... 303At the gas station .............................. 304
Refueling ...................................... 304
Check regularly and before
a long trip ..................................... 305
Engine compartment ......................... 307
Hood ............................................ 307
Engine oil ..................................... 308
Transmission fluid level* .............. 313
Coolant level ................................ 313
Battery ......................................... 314
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 315
Tires and wheels ................................ 317
Important guidelines .................... 317
Tire care and maintenance ........... 318
Direction of rotation ..................... 320
Loading the vehicle ...................... 320
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 327
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 329
MOExtended system* .................. 333
Tire labeling.................................. 334
Load identification ....................... 338DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 339
Maximum tire load ....................... 340
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 341
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 341
Tire ply material ........................... 343
Tire and loading terminology ........ 344
Rotating tires ............................... 347
Winter driving .................................... 348
Winter tires .................................. 348
Snow chains................................. 349
Maintenance...................................... 350
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 351
Maintenance service term
exceeded ..................................... 351
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 351
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 352
Vehicle care....................................... 353
Cleaning and care of vehicle ........ 353

319 Operation
Tires and wheels
Tread depth
Do not allow your tires to wear down too
far. Adhesion properties on wet roads are
sharply reduced at tread depths under 1⁄8in (3 mm).
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and
become visible at a tread depth of approx-
imately
1/16
in (1.6 mm), at which point
the tire is considered worn and should be
replaced.
Recommended minimum tire tread depth:


Summer tires
1/8in (3 mm)


Winter tires
1/6in (4 mm)
1TWI (T
read W
ear I
ndicator)
The treadwear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread.Storing tires
Cleaning tires
Warning!
G
Although the applicable federal motor safety
laws consider a tire to be worn when the
treadwear indicators (TWI) become visible at
approximately
1/16in (1.6 mm), we recom-
mend that you do not allow your tires
to wear down to that level. As tread depth
approaches
1/8in (3 mm), the adhesion
properties on a wet road are sharply re-
duced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.
!Keep unmounted tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as
possible. Protect tires from contact
with oil, grease and gasoline.!Never use a round nozzle to power
wash tires. The intense jet of water can
result in damage to the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire.

353 Operation
Vehicle care
Vehicle care
Cleaning and care of vehicle
While in operation, even while parked, your
vehicle is subjected to varying external in-
fluences which, if gone unchecked, can at-
tack the paintwork as well as the
undercarriage and cause lasting damage.Such damage is caused not only by ex-
treme and varying climatic conditions, but
also by:


Air pollution


Road salt


Tar


Gravel and stone chipping
To avoid paint damage, you should imme-
diately remove:


Grease and oil


Fuel


Coolant


Brake fluid


Bird droppings


Insects


Tree resins, etc.
Frequent washing reduces and/or elimi-
nates the aggressiveness and potency of
the above adverse influences.More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions:


near the ocean


in industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)


during winter operation
You should check your vehicle from time to
time for stone chipping or other damage.
Any damage should be repaired as soon as
possible to prevent corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the underbody
of the vehicle. A prerequisite for a thor-
ough check is a washing of the underbody
followed by a thorough inspection. Dam-
aged areas need to be re-undercoated.
Your vehicle has been treated at the facto-
ry with a wax-base rustproofing in the body
cavities which will last for the lifetime of
the vehicle. Post-production treatment is
neither necessary nor recommended by
Mercedes-Benz because of the possibility
of incompatibility between materials used
in the production process and others ap-
plied later.
Warning!
G
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the partic-
ular container. Always open your vehicle’s
doors or windows when cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not de-
signed for cleaning your vehicle.
Always lock away cleaning products and
keep them out of reach of children.

451 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Engine oils
Engine oils are specifically tested for their
suitability in our engines and durability for
our service intervals. Therefore, only use
approved engine oils and oil filters re-
quired for vehicles with Maintenance
System (U.S. vehicles) or FSS PLUS (Cana-
da vehicles). For a listing of approved en-
gine oils and oil filters, refer to the Factory
Approved Service Products pamphlet, or
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
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 are used in the air con-
ditioning 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.
Only brake fluid approved by
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center will pro-
vide you with additional information.
!Using engine oils and oil filters of spec-
ification other than those expressly re-
quired for the Maintenance System
(U.S. vehicles) or FSS PLUS (Canada
vehicles), or changing of oil and oil filter
at change intervals longer than those
called for by the Maintenance System
(U.S. vehicles) or FSS PLUS (Canada
vehicles) will result in engine damage
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Please follow Maintenance System
(U.S. vehicles) or FSS PLUS (Canada
vehicles) recommendations for sched-
uled oil changes. Failure to do so will
result in engine damage not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
Under extremely strenuous operating condi-
tions, this moisture content can lead to the
formation of bubbles in the system, thus re-
ducing the system’s efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be replaced
regularly. Refer to your vehicle’s
Maintenance Booklet for replacement
interval.