2002 Mercedes G-Class Owner's Manual - Page 230

Be especially careful when driving in unknown territory. It is good practice to get out of the vehicle and scout the path you intend to take. Continuous and speedy driving in sandy soil overcomes the vehicle rolling resistance, and helps to prevent the vehicle from sinking into the ground. Switch on the differential locks, see page 253. Do not initiate jumps with the vehicle. It interrupts the forward momentum of the vehicle. Always drive on slopes with the engine running and the vehicle in gear. Sand, dirt, mud and other material having friction property, can cause exceptional wear and tear as well as failure of the brakes. In this case the brakes may be less effective or even fail when you most need them. Always clean and check the brakes following each off-road trip. Checklist before off-road driving • Engine oil level: Check the engine oil level, see page 127 and page 304. The display "ENGINE OIL LEVEL - O.K." must appear in the multifunction display. Only then is a trouble free oil supply obtained even on steep gradients with the vehicle. • Tires: Check the tread depth and maintain specified tire pressure (see tire pressure label inside the fuel filler flap). Check tires for possible damage and remove foreign objects. The valve caps must be mounted. • Rims: Dented or bent rims can cause tire pressure loss and damage the tire beads. For this reason, check and, if necessary, change rims before driving off-road. • Vehicle tool kit: Check if the vehicle jack is functional. In all cases take the vehicle tool kit, a strong tow rope, a shovel and a small plank (to put under the vehicle jack on sandy soil) with you. Driving instructions Instruments and controls Operation Driving 227 Instrument cluster display Practical hints Car care Technical data Index