2011 Mercedes G-Class Owner's Manual - Page 142

140 Driving tips Driving on wet roads Hydroplaning If water has accumulated to a certain depth on the road surface, there is a danger of hydroplaning occurring, even if: Ryou Rthe Off-road fording Driving and parking drive at low speeds. tires have adequate tread depth. For this reason, in the event of heavy rain or in conditions in which hydroplaning can occur you must drive in the following manner: Rreduce Ravoid your speed ruts Rbrake carefully : Fording depth, 20 in (50 cm) The fording depth must not exceed 20 in (50 cm) when the vehicle is loaded and ready to drive. Driving on flooded roads ! Do not drive through flooded areas. Check the depth of any water before driving through it. Drive slowly through standing water. Otherwise, water may enter the vehicle interior or the engine compartment. This can damage the electronic components in the engine or AUTOTRONIC. Water can also be drawn in by the engine's air suction nozzles and this can cause engine damage. If you have to drive on stretches of road on which water has collected, please bear in mind that: Rthe maximum permissible still water depth is 50 cm. Ryou should drive no faster than at walking pace. ! The water depth must not exceed 20 in (50 cm). Note that the possible fording depth is less in flowing water. i You may only drive through freshwater. RObserve the safety notes (Y page 142) and the general notes (Y page 142) on off-road driving. REstablish how deep the water is and the characteristics of the body of water before fording. RSwitch off the auxiliary heating and the airconditioning system. RShift the transfer case to LOW (Y page 126). REngage the differential locks, if necessary (Y page 129). RRestrict the shift range to 1 or 2 (Y page 123). RAvoid high engine speeds. REnter and exit the water at a flat place and at a steady walking pace. ! Under no circumstances should you accelerate before entering the water. The bow wave could cause water to enter and damage the engine and other assemblies.