noodleman

So I got a check engine oil light come on and looks like my oil levels are on the low side.

Is it ok to mix engine oils with a different brand? If not I just want to confirm that the dealerships use Mobil-1 so I can at least keep it in the same brand.

rage2

Go to the dealer for a free top up. You should only be using the factory recommended brand and weight for warranty purposes.

cptdaz

What dealer do you goto? I need to start going there for my free top up.

noodleman

going to the dealer is an option, but i'd rather do it myself if possible. It's a hassle going into the dealership.

Rsquad911

Top up with
Mobil1 0w40

When I did my own oil change last week I used Motul 8100 X-Cess 5W40 (MB 129.5 approved)
I read somewhere that Steve at Weistec recommends 5w40 for M156 engines.

rage2

Well you'll have to go to the dealer to get the right oil anyways. I haven't been able to find 0w40 Mobil 1 anywhere else but the dealer.

cptdaz

Any particular reason? My mechanic told me 0w40 is better for cold weather because it has thinner viscosity.

I would like to swap to Motul since a friend has Motul sponsorship and can get me 50% off on all Motul oil but their 0w40 isn't MB approved.

Rsquad911

For engine longivity and peace of mind. I'm friends with the owner of Motul Canada. He sponsors my 993 with 300V it's an awesome oil!

Quoted from Steve at Weistec:

We have taken apart many of these engines, and have documented any issues (if any) very well. Some of these issues that have been mentioned in the class action documents seem to be perhaps "exaggerated". We have not seen any lifter or camshaft issues, but these are a few things that we have seen that can be a potential problem down the line, and can also be a problem for a customer returning with the problem at a dealership. This might also be a reason why the customer might have been denied any kind of warranty of the defected parts or whatever the case may be.

Issue 1: These engines take 0w-40 synthetic oil from the factory. If you have the dealership change your oil they put 5w-40 synthetic oil. Although MB isn't admitting any type of guilt here, they have obviously learned to change the oil. The reason for this is because the lifters are known to bleed the oil out when the camshaft is in the correct position overnight or for a few days pressing against the lifter. When someone starts the car the next day you get the lifter tick which many people have complained about. If this happens enough times, it will cause an issue, and this can perhaps be the reasoning behind this.

Issue 2: When replacing or simply removing camshafts the lifter will expand from the pressure. The problem with this is the fact that simply installing the camshaft can be a problem now because the lifter will now hang the valve open for a while, and it is a possibility that if can bind the valve spring putting unwanted pressure on the camshaft, lifter, valves, etc. Now these are 1 out of a million chances of causing serious damage, but again it is possible.

Issue 3: As someone stated earlier, the lifter is very flat where it meets the camshaft lobe. This is a little odd in design because the lifter needs to have some kind of ability to spin in its bore during its motion. It might have been beneficial to give it a dome like shape.

Lastly, just an FYI for guys running the M156/M159 engine. If you haven't driven the car in a few days and you hear an kind of valve train noise, do not drive the car. Let it idle till the noise goes away. Also put 5w-40 in the engine if you haven't yet. Thanks.

Steve
Weistec Engineering

Mort

MB rates 5W40 the same as 0W40 and 5W50 for all ambient temperatures. You can use 5W40 and it will be fine at all ambient temperatures. Motul may in fact be a superior oil to Mobil 1. I am planning to use Total (Re-branded ELF for NA) Quartz 9000 Energy 5W40 with 229.5 approval and will do used oil analysis to ensure it is doing a good job. The guy that does my oil analysis is not strong on Mobil 1. I am using Renewable Lubricants Inc 5W40 now and it is a vegetable based oil but not 229.5 approved so I am switching to Total until the warranty is up and then I will likely switch back.

Merc63

I just bought oil from the Dealer. Mobile M1 5W40 is what they gave me in 1Litre bottles.

Yuille36

0W40 holds a consistent vicosity in hot and cold weather. But flow better in cold weather as compared to other oils. Besides that this is the OEMs recommended oil.

VaclavSV

Im currently experiencing an issue from this and am quite pissed about how it happened. I needed to put oil in the car but was away from the dealer I normally visit. I went to the closest MB dealer and they gave me 0W-40. I toped it up and noticed a what I think is a lifter tick. After contacting my local MB dealer they said I needed to top up with 5W-40. Right now Im not driving the car very much until I can book an oil change.

Rsquad911

This is from the AMG Private Lounge...


Thank you very much for your post. This occurs as the automotive fluid standards have changed in the meantime (in May 2008)

AMG recommends the use of the following oils:

- Mobil 1 5W-40 for M156 engine (63er models)
- Mobil 1 0W-40 all other AMG engines (as well the AMG diesel engines that was used for the C 30 AMG)
- Mobil 1 5W-50 SLR engine

Before that change, the Mobil 1 0W-40 was used for the 63 models as well.
We hope that this information helps.

Best regards
AMG Private Lounge Team

JimmyR

In my version of the Owners Manual it talks about MB specification 229.5 for oils suitable for the C63 motor. There is also a web address where you can look up all MB specs for oils and fluids. This is the link for 229.5:
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/229.5_en.html

cptdaz

Thanks.

Looks like I will have to swap to Motul after all.

Merc63

How much did you add? A liter or so of 0w40 isn't going to change the viscosity much out of the 7-8 liters that are in there...

VaclavSV

I added 1 litre. Im getting the dealer to look at the car tomorrow so we'll see whats up. Im just a little nervous.

Rsquad911

You will be fine don't even worry about it
When I did my oil change I evac'd 8L out of 9L (Mobil1 0W40) and then filled 8L of Motul 8100 5W40.

Merc63

Yep, you are being paranoid

jvanbrecht

Holy crap the Motul oil is expensive (well at retail anyways), I get my Mobile 1 oil from the dealer (at about $4.50 a quart)

VaclavSV

I had the oil change and they didn't notice anything strange. I was close to my first service so they cleared the light and gave me a checklist of what still could be done. I just drove it back and made sure to push it hard and didn't notice any ticking. All good!

On a different note I went to Victoria Star Motors in Waterloo and was I ever impressed. They were all so knowledgeable and had so many great cars! Made me wish I knew they existed before I bought mine. I spent the whole time talking with a salesman named Dave who was great! He was up to date on all things Mercedes. I even found out the new SL and C AMG Blackseries will be at the autoshow in Toronto for anyone wanting to go check them out!