B Feelgood

So I just spent about an hour reading through dozens of threads trying to find out what oil we are supposed to be using now. The choices are 0w40, 5w40, and 5w40 ESP. Obviously the factory fill is 0w40 but supposedly the 5w40 helps with lifter tick upon cold start up? I then see the new 229.51 spec says to use the 5w40 ESP. Then I find a post "linked below" that says not to use the ESP formula in the M156 engine. Have seen scattered posts here on the forum too that say the oil is only for diesel engines and to use the original 5w40 formula M without ESP.

To add to the confusion, whenever you goto Mobil 1's site and input your vehicle, it says the suggested oil is 5w30 ESP.

What are we supposed to be using now?


http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums..._Formula_M_vs_

CPD SLK

Yeah. I agree...One of the problems with the amount of information out there. Curious what others say

Autosport7

Oh don't worry fellas, there are some oil experts in here that will clear it right up for ya! "Just run the MB specified oil and that's all you need to know!" Lol

bhamg

As Valvestud has pointed out many times, this oil is the latest and current recommendation for the M156, information courtesy of AMG via the PL. I used it through the entire warranty period, although now just off warranty I've switched to a different 5W-40.

ParkerK

Here is what you need...buy this, be done, drink a beer.

AMG893

5W-40 ESP

I have always used this, in my of my M156, never had problems

Mort

Can you even source M1 5W40 Formula M in NA? That is why most people use M1 5W40 ESP which you can get almost anywhere. Some say the M1 0W40 has a more robust additive package and continue to use that. Some seem to hint the 5W40 will reduce consumption and lifter bleed down which are both strong points. When my car was newer I wanted to top it off and the dealer gave me M1 0W30 so I called MB Canada and they said that was fine and what they recommended. No wonder there is so much confusion. It seems to be the fault of MB and the fact Mobil does not supply Formula M locally (at least I never seem to be able to find it, even on the Mobil site).

I guess if you want to use (maybe should use) 5W40 you will have to use ESP for practical reasons and that should be fine. Do a mid-interval change if you are worried about it.

ParkerK

Every Mercedes dealership in Northern VA sells the M oil...not sure about anywhere else. But that is North America...last time I checked.

Jasonoff

Here's the coles notes.

Originally MB had spec'ed the 0W-40 as a "year round" solution because of its cold weather viscosity. I don't know all the details, but it was either proven or suspected that too much oil would drain off the tappets and other components while sitting for a while in warmer climates causing pre-mature wear. The solution was to switch to the Formula M 5W-40 which has a higher viscosity at 40C. This solution was suggested by AMG in the PL --> (click for the post). When questioned about an official document for the change nobody replied so who knows what the "real" reason was or if it was actually official.

The 0W-40 does however have better protection at operating temperature but it will break down faster than the 5W-40.

The ESP 5W-40 formula is just a better oil. I linked all the data sheets below.

Mobil 1 0W-40 European Car Formula (Data Sheet)

Mobil 1 Formula M 5W-40 (Data Sheet)

Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5W-40 (Data Sheet)

With that said, there's lots of (approved) better proven oils out there than the above 3 that MB seem to gravitate to. Now that I'm out of warranty I will switch to something better like Mobil Delvac 1, Shell Rotella T6, etc...

EDIT: Added link to PL for recommendation to switch to 5W40.

B Feelgood

Good information here guys...

Let's assume that you are a DIY'er and own an M156 equipped AMG. You are getting ready to change your oil and head off to your local parts store to pick up some oil. On the shelf there is Mobil 1 0w-40, Mobil 1 5w40 formula M, and Mobile 1 5w40 ESP "perfect world scenario."

Which would be the best choice assuming all three are readily available? Are the problems with build up "see 1st post" no longer a concern with ESP oil? I've also seen and read the posts by Valvestud here endorsing the ESP oil but then see contradicting posts saying not to use the ESP oil due to build up and due to the oil being made for diesel engines. Who is Valvestud and is his information reliable?

Valvestud

LOL! I am Valvestud (Joe) and my info is as reliable as what comes from MB. Again, the latest recommendation is 229.51.

Go here for the spec for the 229.51: http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/229.51_en.html

Go here for the spec. for the M156 and other MB engines: http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/o...tedDocId=10119

Since the 229.51 is the latest spec., it drives you to use the 5W-40, which drives you to the ESP formula as the only Mobil product. My other info was from an AMG Lounge question that was answered by the moderator giving the 5W-40 ESP as the latest recommendation.

Can you use 0W-40 or other 5W-40... sure. It's just not the latest spec.

Regards,


Joe

Karl901

If track your C63, you can run Mobile 1. 0/50 Race oil.

JonMBZ

I have answered this in detail in the past so I wont again, but I have been using 5w40 ESP M for about 5 years in my C55 and I don't have any issues 150k+ miles on my car and it's running great. Search my name with some key words in this forum and it will have more info to help you sleep.

OH_NAH

Can you not use any other brands?

Valvestud

Again.... Go here..


http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/229.51_en.html

avery.whss

Just did an oil change yesterday and put in 0W40 Mobil 1 ...lets see how it goes, I usually burn through quater a bottle of oil every 5,000KM because I beat on my car all the time, I barely got 4,000 KM out of my previous oil change with 5W40

Ingenieur

1 qt per 12000+ miles is amazingly low oil consumption

Spec on many cars is qt/1000 miles

What do you mean by ' got 4000 km out of an oil change'
That's only 2500 miles
Did you do an oil test?

Oil change interval counters aren't adaptable on AMG's like they are on BMW's
It's always 10k miles? Correct?

avery.whss

Yeah did a test, plus it was black really black and smelt slightly burnt..i use to work at ez lube so i knew it was bad, im not sure why my car burns oil like that maybe it's because i'm always flooring it? not like going insanely fast but just doing 0-60 runs a lot? not sure..but yeah my dealer told me every 15,000 KM or "once a year" which seems kinda odd because I've had 3 oil changes in a year and the dealers never said anything is wrong with my car

Jasonoff

High rpm fast off throttle sucks a lot of oil in through the pcv which attributes to the consumption. Get a Weistec oil/air separator.

ab0bab0i

Of course nothing will be wrong, but I think Ingenieur is asking why you keep changing your oil so frequently when don't have to?

avery.whss

because when i see pitch black oil thats lost its consistantcy i change it, i can only imagine what it'd look like after 15,000km..probably close to sludge at that point i think

Ingenieur

The consumption is exceptionally LOW
not high
~1 qt per 12400 miles
I've never heard of such low consumption in an engine like this
The Audi rs4 spec iirc is 1 qt / 1200 miles
Actually 0.5 l per 1000 km but close enough

avery.whss

ohhh i got how you're doing it...hmm yeah im not sure why it's low then? are these engines supose to burn through oil quite a bit?

Ingenieur

Not sure what the spec is for the m156
Anyone know?
WAG would be similar to the rs4
perhaps a bit lower due to a lower compression ratio

My rs4 did a qt every 3500 miles or so

B Feelgood

According to that chart, they use ESP for all four weights now. I guess I will be ordering some 5w40 ESP tomorrow morning.