Vital

Hi - I have a major problem and I need some help.
My wife's ML350's engine just seized and is currently in the shop awaiting a MB technician. The car has 15,000 miles on it and the service manager is telling me that the engine seized because the oil hasn't been changed and it may not be covered under warranty. How is this possible with only 15,000 miles?

06e320cdi

If you havent changed the oil, you are SOL. The filter could have easily been clogged. You are about 5K over the interval.

Vital

The "change oil" indicator light just started popping up 3 days ago, and now the engine seized? There has to be another issue...

06e320cdi

Sorry to say, it is up to you to follow the mfg warranty requirements related to oil changes whether or not the "indicator" popped up. You might have a case if the oil level indicator did not show that the oil was low. When was vehicle last in for service?

I agree that its unacceptable for this to happen without extenuating circumstances. I wish you luck.

Vital

My wife got the car serviced by a non-authorized shop on an extended trip down to South Carolina a few months go. The service indicator started popping up and she wanted to get it done with. This is crazy...If MB decides that this is out of warranty I'll be personally liable for the replacement of the engine?? There has to be something I can do... I suppose a service receipt would be a good start...

UR2SLO

I don't know why you wait for the indicator to pop up. Mine tells me way in advance when my next service is due. Why wait last minute? I do my service weeks in advance. Any manufacturer most likely wouldn't cover it if you don't complete regular maintenance/service. Within the warranty period you should always take your car to the dealer then when your warranty is expired your free to go where ever you want. Before heading to South Carolina you probably should of checked with your local dealer if everything is ready to go or if your service was about to come up just get it done with. Why did you take it to an shop in South Carolina are there no MB dealers there?

06e320cdi

CHances are that place didnt use the proper oil. Thats where MB will hold you liable. You will then in turn have to go after the "shop" you went to. See what the receipt says, post here if you can.

dgiturbo

Although personally I change my oil every 5000 miles, MB recommends oil changes at 10000.
That being said, Mobil1 ESP Formula M 5w40 is a quality oil, and going 5000 miles over the "recommended" number will not cause an engine seizure. No way, no how. These engines run too well where 9 quarts of oil would sludge up that bad to cause a total lack of lubrication. For MB to use the number of a 10000 miles service interval, they must have tested engines past that number. And the test would have to be at least a few thousand miles past. BMW uses a 15000 mile interval in their oil service so the number is not that strange.
Here is a quote from the Mobil1 website.:

"In a controlled test, a 2009 Chrysler Sebring ran with conventional oil until the engine had formed significant sludge. Technicians then changed the oil, using Mobil 1 5W-30, and ran the vehicle for another 4,000 miles. After that one oil change, virtually all sludge had been cleaned up."

So if their synthetic oil is that well of a performer, I would rule out your going over the service interval as a cause. I am sure you are not the only one out their either who has done that. Just that others won't admit it.

Which brings up two things.
1)What did the repair shop actually do when Did they properly replace the oil filter and O rings? Did they use 229.51 spec? If they messed that part up, then that shop owes you a $35000 engine.
2)Tell you service adviser that if MB wants the oil changed every 10000, and you have done 1 oil change so far in S. Carolina, at 15000 total miles you are NOT over the limit. Your next change isn't due till 20000. You actually have 5000 miles to go.

Keep us posted.

sosh

50% over the change reccommendation, Unauthorized shop, possible wrong type oil and filter, The reccommendation is 10000 miles or 1 year. How many years ago was it changed?
Sorry but I think you are out of luck with warranty too many factors against you. The suggestions for service are there for a reason and I believe that you now found out why. Its your fault and it will be or should be out of your pocket.

Moto One

If the engine seized, it ether ran out of oil altogether, or the oil pump or other circulation system failed. Oil 5k over dose not cause a failure. I would also think that the ECM would have interven and shut down the motor before failure.

We had a motor fail after only 7k in a Range Rover be cause when my wife got a low I
Oil warning then a over heat warning, she didn't believe the gages because "Well Rover electrics system had been giving us some faults readings" in our old Rov. Her Bad!!

Rover did cover the motor though, but that was back in the day when if you bought a high end vehicle you received top knotch service.

Mark

Vital

Bottom line is that an engine does not seize by running 1K, 5K or even 10K without changing the oil. Yes, it is not the best thing to do to the car and manufacturers and auto pros don't like it, but they just can't expect every joe shmo out there to have enough sense to change the oil in a timely manner. This is why a $62,000 car like this should have SENSORS to prevent this from happening if for whatever reason a driver is not able to change the oil at the manufacturers "recommended" intervals. 5000 miles after the oil is changed and then TOTAL engine failure?!?

Why wasn't there a warning light? Why didn't the engine shut off before causing significant damage? Why did the ECM fail? Was there a defect in the engine that caused a significant sludge problem at 15,000 miles?

We are still awaiting MB's diagnosis...

sosh

Yes 5000 over could cause the failure. Then again we don't know if the correct oil was used and that could have caused the failure. In addition we also dont know if the correct filter was used and that also could have caused the failure. Plus the work was done at an unauthorized shop so the likelyhood of some or all the factors I mentioned are greater. Could have also been a Jiffy Lube type place for all we know. They may have thought it was a gas MB. We do not have enough info to be certain but the fact remains that this vehicle was very poorly maintained and that alone would be certain grounds to dismiss a warranty claim.And yess there are warnings before and after the change limit is reached but for all we know is that these were ignored as was all the other stuff. The warning comes up after start and then can be dismissed by hitting OK or by selecting another page on the MFD.

DC-IT

Some thing's not quite right here.
If the ML was not serviced at 10,000 miles then it'll not start after 1,000 miles of driving as it'll have run out of AdBlue fluid. The DEF is due for refill around the same time as the oil change and the dash board will constantly flash a "no start count down" warning each time you restart the ML if you are past the service interval.

Also if the ML was serviced during the wife's trip and the wrong oil was used it's unlikely the ML would make it back home?

The OP should have the service paper work to verify what was done and what oil was used as well as if the DEF was refilled as well as the mileage when the service was performed.

There is no prerequisite for the ML to be serviced by a M-B dealer or authorized shop for the warranty to be covered.
Some here do their own oil change and so long as the proper receipts for the oil and parts are kept the warranty should still hold.

maximus350

This sounds fishy...how do you even know the engine is seized? does it crank. What are the symptoms.

iankayem

Engines can seize due to lack of oil causing the bearings to melt and the crank binding.
Or lack of oil causing the rings to bind in the bore.
Or overheating causing the rings to bind in the bore.
Or failure of the timing chain or other timing component.

These last two items could be totally unrelated to the oil supply. We would need to know why it failed before we cast aspertions against one or another party/factor.

I also agree that 15,000 miles without an oil change whislt not good, should not be terminal, as long as it did have oil, and was not driven after the oil pressure light came on.

CasperBeerberge

You state your wife had the car serviced in South Carolina a few months ago and the service indicator just came on afew days ago. The service indicator comes on once every 10k miles or once per year.

Vital

Read my post again...The service indicator came on when it was supposed to. The "Check Oil" indicator is what came on before the engine seized.

CasperBeerberge

I re-read it -The "change oil" indicator light just started popping up 3 days ago, and now the engine seized? There has to be another issue...

Vital

Oh I see what you're saying - sorry. I was referring to the "Check Oil" indicator. I don't think these cars have a "Change Oil" indicator as oil is changed at the regular service intervals.

jkaetz

Unfortunately there's a pretty big difference between "Change Oil", "Check Oil", or even "Check Engine". Being due or even overdue for an oil change wouldn't seize an engine. An engine running low on oil or oil pressure "Check Oil", is dangerously close to a critical failure. One would hope that the message said more than simply "Check oil". Perhaps Check oil level or a similar warning about low oil pressure. We would need to know the exact message not simply a guess or something about the oil.

You need to find your documentation for the service that was done and provide copies to your service manager. If the proper service was done then warranty should cover the failure.

The 10,000 mile service is pretty simple, it amounts to an oil and filter change along with refilling the def tank. It would be hard for anyone to mess that up. The only question is were the proper products used. MB is pretty specific on the type of oil used and the oil filter has o-rings that must be replaced when changing.

There is absolutely no requirement to have your vehicle serviced by an MB dealer to maintain your warranty. You must only have the service performed with the proper spec parts.

Familyguy

I know the VW Jetta ( 09) has an issue with a low oil indicator not working, this caused the engine to seize. IMo, the last shop did not put enough oil in combined with a faulty sensor caused the engine to seize.

Mbenz260e

Any updates?

Cyber GS

I found this interesting…

My wife’s ML was in for service since Tuesday and is being picked up probably as I write this.

The ML loaner that she was given is literally 6,700 + miles overdue for the “A” service as it says on the dash..

So if this is any indication of how critical Mercedes feels servicing their vehicles on time is, I wouldn’t worry about being a few miles over or having the oil changed elsewhere. As long as the proper oil, filter etc were used..

Note to self- Never buy a CPO that was a service loaner…......Not that I ever would have anyway…

Familyguy

Funny, took my ML in for service yesterday. Receive a 300c with +1700 for service A.

eeferber

I'm sure it was serviced properly - they probably just don't know how to reset the counter...