Friends & members. MB Approved Engine Oil questions frequently arise on the forum. I have attempted to research, clarify & collate all data in this regard. I take no responsibility for errors or omissions. This is public domain information with it's original source being MB. It applies to the USA only. Further products & recommendation can apply in the Rest Of The World.

I will endeavor to tackle coolants next.

for those that may have missed.

nice list. definitely sticky thread worthy.

Thanks Frank. I appreciate your comments coming from one of the doyens of the forum.

Wow I wish this was posted up earlier lol. So from what I'm reading under my 2001 m112 can use 229.5?

"229.5 engine oils must be used with fleece oil filter when used with the Mercedes Maintenance System (MY2005+) in M112, M113, M272 and M273 engines. With FSS paper filters are fine."

"229.51 is only approved for diesel engines."

Because I just changed my oil last week and put in part 0-40 and part 15-50 and my engine definately feels sluggish. I didnt realize how much of a noticable impact oil weights would have. Now I'm wanting to swap to a 30w pennzoil, quaker state, or castrol european formulas. Would any one be fine? Recommendations?

Just a little extra info, engine temp peaks around 90oC , mileage is 103k

Yes, you can use 229.3 or 229.5 listed oils. Just make sure that you use a product from the list. You are not going to find them in a SAE 30 only 0W-30, 5W-30, 0W-40 or 5W-40. I would use a 5W-40 if you can find or 0W-40 if not. I would only use the fleece filter - You can't go 13000 miles with paper.

Check the packaging of the oil & make sure it holds 229.3 or 229.5 approval. 'Don't use anything that says "meets the requirements of". That is oil company BS for "is not approved."

Does your car use any oil?

I can't comment on the sluggishness you describe - you don't give proportions of your mix. A 15W-50 is pretty thick stuff even at operating temperature. Don't mix viscosities if you can help it. It won't damage anything but if you were sampling it would show strange results. You will also use more fuel with a 15W-50.

If you really feel a noticeable difference in the car just make darn sure that you have not over filled it.

I used 5 qt 0w-40 and 3.5 of 15w-50 mobil 1s. The capacity is 8.5 as listed, so there is a possibility that I put too much. I sucked out like 150 mL though but I'm afraid that it wasn't enough. I'll go try the dyno mode to find out exact level. I don't know what oil was in there previously, but my gas mileage dropped by around 2 mpg.

Oh and I forgot to tell, I only could suck out 6.7 liters, no more was left. I was kinda scared if it was running on too little oil but I did the check oil level many times before the change and it said it was ok.

6.7 litres suck out is about correct & all you needed to put back if the level was correct. Please check in dyno mode- you should fill it in dyno mode. If it's too high it will give you a message on the display but I don't trust it. rather check.

6.7 is correct!? Wow I must have overfilled bigtime! Going to take out tomorrow.

Check on dyno mode. You cant get all of the oil out of these engines by sucking. There is confusion about total volume of the system with filter. They have never achieved to get more than about 6.7 out of my engine & refilled with about 6.9/7 on dyno mode to full. The rest of the oil hangs about the system. Put any more in & I get a high level warning.
If you take oil out of the drain plug you might get more out. My car only has 47,000 kms on the clock & appears to use no oil. Never been topped up between services.

When I wanted to do an oil change I went to www.mobil1.com & it told me what oil & filter to use. You simply enter your cars year & model etc and after some whirring & clicking it spits out the information on the garage floor. What could be easier?

I think you should only use the OEM/MANN fleece filter.

Anyways, I went to dyno mode and sucked out oil back to 6.7/8 liters. It feels kinda bad knowing I drove 66 miles today with 2 liters of oil over what I should put. The idle sometimes went over 1000rpm too. If it weren't for this post I don't know how long id have that oil in there :P

Also when I took out the oil, it was near the same black color as the oil I had before the change . I recently bought the car so I don't know when the last oil change was. I just relied on the "Service A in x miles". Should I change all the oil again? I have about 100 miles on this new oil and its pitch black.

Rino - Please don't worry. You would know if you had done harm - so relax. 66 miles is nothing.

Secondly - regarding the black oil. All it means is the oil is doing it's job. Today's highly detergeant oils discolour very quickly as they take combustion contaminants into suspension. Your engine is probably a little dirty internally - you don't know the car's history. I would leave the oil in for 3 to 5000 miles & then change it early for a 229.5 product with fleece filter. Reset the service system & go back to recommended oil drain. This will give the engine a good flush.

Yeah I guess a 5k oil change would be good since I really dont know about the previous oil change. The car dealer could have reset the service message or the previous owner may have messed around with it. Anyways thanks for all the info, cant wait to feel a more responsive car tomorrow.

[QUOTE=rinosaur;3222367]I think you should only use the OEM/MANN fleece filter.

I used the Fram filter that it reccommended, CH 9918. I figure that if they know the syntheic oil is to last 10,000 miles then so should the filter.

Rinosaur, just out of curiosity, what exactly is a C240 Sport? Is it a limited edition like the C320 4-matic Sport?

oh no, it just denotes sport package lol. youve never seen people write cars like that? its not too common with mbz but bmw owners quite often do that like 330ci sport for example

[QUOTE=Arn560;3223672]The FRAM filter is junk. Benz long drain is dependent on use of the Mann + Hummel polyester "fleece" filter. On no account use any other than the fleece filter.

This is what I checked on Mobil website:

Your vehicle has a specific recommendation

The company that manufactures your vehicle recommends this Mobil 1® product, or has a special requirement.






Current Vehicle:
Year: 2008
Make: Mercedes-Benz
Model: ML350
Engine Type: 6cyl. 3.5Liter Naturally Aspirated






Mobil 1 0W-40
A fully synthetic motor oil, Mobil 1 0W-40 with SuperSyn Technology exceeds industry standards and the major leading builder requirements, enabling the product to keep performing well after conventional oils cannot. For cars equipped with diesel particulate filters, use Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30.



Special Filter Not Required

I don't give a damn what Mobil say. I do give a damn what Benz say. For short drain intervals you can get away with standard filtration but why would you want less than best. Poor filtration = more wear

For 13,000 miles = 20,000Kms drains you require the fleece filter.

great post by the oil man.

Thanks Mike - I never understand compromise in crucial ares. It's like running retreaded tyres on a Ferrari or suspect brake pads of unknown quality from China. And I have great respect for the Chinese - if you want cheap & nasty - they will give you cheap & nasty. If you are prepared to pay you can get excellent quality from China. They now - along with the Koreans, make some of the finest Group II base oil on the planet.

Additional RoW approved 229.5 motor oils...link.


Suppliers for other M-B specification operating fluids...link.

Thanks John, you are right up to the minute - Our Havoline Ultra BM got it's listing last week. We were riding on the Texaco Fully Synthetic & Chevron Supreme Synthetic approvals up until then

Daimler has sent out a message to the industry that they no longer accept that both MB 229.5 and MB 229.51 are claimed on the same formulation.
MB 229.5 sulfated ash has to be within 0.8 and 1.5
MB 229.51 sulfated ash has to be max of 0.8

These specifications are now in direct conflict with one another. What this means is:

One product for MB passenger car Gasoline.
Another product of different formulation for passenger car Diesel.

Don't let anyone tell you that their product meets both specs as we have warned before. It is now official.