Oil change bulletin- change to 5W40

Jan 16, 2012 | 12:48 PM

sudhanshu3

Thread Starter

Junior Member

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 69

Likes: 0

c300

Oil change bulletin- change to 5W40

The other day i got my oil changed and the dealer said they switched to 5W40 now due to a bulletin by MB that changed it to 5w40.
Is anyone aware of this bulletin? I have a 08' c300.

Jan 16, 2012 | 12:56 PM

AsianML

Out Of Control!!

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 18,414

Likes: 6

From: West Michigan

2007 E63

Yeah, they changed the standard to 5W-40 because that's their new diesel requirement (but is compatible with gasoline engines). It's much cheaper and easier to stock drums of just 5W-40, than that and 0W-40. I believe AMG models are still on 0W-40 though.

Jan 16, 2012 | 12:59 PM

sudhanshu3

Thread Starter

Junior Member

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 69

Likes: 0

c300

no i think even AMGs were switched to 5w40 and the dealer said even Porsche switched to 5w40(dont know if that's true).

Jan 16, 2012 | 02:35 PM

Glyn M Ruck

Super Moderator

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 19,942

Likes: 192

From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa

late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires

5W-40 is a US thing for lazy dealers. They still have to carry separate products for Gasoline & Diesel. Namely 229.5 & 229.51. 5W-40 is cheaper to produce than a 0W-40.

Approved products have not changed. You must still use approved products. Products like Mobil 1 0W-40 Euro formulation are still fine and preferred by many.

Jan 16, 2012 | 04:05 PM

LILBENZ230

MBWorld Fanatic!

Joined: Jul 2008

Posts: 8,384

Likes: 800

2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL

More US Dealer BS. Will it ever end? 229.51 and 229.5 are not cross compatible.

Jan 16, 2012 | 06:36 PM

Glyn M Ruck

Super Moderator

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 19,942

Likes: 192

From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa

late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires

Correct Matt - they are mutually exclusive. Benz applied ash limits so that no one product can meet both specs.

Jan 16, 2012 | 08:12 PM

Stevedotmil

Super Member

Joined: May 2011

Posts: 555

Likes: 0

From: Columbia, SC

W204 2010 C300 Sport/6M

Just another reason I will be going to an Indy for service.

6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Verdad Gallardo

Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Verdad Gallardo

Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Verdad Gallardo

8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Verdad Gallardo

Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Verdad Gallardo

Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Verdad Gallardo

Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Verdad Gallardo

5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Verdad Gallardo

Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Verdad Gallardo

10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Verdad Gallardo

Jan 16, 2012 | 08:55 PM

MBRedux

MBWorld Fanatic!

Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 2,071

Likes: 20

Nissan GT-R BE / '12 Ducati-1199 Panigale S / '12 C300-4M Loaded/GLK350-4M Loaded

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevink2

^ This!

I was going to say.... this is OLD news!

Jan 17, 2012 | 07:44 AM

#10

Glyn M Ruck

Super Moderator

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 19,942

Likes: 192

From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa

late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires

Mobil1_ESP_Formula_M_5W-40 - http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lub...a_M_5W-40.aspx

Yes & please note that the ESP Formula is not approved for use in MB gasoline engines. Only diesel engines.

Latest Mobil approvals against 229.5

Mobil 1 0W-40 x Exxon Mobil Corporation, FAIRFAX, Virginia/USA
Mobil 1 Arctic 0W-40 x Exxon Mobil Corporation, FAIRFAX, Virginia/USA
Mobil 1 Formula M 5W-40 x Exxon Mobil Corporation, FAIRFAX, Virginia/USA
Mobil 1 New Life 0W-40 x Exxon Mobil Corporation, FAIRFAX, Virginia/USA
Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel 0W-40 x Exxon Mobil Corporation, FAIRFAX, Virginia/USA
Mobil SHC Formula MB 5W-30 x Exxon Mobil Corporation, FAIRFAX, Virginia/USA
Mobil Super 3000 Formula M 5W-30 x Exxon Mobil Corporation, FAIRFAX, Virginia/USA

Jan 17, 2012 | 09:26 AM

#11

bhvrdr

Member

Joined: Nov 2011

Posts: 83

Likes: 3

From: Florida, USA

2012 e350, a BMW, an Audi, a Camaro

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glyn M Ruck

Hello. I'm curious if this may be an initiative to help cope with the challenges of direct injection. I notice that both the 0w-40 and the ESP 5w-40 have a stout 3.8 hths but the low SAPS oil ESP 5w-40 has only 0.6 ash while the 0w-40 has a higher 1.3 percent. Would it be a good idea to use these low saps oils for now until MB comes up with a better solution to carcon buildups in direct injection engines? Thanks
Cheers! Mike

Jan 17, 2012 | 09:53 AM

#12

sudhanshu3

Thread Starter

Junior Member

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 69

Likes: 0

c300

Should i get it changed again to 0w40. I bet they are going to charge me for this again.

Jan 17, 2012 | 10:21 AM

#13

kevink2

MBWorld Fanatic!

Joined: Sep 2008

Posts: 1,331

Likes: 9

From: Delaware

2004 Mazda6, 1993 RX7

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glyn M Ruck

...Yes & please note that the ESP Formula is not approved for use in MB gasoline engines. Only diesel engines..

When I first posted about this, we assumed it was just my dealer and perhaps a few others. Now it sounds like a USA thing. Should (or has) MB put out a "TSB" type thing about this to dealers, explaining the decision and the contradiction?

Quote:

Approved products have not changed. You must still use approved products. Products like Mobil 1 0W-40 Euro formulation are still fine and preferred by many.

Pehaps the approved products list has not beem updated, although they are pretty good at that. This sounds like a recent MB change in oil matters.

.

Jan 17, 2012 | 10:48 AM

#14

Glyn M Ruck

Super Moderator

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 19,942

Likes: 192

From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa

late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires

The approved products listing was updated 01/09/2012.

Please understand one thing guys. Relating sulphated ash levels in oil to inlet deposits at these small %ages is a long shot.

Secondly - low ash oils by definition (even taking into regard some asless/low ash additives) have less additive treat.

Dropping additive treat to diesel levels places the valve train at risk. There is no way Benz will do this. Our European tech center replied to me today. We will have an answer to Benz mitigation of inlet deposits on DI engines in the next few days.

In the words of a very senior exec at Benz who shall remain nameless. MBUSA is a loose cannon.

Jan 17, 2012 | 10:55 AM

#15

Glyn M Ruck

Super Moderator

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 19,942

Likes: 192

From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa

late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires

Quote:

Originally Posted by sudhanshu3

Should i get it changed again to 0w40. I bet they are going to charge me for this again.

Are you sure they did not put Mobil 1 Formula M 5W-40 in your car which is approved & not the ESP which is not.

You should only run an approved oil. If they want you to pay again I would refuse. If you don't win the argument then run the oil for 5K to get some life out of it & change again to an approved product.

Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Jan 17, 2012 at 02:54 PM.

Jan 17, 2012 | 12:17 PM

#16

LILBENZ230

MBWorld Fanatic!

Joined: Jul 2008

Posts: 8,384

Likes: 800

2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glyn M Ruck

MBUSA is a loose cannon.

This is putting it mildly. Mercedes has been very concerned with quality and reliability perceptions since the early W203 and W210 disasters, and rightfully so. It's taken a while but now Mercedes is getting back to being perceived as a maker of world class quality automobiles.. only for MBUSA to jeopardize everything with their maintenance practices.