How to tell if your M272 engine is 'sludgy'?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 410
Likes: 2
From: Orlando FL
2009 C300 4Matic Sport
How to tell if your M272 engine is 'sludgy'?
So I had an incident with my toyota tundra, I bought the truck used at 50k miles, put another 49k miles to it servicing at the dealership since I bought it...
To make a long story short, the tundra blew the engine a couple weeks ago at 99k miles... Nobody understood what happened until a valve cover was pulled up...
So. Since that day I live frustrated about my used cars engines... How did that happen even getting oil services every 5k miles after only 50k of previous ownership???
The thing is, I own a C300 I also bought used... The day I got it I replaced the oil and filter myself and used mobil1 0w-40, just to be sure it has a good oil in it, yesterday I changed the oil again, another mobil1 0w-40 liquid with mobil 1 filter... At only 4000 miles.
I don't feel comfortable still and I need the advice of the experts...
So...
How do I tell if there's sludge in a M272 engine?
To make a long story short, the tundra blew the engine a couple weeks ago at 99k miles... Nobody understood what happened until a valve cover was pulled up...
So. Since that day I live frustrated about my used cars engines... How did that happen even getting oil services every 5k miles after only 50k of previous ownership???
The thing is, I own a C300 I also bought used... The day I got it I replaced the oil and filter myself and used mobil1 0w-40, just to be sure it has a good oil in it, yesterday I changed the oil again, another mobil1 0w-40 liquid with mobil 1 filter... At only 4000 miles.
I don't feel comfortable still and I need the advice of the experts...
So...
How do I tell if there's sludge in a M272 engine?
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
Holy frijoles! Did they never change the oil? I run Mobil1 0W-40 in my 2005 C230 for the full 13,000 mile drain intervals (with paper filters, as no fleece is available) and have it analyzed on a regular basis and it always gets a great report - usually telling me I am good to run it even longer.
Your car calls for what, 10K or 1 time a year? Just go with that you'll be fine.
Your car calls for what, 10K or 1 time a year? Just go with that you'll be fine.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 410
Likes: 2
From: Orlando FL
2009 C300 4Matic Sport
In the tundra the services were done every 5k miles. But that only since it is mine, I don't know what happened before so that's why I was willing to see how can I tell if my benz has been serviced correctly by the previous owner.
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,601
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From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C300 Sport 6 Speed Manual, 1953 Chevy Bel-Air, 2015 Audi allroad, 1963 Chevy Apache
It's this type of thing that makes me more than happy to pay extra to own a new car vs. a "barely used" model.
I feel for the poor guy that buys this one off lease thinking that he is getting a good deal...of course, this could be exactly what happened with your Tundra as well.
I feel for the poor guy that buys this one off lease thinking that he is getting a good deal...of course, this could be exactly what happened with your Tundra as well.
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Pity we don't know the mileage. 15K drains - I'll bet that car had the wrong oil in it as well - what a mess.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Holy frijoles! Did they never change the oil? I run Mobil1 0W-40 in my 2005 C230 for the full 13,000 mile drain intervals (with paper filters, as no fleece is available) and have it analyzed on a regular basis and it always gets a great report - usually telling me I am good to run it even longer.
Your car calls for what, 10K or 1 time a year? Just go with that you'll be fine.
Your car calls for what, 10K or 1 time a year? Just go with that you'll be fine.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,986
Likes: 6
From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
So I had an incident with my toyota tundra, I bought the truck used at 50k miles, put another 49k miles to it servicing at the dealership since I bought it...
To make a long story short, the tundra blew the engine a couple weeks ago at 99k miles... Nobody understood what happened until a valve cover was pulled up...
Attachment 241891
So. Since that day I live frustrated about my used cars engines... How did that happen even getting oil services every 5k miles after only 50k of previous ownership???
The thing is, I own a C300 I also bought used... The day I got it I replaced the oil and filter myself and used mobil1 0w-40, just to be sure it has a good oil in it, yesterday I changed the oil again, another mobil1 0w-40 liquid with mobil 1 filter... At only 4000 miles.
I don't feel comfortable still and I need the advice of the experts...
So...
How do I tell if there's sludge in a M272 engine?
To make a long story short, the tundra blew the engine a couple weeks ago at 99k miles... Nobody understood what happened until a valve cover was pulled up...
Attachment 241891
So. Since that day I live frustrated about my used cars engines... How did that happen even getting oil services every 5k miles after only 50k of previous ownership???
The thing is, I own a C300 I also bought used... The day I got it I replaced the oil and filter myself and used mobil1 0w-40, just to be sure it has a good oil in it, yesterday I changed the oil again, another mobil1 0w-40 liquid with mobil 1 filter... At only 4000 miles.
I don't feel comfortable still and I need the advice of the experts...
So...
How do I tell if there's sludge in a M272 engine?
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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That's way more then "exceeding the 15K interval" - they must have exceeded it by alot, and probably didn't use the correct oil either, for it to get that bad.
And indeed, use the OEM filter. Get it from a dealer, get it from amazon, but get the OEM filter. Why mess around to save $5?
And indeed, use the OEM filter. Get it from a dealer, get it from amazon, but get the OEM filter. Why mess around to save $5?
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,331
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From: Delaware
2004 Mazda6, 1993 RX7
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 9
From: Delaware
2004 Mazda6, 1993 RX7
It's this type of thing that makes me more than happy to pay extra to own a new car vs. a "barely used" model.
I feel for the poor guy that buys this one off lease thinking that he is getting a good deal...of course, this could be exactly what happened with your Tundra as well.
I feel for the poor guy that buys this one off lease thinking that he is getting a good deal...of course, this could be exactly what happened with your Tundra as well.
.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,986
Likes: 6
From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C300 Sport 6 Speed Manual, 1953 Chevy Bel-Air, 2015 Audi allroad, 1963 Chevy Apache
I have to agree with RLE on this one. Even though the manual states 13K, that was really pushing the limit. I would advise using the latest 10K recommendation or less. I have been doing 8K/8 months since new.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,601
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From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C300 Sport 6 Speed Manual, 1953 Chevy Bel-Air, 2015 Audi allroad, 1963 Chevy Apache
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,601
Likes: 28
From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C300 Sport 6 Speed Manual, 1953 Chevy Bel-Air, 2015 Audi allroad, 1963 Chevy Apache
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,986
Likes: 6
From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Mann-Filter HU 718/5 X
Which is the correct filter. Their price is $10.17 and it looks like if you buy three there is no shipping cost but there may be sales tax.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 296
Likes: 1
From: Shanghai, China
2012 C200 CGI
no matter what the intervals say on newer cars, I still do an oil change every 5k kms, max I wait is 7k km. a few hundred bux every year is more than worth running an oil to the limit and facing consequences.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 410
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From: Orlando FL
2009 C300 4Matic Sport
A few hundred bucks and a few hundred oil gallons to the planet... Doing 5k km (3k miles) changes is, in my opinion, a bit exaggerated. I think 8k miles is OK when using fleece filters and a good oil.
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Oil sample analysis has time & time again shown that 10K drain intervals with 229.5 oils & fleece filter on M272/273 engines to be ultra safe.
These car have large sumps & excellent air filtration so the oil charge is not stressed.
These car have large sumps & excellent air filtration so the oil charge is not stressed.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
What does M1 cost in your part of the world and where is it packaged? I have recently paid $5.67 US per quart, on sale.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 410
Likes: 2
From: Orlando FL
2009 C300 4Matic Sport
