gsrjc

interesting... so this confirms that it should be 0w/40 if you have an AMG motor.

Veho

Actually... to clear this up once and for all (copy pasted this from the AMG lounge):

AMG recommends the use of the following oils:

- Mobil 1 5W-40 for M156 engine (63er models)
- Mobil 1 0W-40 all other AMG engines (as well the AMG diesel engines that was used for the C 30 AMG)
- Mobil 1 5W-50 SLR engine

Before that change (made in May 2008), the Mobil 1 0W-40 was used for the 63 models as well.
We hope that this information helps.

Best regards
AMG Private Lounge Team

So for our C63s use Mobil 1 5W-40.

gsrjc

Yes, I knew about that change. But is the Mobil 1 5W-40 that is for the M156 engines the same motor oil as the Mobil 1 ESP 5W-40 that is for the 229.51 engine. I thought that the Mobil 1 ESP 5W-40 was for the diesel motors.

Veho

This is the thing i found:

Question:
After I picked up my car from a B service this week, I realized they put Mobil 1 5W40 oil (Q-1-09-0144) in it. Over at MBUSA's Startekinfo [ http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/ ] under MB Workshop Recourses, Recommended Fluids, PDF file dated June 5, 2008 states the only Mobil 1 oil for AMG’s is 0W40. The Mobil website states 5W40 is for diesel engines only.

The dealer produced a newschannel update dated Oct 12, 2007 from MBUSA stating that the oil (5W40) is recommended for AMG’s, along with all other gasoline engines (except SLR).

What is MBUSA AMG’s position on this subject. To me a newsletter (memo) is not a technical document.

Answer:

Thank you very much for your post. This occurs as the automotive fluid standards have changed in the meantime (in May 2008)

AMG recommends the use of the following oils:

- Mobil 1 5W-40 for M156 engine (63er models)
- Mobil 1 0W-40 all other AMG engines (as well the AMG diesel engines that was used for the C 30 AMG)
- Mobil 1 5W-50 SLR engine

Before that change, the Mobil 1 0W-40 was used for the 63 models as well.
We hope that this information helps.

Best regards
AMG Private Lounge Team


What do you think? It sounds to me that the 5W-40 is the one to use.. Can it really be that the same oil can be used for gasoline and diesel engines??

dumpsta

omg, this is starting to drive me insane, so what is it? so now the 229.51 ESP Formula M is ok too?

iatacs19

Your best bet is to stick to Mobil1 0W-40 until we can find out for certain that the Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5W-40 is approved for 229.5 spec; currently it is not.

Jim Brady

The issue was discussed and confirmed on PL sometime ago. Mobil1 5-40 ESP Formula M is the approved oil for the 63's.

speedybenz

The Mobil 1 5-40 oil would be a better choice because it is a SL rated oil and not an SM oil. The SM oil has less zinc and other good antiwear additives that the EPA seems to think will harm the air. The Diesel oils are generally a better oil with better antiwear additives and a better base stock of oil. This is because the diesel engine runs hotter and has 3 times the compression of a gas engine. Also, the reason for the SL rated oils is not that they do a better job of protecting your engine it is the EPA effort to remove to additives that thye think are harmfull. Remember the EPA has outlawed CO2 which is what we humans exhale at every breath.

My 2 cents. But then I run a 0-30wt weight German Castrol oil in my m113 engine and have for years. And if I had the money I would run the Joe Gibbs 0-20wt oil in my Mercedes 5.5L. But that oil is some $15 per qt. But it would offer great protection and increased HP.

Jeff

mac911

I somehow doubt it will really matter in the end 0w40 or 5w40. knock on wodo thats the case at lease.

However, I agree, the information is very conflicting for you AMG owners. The thing is, even if Mercedes officially says something, you never know what the dealers are doing.

Mr. Happy

In Canada, I'm told by dealerships in Toronto and Montreal that Mobil 1 5w-40 is the only one recommended.

bhamg

FWIW here are some quotes lifted from a few threads on the BITOG forums on the M1 ESP formulation, guaranteed to add to the confusion. The "good" can be summed up in the first two quotes. The latter two quotes however raise yet another question about the ESP if this "info" is to be trusted...the only potential negative about the ESP formulation that I could find. It might be interesting to find out what the M-B's current position is on the ethanol compatibility issue.

"Sulphated ash, phosphorous, and sulfur (SAps) are bad for emissions systems. Specific effects depend on specific emissions hardware. For example, diesel particulate filters (DPF) get clogged with ash while typical catalytic converters do not. Premium for normal M1 products is from costly base oils and being able to charge what the market will bear. Additives are expensive in general and the lower SAps additive packages are even more expensive. So this oil is a bargain since it's sold for the same price as normal M1 at Pep Boys."

"BMW LL-04
Mercedes-Benz 229.51
Volkswagen 507

You'd be hard pressed to find tougher manufacturer's specs than these. The fact that it can protect at that level with 0.63% sulphated ash is pretty noteworthy IMO. Plus, it meets ACEA A3 (needs thick oil) while also passing the engine test requirements of ACEA A5 (needs thin oil)."

"Still not sure if I would use either of these oils in gasoline engines in the US, as both MB and BMW do NOT recommend using their low-SAPS spec oils (229.51 & LL04) in gasoline cars in this country. MB stated something along the lines of these oils not being as compatible as originally thought with the high ethanol content in US gas."

"These oils appear to have been originally intended to be used & sold at dealerships only in the US, with the 5w40 ESP FM available at MB and the 5w30 ESP at Jeep/Chrysler/Dodge dealers only...in the same way that Castrol SLX Professional is only really available at VW dealers in the US. Oils are for diesel & gas in Europe, but gas recommendation has been pulled back by MB due to ethanol/water issue mentioned above."

Even Money

Had my oil changed at the dealer yesterday, and they used the same oil that you quoted. They were a bit surprised I wanted to change the oil at 2,800 mi., but I had just come from a baseline dyno run. You don't know how loud your car is till you do one of those. As a side note, I had to add about a quart before the dyno run. I made 362 rwhp..