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To answer the thread title, the last time I looked at the BEVO list there were around an astounding 120 of the 229.5 approved 5W-40's sold worldwide. And those recent VOA's done by the Russian Oil Club guys demonstrate how standardized additive formulations have become. These days there's no such thing as an add pack that stands apart from the others. So that leaves the base stock and in that regard going with a German/French/Belgian-origin "Full Synthetic" (as opposed to "Synthetic Technology") oil is a safe bet. Then on your second oil change do a UOA and get some actual facts.
W204 C63 Coupe, W166 ML350 BlueTEC, 928GT, C5 Z06 & IS300 race cars, EQE 4Matic+ on order
Shaun - as other have pointed out, only 0W-40 and 5W-40 oil viscosities are approved for the M156 motor. 5W-30 is much too thin when hot and will almost certainly lead to premature engine wear. I would contact the service center ASAP and get them to replace it free of charge - they put in the wrong oil.
Looking on that BEVO list, all grades of Shell Helix Ultra is acceptable:
Shell Helix Ultra x0W-30 x0W-40 x5W-30 x5W-40 Shell International Petroleum Company, LONDON/UNITED KINGDOM
According to the Shell website it is also acceptable:
They seem to lean more to the 40 with your cars, don't know maybe because of your extreme weather conditions or what, I don't know. But with that being said I also prefer to stick to products I'm confident with, if it aint broke don't fix it kind of thing.
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
Ok cool then, suit yourself. Awesome. Just ignore all the collective knowledge on here from people who know, including Diabolis who has more oil knowledge in his pinky finger then you'll ever hope to have in your entire lifetime. Only a matter of time until you come back here crying that your engine is making weird noises...
Or maybe the factory actually might know more than Diabolis about oil. I mean, perhaps they actually perform or require highly controlled UOA's on all BEVO oils before pontificating endlessly about a favorite one (which they don't do). Porsche is well known for stating that all A40 approved oils will essentially perform the same. Maybe Porsche doesn't know **** about oil either. Personally I'd love to see a UOA on the Pennzoil Euro 5W-30. My hunch is it'll do well.
Ok cool then, suit yourself. Awesome. Just ignore all the collective knowledge on here from people who know, including Diabolis who has more oil knowledge in his pinky finger then you'll ever hope to have in your entire lifetime. Only a matter of time until you come back here crying that your engine is making weird noises...
Cool, I'll just tell Mercedes-Benz to call you for advice as to what oil must go into their current and future vehicles maybe you can design your own concoction for them with a mixture of some olive oil, baby oil and some furniture oil and call it BLKROKT 0W40 and become rich since you are so informed.
This is what Porsche does before "speaking authoritatively" about an oil - AKA granting A40 approval.
This test will last 203 hours. The engine, and the oil, will go through:
- 4 times the simulation of 35 hours of summer driving,
- 4 times the simulation of 13.5 hours of winter driving,
- 40 cold starts,
- 5 times the simulation of 1-hour sessions on the “Nürburgring” racetrack,
- 3.5 hours of “running-in” program
Measurements on the engine and on the oil will be done at regular intervals, and the following parameter
will be taken into account to grant the approval or not:
- torque curve (internal friction),
- oxidation of the oil,
- Piston cleanliness and ring sticking,
- Valve train wear protection. Cam & tappet wear must be less than 10 μm.
- Engine cleanliness and sludge: after 203 hours, no deposits must be visible.
- Bearing wear protection: visual rating according to Porsche in-house method.
If you look in your owners manual. It's that little booklet that comes with your vehicle that you're "supposed" to read. Get it free here if you misplaced it --> https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/servi...owners_manuals
The page that specifies what MB Sheet Number to reference has a restriction.
71 Restriction: Only SAE 0W-40/SAE 5W-40 engine oils may be used.
It's likely an error on the Shell website that should be corrected.
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
Originally Posted by shaun.barnard
Cool, I'll just tell Mercedes-Benz to call you for advice as to what oil must go into their current and future vehicles maybe you can design your own concoction for them with a mixture of some olive oil, baby oil and some furniture oil and call it BLKROKT 0W40 and become rich since you are so informed.
The information you posted was NOT from MB. It was from some website that may or may not be officially from Shell. It also happens to be 100% incorrect.
If you read the MB-specific BEVO 229.5 requirements all the way through (to the very specific disclaimer for our specific engine), as has been pointed out before, nowhere does it say that 0W-30 is ok for the M156. ONLY 0W-40 or 5W-40. Full stop. It's a fact. I don't know why this is even being debated here.
COULD you use 0W-30? Sure, you could use olive oil or baby oil also as you pointed out. All will be bad for your engine. Fact. There's zero debate on this.
W204 C63 Coupe, W166 ML350 BlueTEC, 928GT, C5 Z06 & IS300 race cars, EQE 4Matic+ on order
Originally Posted by bhamg
Or maybe the factory actually might know more than Diabolis about oil. I mean, perhaps they actually perform or require highly controlled UOA's on all BEVO oils before pontificating endlessly about a favorite one (which they don't do). Porsche is well known for stating that all A40 approved oils will essentially perform the same. Maybe Porsche doesn't know **** about oil either. Personally I'd love to see a UOA on the Pennzoil Euro 5W-30. My hunch is it'll do well.
I have never claimed to know more about oils and how they perform in MB engines than MB does... but I do claim that I can read English, and when MB says that you can only use either a 0W-40 or 5W-40 in the M156 engine, I usually take that at least as a solid starting point.
Why don't you all just dry your panties. This forum is for discussions and sharing information. I have never once argued with any of your advice. I just stated what information I had at hand and never said any of you were wrong. Personally I prefer Mobil 1 0W40 myself, I even put my Mobil 1 sticker in my booklet over the grill cover the weekend when I cleaned the engine so that the Merc techs can see it when they service my vehicle again. Furthermore I have sent the dealer an email that I want clarity on why that engine oil was put in my car.
What you guys don't understand (through no fault of your own), is that techs here in SA are absolutely useless.
So if Shaun had to take his car in and ask why was 0W30 used in the car, they will simply show him a booklet from somewhere that says its ok for the M156 and that's that, you can't argue it further.
Which is why I say don't bother asking, just change out the oil for 0W40 or 5W40
Had my car at the local mechanic today to change upper front control arms. He says all they use in Mercedes is Petronas 5W40 so I will arrange for my oil change.
But I will have a word with Mercedes about this MISTAKE!
But I will have a word with Mercedes about this MISTAKE!
I may have missed it, but if you actually ran a 30 weight that was done by a MB dealer, that's on record for that matter. I would request a free extension on warranty because your motor has likely been compromised by premature wear.
09-18-2016, 12:40 PM
This forum is for discussions and sharing information. I have never once argued with any of your advice. I just stated what information I had at hand and never said any of you were wrong. Personally I prefer Mobil 1 0W40 myself, I even put my Mobil 1 sticker in my booklet over the grill cover the weekend when I cleaned the engine so that the Merc techs can see it when they service my vehicle again. Furthermore I have sent the dealer an email that I want clarity on why that engine oil was put in my car.
