mitaka

I have a brand new R320 CDI. It is my first Diesel so I don't know much about it. It has 4K and the oil has always been really black in color. I had a free oil change from my dealer and decided to change the oil at 4K. I just got the car back they said they did the oil change but the oil still looks really black. What's up with that. I am suspecting they took the voucher for the free oil change and did not do it... or is this some kind of special oil that appears different form gas engine oil. THanks

uberwgn

If the oil wasn't black, you'd really have something to worry about!

The color indicates the soot is being held in suspension. It's good.

If you have doubts whether the oil was actually changed, do it yourself in the future and eliminate the guesswork!

Untertürkheim

Oil in a diesel engine turns black the second you start the engine after the oil change.

mitaka

If it is that round thing on the right top of the engine it was covered in dust. I don't think they ever opened it.

Untertürkheim

The oil filter housing should look something like a coffee can. But if you can provide pictures, that would help.

uberwgn

there are lots of round things on the engine.

While I'm not familiar the new the CRD engine, it's "possible" the technician dumped the oil into the oil filter housing. It can be quicker to do that and you've got it open already to change the filter.

mitaka

I looked under the engine like any other car and could not find anything that looks like an oil filter. Is that it the round thing right on top of the engine passenger side?

uberwgn

Yes, that's the oil filter housing you're showing the the 2nd foto. The black plastic cap is un-screwed, filter lifted out and replaced with a new one.

lkchris

It's the wrong thing to do to change oil prior to the SPECIFIED 10K mileage.

Untertürkheim

Why is that? MB no does not use "break in oil".

mitaka

That's what the dealer tells you to justify $150 oil change. They said yes it is expensive but you do it once every 10K. I don't believe that. New oil is better than old oil.

240D 3.0T

There is nothing wrong at all with changing the oil early. The only down side is the cost.

frogstaple

lkchris

Come back after you've read
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/2551108-post7.html

You will then know more than you do now.

240D 3.0T

There is NOTHING wrong with changing the oil early. Change it HOT and change it OFTEN.

lkchris

Your knowledge is as obsolete as your cars.

This thread is about the new R320 CDI.

240D 3.0T

Just as my car will still be running great when yours is in the junkyard 10 years from now.

I never said to ignore the correct break-in procedures. Once it's broken in properly, changing the synthetic oil would be best at 6-8K miles intervals. Letting it go for 10K+ just lets it load up with soot and break down from repeated heat stress. This is ESPECIALLY true in the BlueTec models because of the high stresses of regenerating the filters.

harkgar

No need to insult a fellow contributor to this board.

We can agree to disagree.

jhcicco

This is a very interesting and very convincing URL. After reading it, I need to do more homework to fully convince myself; I like to get multiple verifications on these things. I did learned from watching Modern Marvels on the history channel that many airlines do not change the oil in their engines when the plane goes for its service (they top them off) because the new synthetic oils are very, very good. Thanks Ikchris for the information.

Jlight

I am learning a LOT about the new CDI diesels. Looking at a GL 320 CDI, what oil brand is reccommended by MB for the new CDI diesels - I am reading that a "special" oil type (weight?) must be used? Is made by one or several oil brands?

scottybdiving

The "Factory Approved Service Products Manual" (April 2007) list 3 brands that meet 229.51
1) Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5W-40
2) Valvoline SynPower MST 5W-30
3) ELF Solaris LSX 5W-30

The Mobil 1 may be the only one available in the US, as of now. Most people are getting it from their MB dealer. I paid $6.10 / Qt just to have a couple on hand.

jhcicco

I shopped around in the Washington DC area and found that the cost varied from $5.90 to $9.25 a quart. The prices I found on the web didn't save much when you included the cost of shipping.

andys10

I buy Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel 5W40 (fully synthetic and MB approved) oil at Wal-Mart for $19.27 for the 4 quart container. Two of them are needed for the engine oil+filter change.

scottybdiving

The 2008 requires the oil to meet the spec 229.51

This requires the Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5W-40

It supposedly has less ash and doesn't conflict with the particulate burner on the exhaust system.

My 2007+ Duramax has to have an oil that meets CJ-4 (Rotella T) specification for the same reason. The CI-4 is no longer valid as it was for the early 2007's and before.

harkgar

240 DT:

I checked the oil level (with the MB "tool" or dipstick) and found it marginal. I then added three quarters of a liter of fully synthetic Mobil One 0W40 into the oil filler hole. The engine immediately sounded quieter and smoother.

My question is would this action affect the accuracy of the MB computer? To be more precise, would this action, if repeated many times, cheat the computer into thinking that there is no need to change oil at all, thus extending the oil warning light interval?

A friend of mine with a diesel truck fleet told me that he sends oil samples periodically to the laboratory for testing and oil is only changed when necessary.

I am not trying to skimp on oil changes but the MB dealerships here refuse to reset the service lights unless the oil change is done at the same time so when a major service is due and you have just changed the oil 10 miles ago you are out of luck. You either fork out another MB synthetic oil change (over $100.00) or they will do the rest of the service and leave the light on. It sucks.