2011 ML350 BlueTech sludge??
http://www.machinerylubrication.com/...diesel-engines
This is from diesel power magazine:
Oil Dilution
One negative habit of the 6.4L is its ability to make oil. That is to say fuel slips past the piston rings and accumulates in the crankcase. It’s especially common in DPF-equipped trucks that see more regeneration cycles. Remember, the 6.4L’s regeneration cycle uses a post-injection event to introduce extra fuel during the exhaust stroke. In a perfect world, 100 percent of that fuel vaporizes and travels downstream to the catalyst (which serves as an incinerator for accumulated soot). But in reality, not all fuel vaporizes during the post-injection event, and the leftover fuel latches onto cylinder walls and squeezes past the piston and rings, and into the crankcase. We know one 6.4L owner who drained 6 gallons (24 quarts) of oil during an oil change—3¾ gallons (15 quarts) would’ve been normal. That’s nearly a 60/40 mix of oil to fuel circulating throughout the crankcase.
Mercedes uses the same post injection event as Ford.




Sprinters have fewer reported problems because they are driven long distances or never even shut off all day just run and run. Service vehicles get driven for the most part.
Most of the sludging issues are from short driving distances, bio diesel use, lack of oil changes or improper servicing (whether wrong oil or not draining it all).
The Best of Mercedes & AMG




Sprinters have fewer reported problems because they are driven long distances or never even shut off all day just run and run. Service vehicles get driven for the most part.
Most of the sludging issues are from short driving distances, bio diesel use, lack of oil changes or improper servicing (whether wrong oil or not draining it all).
Well I know my low oil light works.

I am stuck in Bio-Diesel hell (IL), so I avoid short trips, fill up out of state whenever I can, watch my oil level, and change it every 10K miles.
That's my plan for now.
Last edited by N_Jay; Jan 29, 2014 at 11:22 PM.
I have been using Mobil 1 in my E 300 D since I bought it about 7 years ago. I recently used Rotella T6 synthetic and found that the parts visible through the oil filler hole were noticeably cleaner after the T6 than they were before. I don't see how an engine could sludge up if one used a good diesel oil changed frequently, but of course I don't understand why they sludge up in the first place.




I have been using Mobil 1 in my E 300 D since I bought it about 7 years ago. I recently used Rotella T6 synthetic and found that the parts visible through the oil filler hole were noticeably cleaner after the T6 than they were before. I don't see how an engine could sludge up if one used a good diesel oil changed frequently, but of course I don't understand why they sludge up in the first place.
All the newer CDI and BlueTech require 226.51 spec oil.
http://mercedesforum.com/forum/merce...-2005-a-42796/
Rotella T6 has 228.31 approval but probably can be in 228.51 too, since this is Low SPAsh oil. CDI can run on 229.3/229.31 or 229.5/229.51 where "1" indicates Low SPAsh oils. BlueTEC and everything else with DPF requires .51 oil but can use .31 also since both groups contain almost same oils.
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/229.51_en.html




http://mercedesforum.com/forum/merce...-2005-a-42796/
Rotella T6 has 228.31 approval but probably can be in 228.51 too, since this is Low SPAsh oil. CDI can run on 229.3/229.31 or 229.5/229.51 where "1" indicates Low SPAsh oils. BlueTEC and everything else with DPF requires .51 oil but can use .31 also since both groups contain almost same oils.
'08 GL320 CDI specified 226.51 oil only.
Shell says the T6 " . . . exceeding the MB 228.51 requirements in the . . . OM 611LA, OM 501LA and OM 646LA engine tests. "
But does not show 226.51 on is certification list. (Wonder exactly which test they fail)
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevoli...nt_action=show
Rotella T6 brochure states 228.31 (not LowSPAsh oils), but also states that the oil is good for cars with DPF, more like 228.51 sheet.
http://s02.static-shell.com/content/...6-brochure.pdf
All those OM xxxLA tests correspond to each engine they test the oil on it when developing the oil to meet bore polishing standarts. Simply enough they did not test one on your car OM 642, thus not on the list.
611 and 646 (think Sprinters as target market) are 4 cylinder diesel for cars and vans, 501 is V6 but is 12 liters in displacement.
http://www.cectests.org/public/info_...cec09_1993.pdf
The attached table is from the 2014 ML350BTC Owners Manual.
Also, notice how carefully the wording in the MB Spec is used:
http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/229.51_en.html
Last edited by DUTCH; Jan 30, 2014 at 07:39 PM.




I wonder if something inside the engine is letting go or if its just oil related, like the Audi/VW V6 engines would loose pieces of plastic of the camshaft tensioners that would engine up in the oil pump pickup screen. Plastic inside engines is never going to last very long, yet it is used more and more. Their 1.8T engines would oil sludge, this was a problem with the crankcase breather clogging up/freezing and causing all sorts of issues, in extreme cases the oil pump screen would clog with crap. It is possible that the crankcase breather was an issue on these engines but nobody cares to investigate, or it could be fuel. MOst cases so far point the finger very clearly at the customer very quickly withtout real diagnostics/tear down.








But if the mechanic was negligent (or fraudulent) then his business insurance should pay.
If he wasn't it puts MB on the hot seat to explain how they knew the filter was not changed?
If they were negligent or fraudulent in providing that information to you, then you take that upstream with MBUSA.




The issue is more about oil dilution with fuel and filters don't address that .
VW says to watch for an increase in oil level, so I am doing that, but being as my GL leaks/burns a little between changes unless it is significant, it will be hard to tell.
I am just going to stick with 10K changes for now, and buy as much fuel out of state as I can.
Given the mileage we get and the tank size, I bet more than 1/2 the fill-ups are out of state.
The MB service advisor said he has not seen any problems with well maintained diesels, but has seen some where people start getting lazy about "normal" maintenance.
EDIT:
AND!!!! I avoid short trips all I can. The E is getting all the Costco runs!
Last edited by N_Jay; Feb 21, 2014 at 02:21 PM.


