When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
2008 MB E320 BlueTec. 2011 Porsche Boxster 987. 2016 Mazda CX-5 Sport MT, 1995 BMW K75 motorcycle
PENNZOIL EURO L
For a long time I have been paying well over $10 a quart for engine oil which complies with Mercedes 229.51 approved requirement, usually Mobil1 ESP. I could not believe my eyes when I saw, of all places, at Walmart a big yellow Pennzoil 5W30 container with full synthetic oil named Euro L for around $23.00 for 5 quarts. It is MB 229.51 approved and also meets the requirements ACEA C2 AND C3.
Moreover, Pennzoil is currently running a promotion for a $2.00 rebate per quart! I thought all you do-it-yourselfers (like me) would like to know.
Last edited by Schnellfahrer; Nov 4, 2017 at 10:50 AM.
2013 E350 Bluetec, 2007 Corvette supercharged, Saab 9-5, Hyundai Genesis Sedan
Yes I saw the same at our local walmart and wondered why it was so cheap. Maybe due to fewer oil burners being sold in the US. I have been using the Euro L since I purchased it and am happy. They also use to sell a Ultra L but since they reformulated with Natural Gas, it was discontinued.
Oil analysis says its good for well over 7500 miles, which is where I change it anyway, I already have a stash that will last me years. Purchased on a ebay close out plus max'd the rebate at the time. Pennzoil has had very aggressive rebate programs for several years. I also used my son's address and e-mail to purchase more than the rebate individual maximum.
For a long time I have been paying well over $10 a quart for engine oil which complies with Mercedes 229.51 approved requirement, usually Mobil1 ESP. I could not believe my eyes when I saw, of all places, at Walmart a big yellow Pennzoil 5W30 container with full synthetic oil named Euro L for around $23.00 for 5 quarts. It is MB 229.51 approved and also meets the requirements ACEA C2 AND C3.
Moreover, Pennzoil is currently running a promotion for a $2.00 rebate per quart! I thought all you do-it-yourselfers (like me) would like to know.
Thank you for an excellent tip - I went to Walmart and bought a bunch of them!
The price was $22.47 for 5 quarts.
Pennzoil Platinum Euro L, Pennzoil Platinum Euro LX and Pennzoil Ultra Euro L are all “MB-Approval 229.51” oils on the MB "correct operating fluid" list.
It sure beats the $45 - 50 per 4 liters I have been paying for Liqui Moly or Pentosin equivalent.
The Valvoline SynPower is also 229.51 compliant. Comes in several weights. Currently, the 10w-30 is $21.97 on Amazon for a 5 quart jug. Free Shipping if you are Prime.
I usually buy the SynPower 20w-50 because I drive in very hot climate, but at $22 I stocked up on the 10w-30.
The Valvoline SynPower is also 229.51 compliant. Comes in several weights. Currently, the 10w-30 is $21.97 on Amazon for a 5 quart jug. Free Shipping if you are Prime.
I usually buy the SynPower 20w-50 because I drive in very hot climate, but at $22 I stocked up on the 10w-30. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GSIXI9S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's excellent price but the Valvoline SynPower 5 quart jug does not have "M-B Approval 229.51" anywhere in it.
06 E320 CDI (GONE), 14 Jeep GC EcoDiesel, 01 Disco II (GONE), 09 BMW X3 3.0 Si Xdrive
Originally Posted by Schnellfahrer
For a long time I have been paying well over $10 a quart for engine oil which complies with Mercedes 229.51 approved requirement, usually Mobil1 ESP. I could not believe my eyes when I saw, of all places, at Walmart a big yellow Pennzoil 5W30 container with full synthetic oil named Euro L for around $23.00 for 5 quarts. It is MB 229.51 approved and also meets the requirements ACEA C2 AND C3.
Moreover, Pennzoil is currently running a promotion for a $2.00 rebate per quart! I thought all you do-it-yourselfers (like me) would like to know.
Not holding well if outside temp is high. Chrysler axed it and is not recommending it for Grand Cherokee/RAM diesels after they replaced lots of engines, but it was only recommended oil with Mobil1 ESP 5W-30. Now they simply recommend Rotella T6 5W-40 for all vehicles with DPF and NOx reduction systems.
It's excellent price but the Valvoline SynPower 5 quart jug does not have "M-B Approval 229.51" anywhere in it.
Unfortunately it is not!
Sorry I have been offline for a few days.
MB approves several versions of SynPower 5w30 and 5w40 for 229.51, and some also for 229.52.
I also used to buy SynPower 20w50 that showed 229.51 approval.
MB no longer approves any formulation with 10w, 15w or 20w. Now, they only recommend 0w30, 5w30 and 5w40. These are fine in cool and cold weather.
I live in the tropics. Valvoline SynPower 10w 30 is indistinguishable from its slightly thinner cousin 5w30. Look at the specs, attached
And in summertime towing heaving loads, I'm going back to 20w50.
This oil may or may not meet 229.51 specs, but all I know for sure is that the 5 quart jug I looked at very closely in a local store did not say anywhere "MB-Approval 229.51"
Sorry I have been offline for a few days.
MB approves several versions of SynPower 5w30 and 5w40 for 229.51, and some also for 229.52.
I also used to buy SynPower 20w50 that showed 229.51 approval.
MB no longer approves any formulation with 10w, 15w or 20w. Now, they only recommend 0w30, 5w30 and 5w40. These are fine in cool and cold weather.
I live in the tropics. Valvoline SynPower 10w 30 is indistinguishable from its slightly thinner cousin 5w30. Look at the specs, attached
And in summertime towing heaving loads, I'm going back to 20w50.
Readily available Valvoline that meets MB229.51 is Valvoline 5W40 MST that you can usually find in NAPA auto stores on sale for $5.49.
I managed to buy 30qt's for my X5 35d for $2.99 last year per quart.
I see there are complaints about price of Mobil1 5W30 ESP.
Let me say that Pennzoil 5W30 Euro L will work fine in MB diesel engines. However, those who want to keep car for long, take this into consideration.
No oil currently available on the market has NOACK (evaporation loss) as low as Mobil1 5W30 ESP at 5.6%. Euro L is at 11%. What NOACK does is polluting DPF and main ingredients that kill DPF sooner or later is sulfated ash and phosphorus (SAPS). M1 5W30 ESP has ash level at 0.6% which is currently lowest of all MB 229.51 oils.
Also, Euro L does not meet VW 504.00/507.00 specifcation. One might ask: well, I do not drive VW, who cares. On contrary, one should always buy oils that have different approvals next to one that is required by manufacturer of car one drives. Why VW504.00/507.00? While MB229.51 has more stringent requirements compare to VW 504.00/507.00 when it comes to deposits and oxidation, VW approval has more stringent wear requirement for 0/5W30 oils.
I use M1 5W30 ESP strictly in winter and used Valvoline 5W40 MST because it was on sale and has pretty low ash level too (0.76%). However, I am sticking to M1 5W30 ESP also because HTHS (High Shear-High Temperature), which is the most important number for turbo protection is at 3.58cp. That is almost on the level of W40 oils. For example Mobil1 0W40 FS that meets MB 229.5 (gas) has HTHS of 3.6. Motul X-Clean 5W40 that meets MB 229.51 has HTHS of 3.64. So Mobil1 5W30 ESP is almost 5W40 oil. www.ecstuning.com has Mobil1 5W30 ESP available at $8 per liter.
I see there are complaints about price of Mobil1 5W30 ESP.
Let me say that Pennzoil 5W30 Euro L will work fine in MB diesel engines. However, those who want to keep car for long, take this into consideration.
No oil currently available on the market has NOACK (evaporation loss) as low as Mobil1 5W30 ESP at 5.6%. Euro L is at 11%. What NOACK does is polluting DPF and main ingredients that kill DPF sooner or later is sulfated ash and phosphorus (SAPS). M1 5W30 ESP has ash level at 0.6% which is currently lowest of all MB 229.51 oils.
Seeing the comments above, what are opinions on Pennzoil Euro XL 0w30? It is MB 229.52 approved, both on the bottle and on the MB website. I am in Canada (Toronto area) and have been using Motul 8100 and doing 7500 km oil changes. I just picked up some of the Pennzoil XL at Canadian Tire for a great price and will consider using this.
Seeing the comments above, what are opinions on Pennzoil Euro XL 0w30? It is MB 229.52 approved, both on the bottle and on the MB website. I am in Canada (Toronto area) and have been using Motul 8100 and doing 7500 km oil changes. I just picked up some of the Pennzoil XL at Canadian Tire for a great price and will consider using this.
Here is my 2008 W211 Bluetec Lab report Sheet up to September 28, 2018
Up to March 16, 2018 I used Liqui Moly Top Tec 4200 5W/30 and switched to Pennzoil Euro L mainly because of cost of oil.
So September 7, 2018 was the first report with Euro L oil (and so far the only report I have with it).
In my opinion the Pennzoil Euro L is doing a good job and performing about the same as Liqui Moly Top Tec 4200.
My driving is mostly long highway trips and based on these six oil analysis results I plan on oil & filter change around, or before 6,000 miles.
It’s not 1956 ... when discussing full synthetic motor oil it’s time to get over thinking about outside air temperature, as it’s now meaningless.
What is important is engine design, that is, internal clearances. If your engine is built so that a -30 oil is specified, all using a heavier oil accomplishes is more internal friction and reduced fuel economy.
Oriental engines these days are using 0W-20, even 0W-16.
It’s not 1956 ... when discussing full synthetic motor oil it’s time to get over thinking about outside air temperature, as it’s now meaningless.
What is important is engine design, that is, internal clearances. If your engine is built so that a -30 oil is specified, all using a heavier oil accomplishes is more internal friction and reduced fuel economy.
Oriental engines these days are using 0W-20, even 0W-16.
I have not been here for awhile but after reading your post couple of times am at loss in trying to figure what is your point?
It's not 1956 anymore & outside air temperature is now meaningless.
Is that it?
Sample 1: Fresh oil sampled from the bottle
Sample 2: After 10,000 miles in my car
Sample 3: After 15,000 miles in my car
Interesting analyzes report!
My W211 with OM642.920 engine will get to a roughly similar iron content in about half the miles traveled in-between oil changes! (see my post #15 above for results).
I suspect it has to do with increased wear in the long camshaft chain as the oil gets more usage, but it's only a guess?
My schedule is now oil & filter change every 6000 miles from the top and pull the drain plug at every 40,000 miles at the same time when changing the AT fluid.
E Coupe C207, ML W166, ML W164, Sprinter 1500/144, W111 SB220 Fintail(s), A5 chassis Beetle 5+5
Mid-SAPS oils like Euro L are known to reduce intake valve deposits from DI, as per a Lubrizol paper.
It used to be non-applicable in the US, as our high sulphur gas required a full SAPS oil like MB 229.3/5. But since 2018, we have the same ultra low sulphur gas as Europe. We run a richer tune for low-NOx emissions, so I wouldn't over do it with extended oil changes.
Euro L has improved base oil and additives that don't show up in a mass spec UOA, but they replace the organo-metallics effectively. It's one of the true bargains on the market. Compare it to a Mobil 1 ESP product, it's much cheaper with comparable performance and formulation. It should be on a pr with other VW 504 oils, but the licenced spec for 504 is prohibitive for this product point.
Mid-SAPS oils like Euro L are known to reduce intake valve deposits from DI, as per a Lubrizol paper.
It used to be non-applicable in the US, as our high sulphur gas required a full SAPS oil like MB 229.3/5. But since 2018, we have the same ultra low sulphur gas as Europe. We run a richer tune for low-NOx emissions, so I wouldn't over do it with extended oil changes.
Euro L has improved base oil and additives that don't show up in a mass spec UOA, but they replace the organo-metallics effectively. It's one of the true bargains on the market. Compare it to a Mobil 1 ESP product, it's much cheaper with comparable performance and formulation. It should be on a pr with other VW 504 oils, but the licenced spec for 504 is prohibitive for this product point.
Being a Diesel forum, you are talking about Diesel fuel not "gas" right?
How do you "run a richer tune" in a Diesel engine?
Unlike gasoline engines, at least all my older Diesel engines have a non-restricted air supply (no throttle plate whatsoever) and changing amount of fuel injection will just alter the engine Rpm and power output.
Diesel accelerate by increasing fuel dose at certain rpm.
The increase will make the fuel/air ratio richer and that is why at flooring the pedal most of diesels will smoke more or less.
The fuel increase can be adjusted, so my understanding is that tuners go above factory recommendation for better acceleration, when they don't worry about smoke behind.
Than some of excess fuel can end in oil pan.....
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
