Silly_me

What is the difference in the MB requirement for 229.5 & 229.51?

Also, has anyone any experience with Total oil? I know that Mobil 1 ESP seems to be the standardly chosen, but I can't seem to find that locally.

TIA

Silly_me

So, according to this:

http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/o...tedDocId=10119

As long as the oil has the correct MB number (229.51 for me) it is 'approved' for use in our cars? Thus, the Total oils are ok to use.... anyone have experience with them?

Silly_me

Searching around on this and other Merc sites had me a bit concerned about oil brands (I had been reading that just because a mfgr says it complies with 229.51 et.al doesn't mean it is actually approved by MB), however according to this:

http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/o...stedDocId=9511

Elf is in Merc's own literature, and since Elf=TOTAL I guess it's good to go....

I'm still curious, if any engineering types are on this board, what is the difference between 229.5 & 229.51 (or what is the difference between gasser and oil burner requirements). And what is special about the particulate filter and oil? Is it because some blow by?

Thanks.

Diesel Benz

Your car manual or the service booklet should state the MB oil grade requirement for your engine. The 229.51 oil is the only acceptable one (229.31 may also be allowed) for new diesels with particulate filters.

I think you would not need the ".x1" grade. Actually for gassers that do not need this low ash oil, MB recommends 229.5. I don't know if this would be better for diesel that does not need low ash oil.

I believe even 229.3 is allowed for the I6 but don't count on this comment.

Silly_me

So I pulled the "Factory Approved Service Products June 2004" pamphlet out of the manual bag and it says "For vehicles with Mercedes-Benz maintenance system - U.S. vehicles as of Model Year 2005, Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use only MB 229.5 approved synthetic motor oil for all vehicles."

It goes on to list Mobil 1 Euro Car Formula, Pennzoil Euro Formula Ultra, & Quaker Sate Euro Formula Ultra as MB approved oils.

It says to use the 229.5 for the diesels as well, and for some reason I thought the diesels were to use 229.51? Mine's a I6 CDI.....

So if only the new blutecs with the particulate filters need the low ash 229.51, oil choice doesn't seem to make that much difference for the old diesel engine then. Or am I missing something completely here?

lkchris

229.51 is for diesels with diesel particulate filter, meaning 2007 and newer. This oil is fine for other engines, too.

There are ZERO companies claiming they meet this spec without printing that fact on the bottle. If it's not on the bottle, it doesn't meet the spec.

This oil contains less ash, which is something in the oil that goes out the exhaust when oil is burned (some always is) and can contaminate the DPF. Sticker on radiator support of my GL cautions agains using ANY QUANTITY of noncompliant motor oil. This obviously means if you get a quart low, don't top up with just anything.

http://www.totalmotoroils.com/lub/lu...ocument&LG=EN&

Silly_me

Thanks kent, it would appear that reading comprehension > me, just went back and looked over that link I provided, and diesel benz's note, and they both stated just what you said

So, technically I can use 229.5 for my I6 CDI, and according to Mobil 1 their synthetic 0w40 is MB 229.5 compliant and it is very readily available locally.

I haven't had this much of an issue figuring out which oil to use since I bought my motorbike and needed an oil that could be used with a wet clutch

butter123

A local shop put in Amsoil 5w40 ESP mid-SAP in my 08 E350 which is a 229.51 oil, seems like the Amsoil 5w40 ESP Full-SAP is a 229.5 oil. I don't think the 229.51 oil would matter for me since I change my oil around 7k miles. I believe the 229.5 approval is for the extended drain intervals of 10k+. Mercedes recommends the 229.5 oil in the US instead of the 229.51 is mainly because of the E10 fuels.

Switch from a M1 0w40 to Amsoil 5w40, my engine warms up to operation temperature a lot faster, (I guess it's a good thing since I do a lot of 10 mins trips) and winter doesn't get very cold here.

I believe a 5w40 would be a much better oil than 0w40 in warmer part of the world. A lot of the dealers in the US are starting to put 5w40, which I believe it's the same thing as the M1 Formula M 229.5 5w40