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I recently did my G550’s first oil change at 5K miles -- two 5-qt. jugs of Mobil-1 10W-40 (Walmart @ $23 ea.), a Hengst filter (about $8) and 30 minutes of time. The skid plate drops off with the removal of 6 T-50 bolts, and the drain plug and filter are then easily accessible. The drain plug requires a T-40 drive and the filter cap requires a 24mm socket. I couldn’t see a drain plug on the oil filter cap (I was expecting to see a metallic color plug of some sort in the center of the cap) so I unscrewed the filter cap slowly and tried to minimize the mess as oil leaked out all around the cap. Once I had it off and in better light, I realized that the cap does have a drain plug in its center, albeit very subtle. A 10mm Allen wrench unscrews the plug to facilitate draining of the filter. Inasmuch as the cap, drain plug and internal support are all plastic, I ordered a spare set to have on hand. MB p/n 177 180 01 10 (about $50) provides the cap/drain plug, o-ring, internal support and filter. A couple weeks ago, I posted the service indicator reset procedure on this forum.
My neighbor heats his shop with waste motor oil and is always taking donations.
I wish MB provided a dipstick on this engine. Oil Filter Cap with Drain Plug Installed Oil Filter Cap with Drain Plug Removed
Great info, thank you.
BTW, the recommended oil is 0W-40 or 5W-40, depending on outside temps. For almost everyone, it’s 5W-40. This is per the owner’s manual.
Great info, thank you.
BTW, the recommended oil is 0W-40 or 5W-40, depending on outside temps. For almost everyone, it’s 5W-40. This is per the owner’s manual.
I must apologize for my error -- yes, of course the recommended oil is 0W-40, which Mobil-1 labels as its European Car Formula, compliant with MB-Approval 229.3 and 229.5.
At the risk of starting a forum war, the G550 owner's manual states the oil should be MB-Approval 229.52 or 229.61. Mobil-1 ESP 0W40 conforms to this approval, but costs about twice as much, comes only in quart containers, and according to Mobil-1's information, is lower is ash, sulfur and phosphorous in order to be kinder to catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters (ESP = exhaust system protection). There doesn't seem to be any difference that impacts engine lubrication. Is anyone out there using an ESP formulation, and is this what dealerships are using? Is LiquiMoly or Motul in one of the approved weights better than Mobil-1 and worth the 2x cost?
Do you have the raise the car to access the oil filter, or is there sufficient ground clearance to not require raising it?
There probably is enough ground clearance on the G, but I have 3 other vehicles with less clearance, and I find that driving any of them up onto wheel ramps ($40 at Walmart) is quick and safe, and provides another 6" of work space, in addition to ensuring better oil drainage.
I must apologize for my error -- yes, of course the recommended oil is 0W-40, which Mobil-1 labels as its European Car Formula, compliant with MB-Approval 229.3 and 229.5.
At the risk of starting a forum war, the G550 owner's manual states the oil should be MB-Approval 229.52 or 229.61. Mobil-1 ESP 0W40 conforms to this approval, but costs about twice as much, comes only in quart containers, and according to Mobil-1's information, is lower is ash, sulfur and phosphorous in order to be kinder to catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters (ESP = exhaust system protection). There doesn't seem to be any difference that impacts engine lubrication. Is anyone out there using an ESP formulation, and is this what dealerships are using? Is LiquiMoly or Motul in one of the approved weights better than Mobil-1 and worth the 2x cost?
The lower phosphorus, which is actually Zinc Dialkyl Dithiophosphate (ZDDP), is for environmental reasons and to protect the delicate new oxygen sensors that are being used lately. Almost all new oils have significantly reduced the use of this compound. Older cars will suffer more engine wear as a result because they depend on the compound to reduce metal to metal contact withing the engine.
FYI: Just changed my oil on MY2021, the drain plug is a 6MM Allen, not a T-40.
I started with the T40 but it Stratford to strip the drain plug. Took a closer look and a 6MM Allen goes in about twice as far and is snug.
(I was panicking for a minute, as I thought I stripped the plug).
T-40 and 6mm hex are nearly identical in dimension, but the plug on my '19 is definitely a Torx (as are the skid plate bolts, but T-50). Guess my assembly line m176 was built on a Monday.
T-40 and 6mm hex are nearly identical in dimension, but the plug on my '19 is definitely a Torx (as are the skid plate bolts, but T-50). Guess my assembly line m176 was built on a Monday.
Yes my skid plate was torx, but using a torx on my drain plug was stripping it. Maybe they changed something in different model years. Or perhaps the style of my torx bit affected it.
As mentioned, my torx bit would not seat nearly as deep inside the drain plug as my Allen did.
That is the filter drain, I am referring to the drain plug attached to the oil pan.
My oil filter housing drain was 10mm as you described.
The filter cap drain plug is a bit different as shown in the photo toward the top of this thread. The photo I just posted is an oil pan drain plug that is used with some m176 engines that also have a plastic oil pan. If your oil pan and drain plug are both metal, then the drain plug's MB p/n should be 000000-008789. I can't find any info about this drain plug's thread, length or head style. When I next do an oil change, I'll measure it and post its dimensions.
In checking around some parts suppliers, there's mass confusion over fitment. FCP Euro says this plastic plug fits my '19 G550 and autohausaz says the -8789 plug doesn't fit.
The filter cap drain plug is a bit different as shown in the photo toward the top of this thread. The photo I just posted is an oil pan drain plug that is used with some m176 engines that also have a plastic oil pan. If your oil pan and drain plug are both metal, then the drain plug's MB p/n should be 000000-008789. I can't find any info about this drain plug's thread, length or head style. When I next do an oil change, I'll measure it and post its dimensions.
In checking around some parts suppliers, there's mass confusion over fitment. FCP Euro says this plastic plug fits my '19 G550 and autohausaz says the -8789 plug doesn't fit.
Wow, I didn’t know any vehicle used a plastic drain plug, seems like a disaster waiting to happen.
Wow, I didn’t know any vehicle used a plastic drain plug, seems like a disaster waiting to happen.
I thought the same thing the first time I saw a plastic filter cap. Apparently this plastic drain plug is used on the m176 engine in the S-Class (see attachment).
Interesting that this service procedure specs 9 liters (9.5 qts.) for oil, while the OM specs 10 qts.
9 liters is the correct capacity.
I do all the required services on my cars by myself. ML55 400k Km, CL65 150k Km, G63 100k Km. Using only original MB oil filter, highly recommended from my side and others understanding this engines. After 20 years of using Mobil 1 and I am talking about the real Mobil 1 not anything sold under this brand label. I have changed to Castrol EDGE 5W-40 229.31MB 229.51 . My engines running better and smother with this oil. You can fill up your engine with whatever you like but get the OEM filter.
I do all the required services on my cars by myself. ML55 400k Km, CL65 150k Km, G63 100k Km. Using only original MB oil filter, highly recommended from my side and others understanding this engines. After 20 years of using Mobil 1 and I am talking about the real Mobil 1 not anything sold under this brand label. I have changed to Castrol EDGE 5W-40 229.31MB 229.51 . My engines running better and smother with this oil. You can fill up your engine with whatever you like but get the OEM filter.
My OE filter is a Hengst (as is the plastic canister cap). I buy them from Rockauto, and they're about the same price as other non-OE brands. I read somewhere that fleece oil filters are recommended for synthetic oils (Hengst is), but I don't know why. What is your oil change interval? Re Mobil-1 are you saying that there are counterfeit jugs of the Euro 0W-40 formulation being sold? My last change was Castrol 5W-30 MB Approved - seems fine since I figured out the OM's spec of 10 qts. Is wrong -- 9 liters (9.5 qts) is the correct amount for the M176 (wet sump). Still miss having a dipstick. IMO, if oil level sensing is electronic, it should be a full time display, not buried 5 levels down a menu that you're supposed to scroll to while driving.
I do all the required services on my cars by myself. ML55 400k Km, CL65 150k Km, G63 100k Km. Using only original MB oil filter, highly recommended from my side and others understanding this engines. After 20 years of using Mobil 1 and I am talking about the real Mobil 1 not anything sold under this brand label. I have changed to Castrol EDGE 5W-40 229.31MB 229.51 . My engines running better and smother with this oil. You can fill up your engine with whatever you like but get the OEM filter.
Speaking of oil filters, Mercedes lists two different oil filters for the G550 and G63. One is white in color, synthetic filter media, and part number 1761800800. The second is yellow in color, OE paper filter media, and part number 2781800009. Both are made by Hengst and priced a few dollars in difference.
New oil assembly with bypass valve. If you buy just o-ring and new filter, no bypass valve included. Since the bypass valve is all plastic, not sure how often this part should be changed and how does one know if it is defective?
As long as you're changing the oil and oil filter per the recommended interval (I do mine every 5K miles), operation of the bypass valve should never be an issue. It becomes critical if your filter gets clogged or if your oil becomes too thick to pass through the filter normally. As long as the spring plunger functions and there's no crud accumulated on the tube and around the spring plunger, I don't worry about it. But I do keep a spare cap and bypass valve with my oil filters just in case there's an unexpected failure.
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