Oil
MBWorld Fanatic!
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Mobil 1 0w40 for the gasoline engines and Mobil 1 5w40 ESP for the diesels.
The recommendation for Mobil 1 5w40 ESP being used in all gasoline engines requiring Mobil 1 0w40 has been withdrawn.
There is absolutely no need to deviate from the manufacturer recommended oil.
The recommendation for Mobil 1 5w40 ESP being used in all gasoline engines requiring Mobil 1 0w40 has been withdrawn.
There is absolutely no need to deviate from the manufacturer recommended oil.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
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2008 GL320CDI (310k), 2017 GLS450 (170k), 2024 Sprinter 2500 (40k)
AMSOIL European Car Formula 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil for Mercedes-Benz 229.51I did an oil analysis test after driving for 10k miles. No issues. Now waiting for a second report after driving for 19k miles.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: NW corner of CONUS
2008 GL 320 CDI, 2004 VW V10 Touareg TDI
Does your oil analysis include a report on what is happening to the DPF? THAT is the biggest reason for the restrictions on the additive package used in the Mobil I ESP 5-40.
Senior Member
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2008 GL320CDI (310k), 2017 GLS450 (170k), 2024 Sprinter 2500 (40k)
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Super Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 711
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From: NW corner of CONUS
2008 GL 320 CDI, 2004 VW V10 Touareg TDI
If by specs you mean EXACTLY the same additive package then you are probably OK (but Amsoil may be in violation of patent or copyright infringement). The testing Mercedes did before qualifying the oil for use in the car (and that included meeting ALL the requirements of the emissions controls including expected lifetime) resulted in the list of approved oils Mercedes publishes - and updates from time to time.
There is FAR more to the modern oil service requirements than keeping the engine from wearing itself out in a few thousand miles. Internal wear is often far from a limiting requirement in the design of an oil. I don't have access to the internal testing requirements and data that Mercedes used in approving the oil for it's emissions certification program. If you feel comfortable about it though, that is a good thing!!
There is FAR more to the modern oil service requirements than keeping the engine from wearing itself out in a few thousand miles. Internal wear is often far from a limiting requirement in the design of an oil. I don't have access to the internal testing requirements and data that Mercedes used in approving the oil for it's emissions certification program. If you feel comfortable about it though, that is a good thing!!
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Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 409
Likes: 22
2008 GL320CDI (310k), 2017 GLS450 (170k), 2024 Sprinter 2500 (40k)
If by specs you mean EXACTLY the same additive package then you are probably OK (but Amsoil may be in violation of patent or copyright infringement). The testing Mercedes did before qualifying the oil for use in the car (and that included meeting ALL the requirements of the emissions controls including expected lifetime) resulted in the list of approved oils Mercedes publishes - and updates from time to time.
There is FAR more to the modern oil service requirements than keeping the engine from wearing itself out in a few thousand miles. Internal wear is often far from a limiting requirement in the design of an oil. I don't have access to the internal testing requirements and data that Mercedes used in approving the oil for it's emissions certification program. If you feel comfortable about it though, that is a good thing!!
There is FAR more to the modern oil service requirements than keeping the engine from wearing itself out in a few thousand miles. Internal wear is often far from a limiting requirement in the design of an oil. I don't have access to the internal testing requirements and data that Mercedes used in approving the oil for it's emissions certification program. If you feel comfortable about it though, that is a good thing!!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2004
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nope. but why experiment? mobil one is as good as it needs to be.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
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2008 GL320CDI (310k), 2017 GLS450 (170k), 2024 Sprinter 2500 (40k)
Did not know that using different brand oil was "experimenting". If that's the case, I've be experimenting all my life with all the cars I had. I use amsoil because I don't have to pay retail price for it. Like I would for Mobil 1. That's all.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: NW corner of CONUS
2008 GL 320 CDI, 2004 VW V10 Touareg TDI
And we are talking just the diesel engines here, NOT any Mercedes motor.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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but... to each his own i guess. it is all good as long as you are not the next guy that buys that truck and ends up with worn cam lobes at 150k miles.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 409
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2008 GL320CDI (310k), 2017 GLS450 (170k), 2024 Sprinter 2500 (40k)
you are using different brand and different viscosity. that would fall strictly under "fuking with things you really have no need to *** with"
but... to each his own i guess. it is all good as long as you are not the next guy that buys that truck and ends up with worn cam lobes at 150k miles.
but... to each his own i guess. it is all good as long as you are not the next guy that buys that truck and ends up with worn cam lobes at 150k miles.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4
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From: Grandy, NC
2014 E-350, 2010 GL-450
Proper oil
I recently had my GL serviced at the Sugar Land, TX dealership and was surprised when they used Castrol oil. They said it meets all the specs.
For futher info see http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/229.3_en.html
For futher info see http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/229.3_en.html
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Canada
09 GL550, 02 BMW 540 6spd, 13 Volvo XC70 T6 Polestar
I run Castrol (GC) 0-30W in all of my cars. When I did my research back in the day, this "Made in Germany" Castrol oil seemed to be one of the few that are fully synthetic motor oils on the market at a reasonable price and readily available at WM. I also considered Redline and Motul but they are more $$$ and a bit more pain to get. For the diesel 3.0 (US spec) engine there are not a lot of choices as the oil has to have low ash content (to keep the DPF from plugging up) and meet the MB spec. So in my diesel Jeep GC with the same 3.0 engine I was running Mobil 1 5w40 ESP. When I gutted the DPF and installed the DPF delete tune, I was able to run different oils without worrying about the low ash content. I traded in my Jeep for GL550 and never looked back.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: SoCal OC
S, GL, Escalade ESV, my shoes
I've been using Mobile-1 5W30 on all my cars for the last 7-8 years. Seem to work well & cost effective (Great deal from Costco with discount coupon).
Buy oil filter from dealer, an oil extractor (pump) from Amazon, and having done oil & air-filter change on all my cars since.
Never had problem with any car. All run smooth
Buy oil filter from dealer, an oil extractor (pump) from Amazon, and having done oil & air-filter change on all my cars since.
Never had problem with any car. All run smooth
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
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2008 GL320CDI (310k), 2017 GLS450 (170k), 2024 Sprinter 2500 (40k)
