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Trying to get the correct oil for a 2024 GLS 450. The manual says to use 229.71 or 229.72 oil which is 0w-20. This seems to be really light for Texas so I was going to go with 229.51 or 52 which is 0w-30. Just for grins I went
through the resetting the service indicator light to see what oil spec it has to offer. To my surprise it offered up 229.3 and 229.72 . Is it all right to just use 229..52. We do tow a trailer some and I noticed that the oil temp was almost
maxed out. I assumed it was because the oil was so thin. The car only has about 7000 miles on it.
It took me awhile to find out how to reset the service indicator as it has changed from our older 2020. Here is a link for those that need it.
Attached are two screen snippets from the manuals. One for the 2020, and one for your 2024. You're right, they have changed the oil specs over the years. Note on the 2024, they still recommend the 229.5 for the V8's, but want the ultra thin for the i6. I'm with you, I think 0W-20 is too thin in the Texas heat. I'd go with the 0W-30 myself. I've got 229.52 in 5W-30 ESP Mobile 1 in ours for the last 5k miles.
Also interesting is the quantity difference (slight). 8.9q for the 2020 vs 8.5q for the 2024. I'd be curious what the difference is between the two engines to warrant the change?
In the attachments, the one that show the oil drop icon, is from the 2020 manual. The one with the blue shaded segments is the 2024.
I'm about to change my oil again this weekend, has approx 6k on it. I'm also going to send it off for an analysis to check up on how the engine is doing for the first time, should be interesting to see the results with roughly 93k miles.
These being aluminum engines with no sleeves in the piston chambers anymore (instead, they put some type of coating on the piston walls now instead), I've decided to stick with 5W-30 for the added viscosity protection when the engine is cold. Perhaps the oil analysis will change my mind, but doubtful.
Again, neighbor's GLA (2022 I think) went in to the dealership for an oil change, and ended up having major engine work done after they discovered some scoring in one of the cylinders. I think that car has roughly 30k on it. I personally think 0 weight oil is just too thin, but strictly my own opinion on that.
The bigger the difference between the x and the y in xWy oils, the more likely it is to break down and lose viscosity.
The Viscosity Index Improvers (VIIs) shear more quickly, and can result in more engine wear from oils with more VIIs. Example: 10W40 will break down sooner than 15W-40.
It does depend on the oil.
Watch this Motor Oil Geek video (Lake Speed Junior for you American racing fans), summarized by AI below.
"The video focuses on viscosity index improvers (VIIs), which are multi-grade additives in oil that can mechanically shear and break down (1:14). The host, along with David Soyber from HPL, conducts lab tests to demonstrate how different base oils (Group III and PAO) and VII types affect viscosity breakdown (2:36)."
I am torn on this reality, but having personally observed the difference between 10W-40 and 15W40, I'm leaning toward fewer VIIs, the MB factory recommendations, and oil sampling.
Yep I’ve seen one his videos recently and learned a good bit! The key take away for me wasn’t necessarily the protection while the oil is in spec, but what happens when they begin lose their spec. The 0w-20 became potentially more harmful than the 5w-30 despite the wider margin between the two number from each (wider the margin, faster the shear). The 0w-20 seemed to go over the cliff much more than the 5w-30.
I’m really interested in seeing what the oil analysis says in ours in a few weeks. Never taken it past 7,500 miles for an oil change and believe always 5w-30 MB spec .52, plus MB filter. Not until recently though have I taken over on it from my shop, simply because I want to get back to fiddling with cars instead of renovating our home. I’m so sick of doing 3-piece crown molding and wainscoting, I could cry.
Trying to get the correct oil for a 2024 GLS 450. The manual says to use 229.71 or 229.72 oil which is 0w-20. This seems to be really light for Texas so I was going to go with 229.51 or 52 which is 0w-30. Just for grins I went
through the resetting the service indicator light to see what oil spec it has to offer. To my surprise it offered up 229.3 and 229.72 . Is it all right to just use 229..52. We do tow a trailer some and I noticed that the oil temp was almost
maxed out. I assumed it was because the oil was so thin. The car only has about 7000 miles on it.
It took me awhile to find out how to reset the service indicator as it has changed from our older 2020. Here is a link for those that need it.
Just watched. Interesting you choose the spec of the oil after the change. Will check this out after work. Does anyone know who to get into workshop mode to check the oil level? The workshop reports how much oil is in the car vs a hard to read oil level in the normal service menu.
They changed the oil filter also. I tried to use a filter I had for our 2020 GLS450 and it would not fit. I guess it makes since they changed the oil type.
Just watched. Interesting you choose the spec of the oil after the change. Will check this out after work. Does anyone know who to get into workshop mode to check the oil level? The workshop reports how much oil is in the car vs a hard to read oil level in the normal service menu.
Thanks
Dave
Answered my own question. If you follow the steps in the attached video link there is an option to check how many quarts of oil you have. 8.2 for me
I have a question about the oil filters on my new 2025 GLS 450.. The oil filter has a plastic "X" in the center if you look down into it. If I put the filter by itself down into housing, it stops at that X. It will not go all the way down into the small hole. I know the filter is "timed" to only go down one way . So, if I were to put the filter into the cap part and install and torque, it would be beaking that X out. Where do those pieces go? I have been breaking the X out before I install the filter. Anyone else notice this?
Last edited by solo2r; Mar 11, 2026 at 05:20 PM.
Reason: forgot to add model
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