GDawgC220

hey all,
anyone here get low on oil between services? Seems odd that this is the only car we've owned that needs to add oil between service. Once every few months, that little oil light will flash for a few seconds then go away. When i check it, the oil level is down to the minimum and gotta add a quart of syn formula.

I just think it's a little strange for it to be eating oil like that...my 94 engine with high mileage doesn't even need adding between oil changes...

-G-

BTW, they've done a oil consumption test and it showed it's within spec of MB.

sosh

Never had to add a drop between changes on the 98 ML320 I had and traded with 40000 miles. Same for my 02 ML500 with 20000 on it now.

Petmerctech

What year is your ML? Your engine might be within spec, but it may be on the extreme edge of being within spec. Engines under warranty and out of spec get a full teardown and rebuild.

GDawgC220

99 ML430...they did oil consumption tests and everything showed in spec with MB and was not uncommon to add a little oil here and there (for the ML's) once in a while according to my dealership.

msaldi

My 2000 ML430 46K seems to be using a quart every 1000 miles or so. It might be leaking some of it however since the car stinks of "smoked" oil all the time now.

My '99 C43 (same base motor) had tons of gasket leaks by the time it hit 100,000 miles, none were life threatening.

Warranty almost up anyway, and this one's gotta go before that happens, so haven't been too worried about it.

Sincity

Just hit 63k miles with not a drop of oil in sight. Never added oil between changes. The only major complaint are the locks rattling like a machine gun. But it seems fine after taking it in 5 times.

Now I'm holding my breath on the harmonic balancer.

JAD

I have a 1999 ML430 and have had the oil light come on several times as well before my next service. Very annoying....I hope the engine is OK. How do you tell if your engine is under warranty for a rebuild?

blando

Same exact problem on my 1998 ML320. And it runs through brakes just as quickly :-(


2002 C32 Black
1998 ML320 Black

GDawgC220

Yes, the ML eats brakes like there's no tomorrow. Front pads at 20k, rotors and pads at 32k, rear pads at 33k, rear pads and rotors at 50k. That's a little too much I think...

Kar don

Really? I am on my 2nd set of pads and rotors (MB changed em for free at 19k due to squealing) and I now have 52k with no lights on or anything, still stops fine (just got the brake fluid flushed).

alanmn

Seems like some MLs use oil and other do not. My 99 430 is starting to use some and I'll have a consumption test done soon. My dealer told me some use is normal but they have had problems with some. They added that in the early years MB did not specify synthetic oil and those that used regular oil may be experiencing problems. Apparently the European fossil oil is a higher quality than the American synthetic so they did not see the need. Anyway, they spec the synthetic now.

I also agree with the 'eating' brakes. I like how it performs but not the replacement. I had the fronts repaced 22k ago and am getting the flashing light - perhaps it is the rears.

Has anyone found replacement pads that last longer, still give good performance and are perhaps a bit cleaner? What a wish list!