RCFRANK

Yes. I am old school and have always changed my oil at 5,000 miles with domestic vehicles. My new 2015 ML350 is rolling up on 5,000 and I know the computer tells me I have about 5,000 to go before service but does it make sense to change the oil before it is due? What do you guys do?

GregGebhardt

Some will say do it now and others will say wait for the 10K.

This has been discussed many times.

Enjoy your ML!

fabbrisd1

What has been discussed previously is "this" - at the factory MB puts in a special "break-in" oil blend - and that special blend is designed for the full 10K (max 12.5K) 1st oil interval.

It's your decision - make the right choice for you....

DUTCH

Keep in mind that this is the same MB that says any oil usage up to 1 liter every 1,000 miles is acceptable. Not to me!

I change the oil and filter at 1,000 miles, 5,000 miles and every 5,000 miles thereafter. My engines never use or burn oil between changes; and they run beautifully!

Ymmv; and, yes, it is your decision, as it is mine.

schorert1

I follow manufacturers recommendations and my engines NEVER burn oil.

This is discussed much less here than virtually any other auto message board I've been a part of. There is absolutely no data that supports swapping oil more frequently extends (modern) engine life. It is not "cheap insurance"(a common rationale), as insurance provides benefit in the event of failure, and there's no evidence that early changes prevent failure, or that you'd be reimbursed in any way in the event you did have a failure.

For many old timers like myself, who grew up with leaky v-8's, maintenance was an enjoyable, and necessary pastime. As oil is one of the few maintenance items one can actually perform, the term "recreational oil change" is the term applied to the early swapping of oil...something you can still control in the maintenance cycle.
I don't need to send my oil out for analysis to know my report would be exactly like every other synthetic oil report I've read at 10kmi intervals...that the oil is well within spec.
An engineer on another board I belonged to sampled his oil and sent it for analysis, NOT changing it until the report at 35kmi showed it beginning to deteriorate. Transmissions are basically sealed systems now, it won't be long until engine oil is a dealership-only service item.

to each their own.

hutch300

I feel like the engineers and Mercedes know what they are doing and I go based on their recommendation. Anyone who does it more frequently is throwing away money, that's ok it just isn't needed.

couture

OK, but my ML350 had only 6000 on it at 1 year old and dealer and manual says to change it at 10000 or 1 year whichever comes first. My 2nd year is coming up next month and I still have only 7800 miles on it ( it's my wife's car and not used much as you can see ). Is my oil good for longer than another year or ????

GregGebhardt

Once a year at least. Also if she takes nothing except short trips, it is important that it be driven, on occasion, a longer ride every once in a while to bring everything up to full temperature.

couture

Just the opposite. All the miles are long distance. We use the MB for trips to visit family etc and average is 1000K round trips mostly on interstates.


Still going with once a year anyway but wanted opinions.. Thanks

RCFRANK

Thanks for the feed back. Old school me will have the oil changed at 5k as well as tire rotation. From this point forward I'll follow the computer.