Normal Oil Usage ML320
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
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Normal Oil Usage ML320
Hello,
I have been using about a quart of oil every 1,000 miles! This seems ridiculous to me but the MB dealer is telling me that it's within spec. The 2002 ML320 has only 75K miles so I don't think it should be going through this much oil.
Am I correct? Can someone tell me what the correct oil usage should be?
I have been using about a quart of oil every 1,000 miles! This seems ridiculous to me but the MB dealer is telling me that it's within spec. The 2002 ML320 has only 75K miles so I don't think it should be going through this much oil.
Am I correct? Can someone tell me what the correct oil usage should be?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,794
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From: Valley of the Sun, Arizona
2011 E550, 2013 GLK
I suppose they can claim it's within spec but it's really high. I have a 2004 E320 and have the oil changed yearly. I usually use about a liter in something over 7,000 miles. These engines (M112) usually don't use oil.
Are you using Mobil 1 0W-40 or 5W-40? Have you checked for leaks? Did it recently get worse? Are you the original owner? If not, have you seen the maintenance records on the car? Has it had the harmonic balancer replaced? Did the harmonic balancer come apart and damage anything?
Are you using Mobil 1 0W-40 or 5W-40? Have you checked for leaks? Did it recently get worse? Are you the original owner? If not, have you seen the maintenance records on the car? Has it had the harmonic balancer replaced? Did the harmonic balancer come apart and damage anything?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 4,260
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From: Philadelphia area
2010 ML550, 2010 E350 4M, 1966 Corvette Convt C2
All MB's that I have recently owned with that engine. 98 ML320, 01 E 320 and an 05 E320 have never used a drop of oil between 13000 mile changes. Neither have my 02 ML500 or my 05ML500. You have some sort of a problem. Are you the original owner?? Do you know how badly the car was "chased" by the previous owner or if it was maintained to MB standards by the previous owner??
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
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From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
You've just become a victim of the "manufacturer makes the rules". Assuming you've been using the recommended oil and replacement cycles a quart every 1000 miles is outrageous and they know it but claim "it's within specs". I hope you bought extended warranty....even then it may not be covered. I've heard of MB owners with excessive oil consumption getting their cylinders checked with a boroscope (fibre optic snoop cam) and getting their engines replaced by MB. The cost varied according to how many miles was on their car. I'm guessing the boroscope found premature/excessive wear of either rings (deposits on cylinder walls) or cylinder wall coating due to manufacturing or material defects. If this excessive consumption just started then something just broke.....and only warranty extension would cover it (good luck with that one). I have the same engine as you with 120K miles and it uses less than 1/2 quart between changes (13K miles).
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 302
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From: Dublin, OH
05 ML350, 85 300D
The actual spec is a qt in 600 miles (yeah..thats what it says)..there was a lawsuit a few years back that extended the warranty to like 10yrs/100K?? (going off the top of my head here) for this problem, which is caused by sludging of the oil rings.(supposed to only the early 10K oil change engines, which started that without synthetic oil), however, the spec changed for ALL 112/113 engines...yeeks...
The real problem, IMO, is that the cylinders were acid washed- not honed, using a silicon impreganated block(Vega..anyone??), and they used a real light weight ring, to stop block erosion. Not all people would have the problem, based on their habits/oil change schedule/climate.
We have the opposite problem with the new engines now..heavy rings,,,major break-in oil useage..and people yell about that...
I would agree there is a problem, yet sometimes the delears' hands are tied..
I can give you some ideas.....email me..
The real problem, IMO, is that the cylinders were acid washed- not honed, using a silicon impreganated block(Vega..anyone??), and they used a real light weight ring, to stop block erosion. Not all people would have the problem, based on their habits/oil change schedule/climate.
We have the opposite problem with the new engines now..heavy rings,,,major break-in oil useage..and people yell about that...
I would agree there is a problem, yet sometimes the delears' hands are tied..
I can give you some ideas.....email me..
