AMG Oil query resolved by lostkiwi :-)

OP
badger_wazzala

badger_wazzala

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2020
Messages
209
Reaction score
163
Location
The United Kingdom
Your Mercedes
63 AMG
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #21
It's the semi-synthetic I've been advised to use John, the Helix HX7 5W40. It's very hard work trying to find a semi of the correct viscosity. My owners manual state 5W40 or 0W40 for the AMG engine, it's just the Shell is 229.3 not 229.5
I would think that the main difference is the 229.3 would break down quicker and is predominatly for short-life servicing. It'll only be in the engine for 1200miles.
I'm not convinced the MB service lad I spoke to on the phone (not a tech purely a phone operator) had sufficient knowledge on the oil types to use. He said the running in was just gentle driving for a thousand miles and then either one-year or 15000 miles for the first oil change and straight to fully-synthetic. I'm at the age were I have life-experience and as such know loads of guys in the industry/track-day-junkies/tuners etc and they 'all' advise me to run the engine in slowly with fresh regular fluid changes to reap the benefits. It's conflicting as MB should know best, but I feel they wouldn't really care either way as the problems would be outside warranty. I guess most people wouldn't really care and say oil was oil but I'm 'different' on many levels. My Wife always says I'm special :-D

Is there any software that gives info on service interval consumables, or is this included on xentry?
 
Last edited:
OP
badger_wazzala

badger_wazzala

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2020
Messages
209
Reaction score
163
Location
The United Kingdom
Your Mercedes
63 AMG
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #23
All 229.5 is synthetic.
So wouldn't that mean the semi/mineral oil would break down/turn black quicker than 229.5?
It's a mine field for me this.
First engine I've ran-in and the car will be a 'keeper' so I want to treat it kindly. I'd lose tens of thousands if I ever sold it so I intend to enjoy this until it has holes in the floor.
Same goes for my Disco4.
 

John Laidlaw

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2013
Messages
26,373
Reaction score
9,163
Location
Wirral
Your Mercedes
Land Rover Discovery 4
You are right, there is some very conflicting information from MB. As above 229.5 is fully synthetic- Shell Helix Ultra meets 229.5, and as you say the HX7 5W40 (with some mineral oil content) is 229.3, and has a higher relative kinematic viscosity @100oC, even higher obviously at 40oC. To me this means in 'running in' you will have a higher resistance to oil movement, so I guess their theory is the oil will stay put longer for protection in that period.
I think it's all very marginal personally, I've visited Affalterbach and they bench test with no oil, so go figure!
I'm not promoting Shell by the way, just that you have some and I've a little insight having visited many of their lube oil plants worldwide (some are very aged now)
I would agree with the gentle run in on high performance engines, you reap what you sow...
Edit : having thought about it more commercially could the advice to use semi synthetic during run in just be simply as it's cheaper, therefore doesn't matter so much that you throw it away?
 
Last edited:

peterws1957

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 3, 2016
Messages
1,824
Reaction score
1,323
Location
Lancashire
Your Mercedes
sl350 /2004/3.7 and CL65/2009/6.0
I must admit that this whole oil thing leaves me totally discombobulated.
 

Wighty

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2016
Messages
13,435
Reaction score
12,467
Location
Sunny Essex
Your Mercedes
W211/E320cdi/2009 and CLK200k 2009
I must admit that this whole oil thing leaves me totally discombobulated.
It’s easy , for petrol buy 229.5 spec in 20L MB tubs
for diesel buy 229.51 spec in 20L MB tubs , £60 ish delivered from eBay . Job done :D
 

peterws1957

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 3, 2016
Messages
1,824
Reaction score
1,323
Location
Lancashire
Your Mercedes
sl350 /2004/3.7 and CL65/2009/6.0
It’s easy , for petrol buy 229.5 spec in 20L MB tubs
for diesel buy 229.51 spec in 20L MB tubs , £60 ish delivered from eBay . Job done :D
That's ok for MB's - it's the rest of our stuff that's hard to fathom.
 

LostKiwi

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
31,328
Reaction score
21,575
Location
Midlands / Charente-Maritime
Your Mercedes
'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
It’s easy , for petrol buy 229.5 or 229.51 spec in 20L MB tubs
for diesel buy 229.51 spec in 20L MB tubs , £60 ish delivered from eBay . Job done :D
Not quite right Wighty... Corrected above.
 
OP
badger_wazzala

badger_wazzala

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2020
Messages
209
Reaction score
163
Location
The United Kingdom
Your Mercedes
63 AMG
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #32
So my car has just 1130 miles on it and I wanted to drop the oil now I'm content the engine is run in, and carefully too. Mercedes service department said this isn't necessary and the oil could be left until either 12-months or 15,000 miles had passed.
I'm glad I trusted my own judgement as my oil was spent, black! The filter was also quite ratty looking. There were only trace amounts of any metal specs in the folds of the paper filter, and one small shear of shiny metal.
IMG_1684.jpg IMG_1686.jpg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1688.jpg
    IMG_1688.jpg
    317.1 KB · Views: 13
  • IMG_1689.jpg
    IMG_1689.jpg
    429 KB · Views: 13
  • IMG_1685.jpg
    IMG_1685.jpg
    313.2 KB · Views: 13


As a member of ourMercedes Owners' club, you will enjoy numerous savings on an expanding range of services including, Insurance, Parts and Servicing, RAC Membership plus much more.MBOmembers can save around £200.00 a year. You can join from as little as £30.00 and start to enjoy these savings immediately. You receive our monthly magazine and free classified ads when you decide to trade up a model.
Top Bottom