08 M-Class - should I be using this much oil?!

[simonp820]

I have an 08 ML320 that's done just under 10 000 miles in seven months and I've had to top the oil up twice - is this normal to use so much oil?

The first time was only a month after I got the car (although it did go to Berlin and back in it's first week!)

 

[colechelle]

my R,class, same engine drunk oil for the first 20.000 mile, then i never had to touch it!!

 

[television]

Just adding that if you did some high speed runs in germany then it will use a little oil, this is due to oil splash that gets picked up onto the pistons and gets burnt,,as Collechele above it will bed in eventually

 

[simonp820]

thanks folks - will see how the next 10k does.

 

[Xtractorfan]

Honda and VW diesels are famous for oil burning up to 10k from new

 

[oigle]

I have found that the use of synthetic oils in the running period often causes oil usage for quite a period of time - the oil is too good and doesn't allow the motor to run in properly. I have seen motors continue to use oil for a long time because of this. Even ordinary multigrade mineral oils with friction modifiers in them often caused such problems.
In my dealer days with problem cars, I would change the oil to run on a straight non multigrade mineral oil - 30 grade - for 10000km and then switch it back to a multigrade. This eliminated the problems in nearly all cases.
If your problem persists, maybe you could try that.