Diesel Engine Oil

[JEZ.S320L]

OK all you technophobes out there - why should we buy/not buy diesel-specific engine oil for our lovely Mercedes engines?

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

Well, At my dealership, we have 4 types of oil.

1:- Mobil 1 0w/40 229.5
2:- Mobil mb formula again 229.5 (new out last month, only available mb workshops)
3:- Mobil synth s 229.3
4:- Mobil 1 esp ( low ash formula.)

These oils are put in all cars as requested by the individual customer request.

With the exception of Mobil 1 for amg cars, and low ash for vehicles with diesel particaulte filters.

So there are no real differences between the petrol and diesel oils from what i can see.

Oilman is the guy who will know all the facts, this is just my experience.

 

[Tashman]

According to the place I buy my oils from they have a bit more detergent or something in diesel engine oil - it needs it more to help stay clean

 

[nickcc101]

According to the place I buy my oils from they have a bit more detergent or something in diesel engine oil - it needs it more to help stay clean

Diesel oil does contain more detergent, as above, because diesel engines build up higher carbon/ash content. When you strip a diesel engine down the carbon buildup is always more than a petrol engine. Carbon buildup will block oil ways (over time) unless you use the correct diesel oil.

 

[jimsinessex]

Well, At my dealership, we have 4 types of oil.

1:- Mobil 1 0w/40 229.5
2:- Mobil mb formula again 229.5 (new out last month, only available mb workshops)
3:- Mobil synth s 229.3
4:- Mobil 1 esp ( low ash formula.)

These oils are put in all cars as requested by the individual customer request.

With the exception of Mobil 1 for amg cars, and low ash for vehicles with diesel particaulte filters.

So there are no real differences between the petrol and diesel oils from what i can see.

Oilman is the guy who will know all the facts, this is just my experience.

I have just taken delivery of a new CLK320 CDI. How can I tell if it has a particulate filter, the manual says it is optional for certain markets. I can find no reference to it in any of the paperwork supplied but suspect it may have one to meet the latest Euro emission regs.

The reason for asking is that elsewhere on this forum is a statement that the latest Mobil 1 ESP Formula oil for diesels with particulate filters has less anti-wear additives potentially leading to premature wear of the engine. Would our experts care to comment?

Jim

 

[rf065]

I have just taken delivery of a new CLK320 CDI. How can I tell if it has a particulate filter, the manual says it is optional for certain markets. I can find no reference to it in any of the paperwork supplied but suspect it may have one to meet the latest Euro emission regs.

The reason for asking is that elsewhere on this forum is a statement that the latest Mobil 1 ESP Formula oil for diesels with particulate filters has less anti-wear additives potentially leading to premature wear of the engine. Would our experts care to comment?

Jim

Did you ask for one when you ordered it? They are not fitted as standard in the UK at least.
Other than that, If you remove the engine cover I'm told their is a sticker under it stating low ash oil should be used. Low ash is 229.31 or 229.51.

Russ

 

[lulu]

If yours hasn't got the sticker under the bonnet (mine didn't), have a look at the vehicle specific sheet stuck in the back of your service booklet. The bottom half of the sheet contains a list of 3 digit codes which denote the various options of your car. If one of them is 926 then you've got the diesel particulate filter fitted, and hence need to use the low ash oil.

 

[s999sws]

My 2006 E280CDi has a sticker on the engine block stating the low ash oil has to be used, however, my car does not have a partculate filter fitted. I checked and double checked with Mercedes, and I looked at the Russian VIN site, where it does not state that one is fitted, (but bizzarly shows a blue roof light fitted!!!), so I guess that you really have to have it checked by the main dealer.
Hope this helps
SWS

 

[wireman]

In a diesel engine there is much much more radial load on the bearings, to accomodate this crank shafts are usualy nitrogen hardened and the bearing shells working surfaces are made of materials that can stand these loads and the hard surface of the crank pins, this necessitatates a lubricant that will perfom correctly in these bearings as well as stand up to the ash and soot problem.

I got some £12 Fuchs semi synthetic from GSF which declared itself to be suited to Diesel (compression ignition) and Otto (spark ignition) engines, my impression was that its life (unscientificaly judged by the amount of miles it takes the tappets to start rattling) does not match that of the £16 Fuchs semi synthetic diesel only oil, both were 10w40.

 

[Number_Cruncher]

>>potentially leading to premature wear of the engine

How often do people suffer from premature engine wear that can be attributed to the oil?

If it were common, fora like this would be flooded with questions about reconditioning and relacing engines. Where are all of these threads?

When I had the cylinder head off my E300D at 125,000 miles, there had been so little wear, the machining marks were still visible in the cylinder bores.

In short, I'm trying to say don't obsess too much about engine oil. Despite the long sales pitches from people like Opie, lubrication based engine failure is rare. As long as you consult the owner's manual, and meet or exceed the quality requirement (22x.y), and change the oil & filter frequently enough, you will be extremely unlikely to have a problem.

What people do overlook is having their brake fluid, coolant, transmission and axle oils changed sufficiently frequently.

 

[Xtractorfan]

>>potentially leading to premature wear of the engine

How often do people suffer from premature engine wear that can be attributed to the oil?

If it were common, fora like this would be flooded with questions about reconditioning and relacing engines. Where are all of these threads?

When I had the cylinder head off my E300D at 125,000 miles, there had been so little wear, the machining marks were still visible in the cylinder bores.

In short, I'm trying to say don't obsess too much about engine oil. Despite the long sales pitches from people like Opie, lubrication based engine failure is rare. As long as you consult the owner's manual, and meet or exceed the quality requirement (22x.y), and change the oil & filter frequently enough, you will be extremely unlikely to have a problem.

What people do overlook is having their brake fluid, coolant, transmission and axle oils changed sufficiently frequently.

Agree absolutely