2015 Mercedes ML250 BlueTEC Diesel..... Blown Turbos

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Ok.. the wife purchased the car brand new in 2015, because I wanted her to have a diesel SUV that was AWD and because Mercedes was giving them away for $10-$12k off of MSRP on the heels of the EPA lawsuits. They have the European Sprinter 2.1L, twin turbo, 4 cylinder diesel that is supposed to be rock solid.

Well, at 128k we smoked both turbos and the car just came out of the shop with an $8k bill from an independent shop that has a phenomenal reputation. The car has been paid off for 4 years and it is in super, great shape, so we figured we would roll the dice and see if we can get another 100k out of it for $8k.

Anyway.... the shop wrench told me in passing... you have to quit using that crappy 5w30. The only thing we put in all the Sprinters that we work on and service is 15w40. He said, your turbos probably failed because you made two bad decisions... 1. 5w30 and 2. 10,000 mile oil change intervals.

He wants me using 15w40 going forward and doing 7,500 mile OCI's.

He said if the sump was 12 quarts, he would be 'good' with 10k OCI's, but it is only 7 quarts.

I guess my Benz is going to get a regular diet of Rotella T6, 15w40 going forward.

By the way, the European spec for this same engine in Germany is 15w40. UGH.... 😫


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What MB spec did your owner's manual call for?

Edit - found it.

228.51,229.31,229.51,229.52

So, sure, you can use a 5W30 - if it is found on this list:


Specification matters. Your oil is on there. I don't agree with the assessment from the shop.

Specification matters a lot. Viscosity much less so, in this case. What you really care about for the turbo life is the HTHS and the additives that will allow a long drain interval.

If the oil is on the MB Bevo list - it will meet both criteria.

Don't just change to any old 5W40 because a shop told you to - the Rotella is not on the approved list.

Mercedes actually tests oil - and if it isn't on the list - it failed one of those tests - so don't use it.
 
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What MB spec did your owner's manual call for?

Edit - found it.

228.51,229.31,229.51,229.52

So, sure, you can use a 5W30 - if it is found on this list:


Specification matters.

I will say conclusively that I believe OEM spec recommendations here in the good ole USA... about as much as I believe MSM after the experiences I have had the past 10 years.

I don't give a tinkers **** what the manual says anymore, 'cause I don't believe they are in my engines best interest to make it to 300k.

....
 
I will say conclusively that I believe OEM spec recommendations here in the good ole USA... about as much as I believe MSM after the experiences I have had the past 10 years.

I don't give a tinkers **** what the manual says anymore, 'cause I don't believe they are in my engines best interest to make it to 300k.

....
You’ll be back at the mechanic long before 100k additional if you choose the Rotella. Astro happens to have several MBs in his stable and knows what he’s talking about.

Be sure to post back when your next turbo replacement is. Best of luck, your wife’s vehicle is gonna need it.
 
You’ll be back at the mechanic long before 100k additional if you choose the Rotella. Astro happens to have several MBs in his stable and knows what he’s talking about.

Be sure to post back when your next turbo replacement is. Best of luck, your wife’s vehicle is gonna need it.
Well to each their own... I will stick with the knowledge of the best MB diesel wrench within view of Moab, UT.

And 5w30 and 10k OCI failed for me.... So not listening to anyone's nonsense that defends that prescription.

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Well to each their own... I will stick with the knowledge of the best MB diesel wrench within view of Moab, UT.

And 5w30 and 10k OCI failed for me.... So not listening to anyone's nonsense that defends that prescription.

......
Nobody said anything about 10k. But Astro’s right, MB has some very extensive and high-quality testing they require for oils to gain their approvals. Rather than jettisoning the benefit of their testing, you’d be much better served by doing some in-service UOAs to determine at what point the oil is no longer serviceable, and changing it at that point. It sounds highly likely that your wife’s normal driving qualifies as severe service.
 
I am having hard time understanding why you posted anything here?
1. As far as anyone is concerned here, you could run Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Costco.
2. Mercedes has APPROVALS! They are far more stringent than anything T6 meets.
3. HTHS is name of the game, NOT grade! Your turbos did not fail because oil if you used MB229.51. If you used ILSAC GF-6 that you can pick up off the shelf in Walmart, such as Mobil1 5W30 Extended Performance, then yes! But if you sued what MB requires, NOT recommends, than no.
4. If you want to beef up HTHS, go Motul X-Clean 5W40 which has HTHS 3.9cP. You could go HPL Euro that is recommended for MB229.51/52.

My brother and I own business in Europe that has around 30 delivery vehicles including Sprinters. My brother just sold 2015 E220cdi with some 600,000km and used 5W30 C3 MB229.51. Sprinters all the time get Repsol 5W30 C3 MB229.51 (average oil). They all have upward of 300,000 miles.

So no, oil was not culprit. I personally would cut OCI to 5 or 7.5k.
 
Nobody said anything about 10k. But Astro’s right, MB has some very extensive and high-quality testing they require for oils to gain their approvals. Rather than jettisoning the benefit of their testing, you’d be much better served by doing some in-service UOAs to determine at what point the oil is no longer serviceable, and changing it at that point. It sounds highly likely that your wife’s normal driving qualifies as severe service.

Back off comments on my wife and Stick to Subaru's...
 
I am having hard time understanding why you posted anything here?
1. As far as anyone is concerned here, you could run Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Costco.
2. Mercedes has APPROVALS! Theya re far more stringent than anything T6 meets.
3. HTHS is name of the game, NOT grade! Your turbos did not fail bcs. oil if you used MB229.51. If you used ILSAC GF-6 that you can pick up off the shelf in Walmart, such as Mobil1 5W30 Extended Performance, then yes! But if you sued what MB requires, NOT recommends, than no.
4. If you want to beef up HTHS, go Motul X-Clean 5W40 which has HTHS 3.9cP. You could go HPL Euro that is recommended for MB229.51/52.

My brother and I own business in Europe that has around 30 delivery vehicles including Sprinters. My brother just sold 2015 E220cdi with some 600,000km and used 5W30 C3 MB229.51. SPrinters all the time get Repsol 5W30 C3 MB229.51 (average oil). They all have upward of 300,000 miles.

So no, oil was not culprit. I personally would cut OCI to 5 or 7.5k.

You are correct... HTHS... 3.5 is the crap with the approvals. I will opt for something that is 4.1 or higher going forward.

By saying this, "So no, oil was not culprit."... without looking at the tubos... you disqualify yourself. How could you possibly know through a computer screen and keyboard?


........
 
UGH... I should have figured all the keyboard jockeys would come out of the woodwork with an opinion, not having laid eyes on the engine or the turbos. My wrench inspected them all and gave his opinion. Far beyond anything typed out here.....

I shared as I am not confident in the Benz requirements here in the US of A.... especially, when the specs are different in Europe.
 
You are correct... HTHS... 3.5 is the crap with the approvals. I will opt for something that is 4.1 or higher going forward.

By saying this, "So no, oil was not culprit."... without looking at the tubos... you disqualify yourself. How could you possibly know through a computer screen and keyboard?


........
I worked on developing oils with those approvals.
Unless you had oil pressure issue, not it is not.
Golden rule of lubrication is as thick as necessary as thin as possible.
I would not track my BMW with 4.1cp. It is absolutely unnecessary. You are increasing resistance and with that heat.
0/5W30 oil with MB229.51 is more appropriate for our climate, especially if car sees shorter trips.
I used Mobil1 ESP 5W30 in BMW 35d with sequential turbos and never had absolutely any issues, here in the US and in Europe in same engine.
 
UGH... I should have figured all the keyboard jockeys would come out of the woodwork with an opinion, not having laid eyes on the engine or the turbos. My wrench inspected them all and gave his opinion. Far beyond anything typed out here.....

I shared as I am not confident in the Benz requirements here in the US of A.... especially, when the specs are different in Europe.
They are same as in EU.
 
Back off comments on my wife and Stick to Subaru's...
There are plenty of peoples’ daily driving that qualifies as severe service. It’s a function of how the vehicle is used, not who’s driving it. Just read that manual you’re not ever going by again; you’d probably be surprised at what qualifies as severe service, and almost always requires that oil change interval be cut in half when those criteria are met.
 
UGH... I should have figured all the keyboard jockeys would come out of the woodwork with an opinion, not having laid eyes on the engine or the turbos. My wrench inspected them all and gave his opinion. Far beyond anything typed out here.....

I shared as I am not confident in the Benz requirements here in the US of A.... especially, when the specs are different in Europe.
If an oil with a minimum of a 3.5 HT/HS didn’t prevent failure of a component on a commercial vehicle then there is either a material or a design defect. Sort of like BMW, and I say that as a former BMW owner.
 
If an oil with a minimum of a 3.5 HT/HS didn’t prevent failure of a component on a commercial vehicle then there is either a material or a design defect. Sort of like BMW, and I say that as a former BMW owner.
I had turbo failure on one of Skoda Octavia’s we used for business purposes. 1.9tdi. Can make million km. Other Octavia’s never had issues. This one blew turbo, in fairly dramatic fashion at 67,000km.
 
I will say conclusively that I believe OEM spec recommendations here in the good ole USA... about as much as I believe MSM after the experiences I have had the past 10 years.

I don't give a tinkers **** what the manual says anymore, 'cause I don't believe they are in my engines best interest to make it to 300k.

....
Well, I have a car that has made it to 300,000 miles.

With its original turbo.

Because I used the factory spec oil.
 
What MB spec did your owner's manual call for?

Edit - found it.

228.51,229.31,229.51,229.52

So, sure, you can use a 5W30 - if it is found on this list:


Specification matters. Your oil is on there. I don't agree with the assessment from the shop.

Specification matters a lot. Viscosity much less so, in this case. What you really care about for the turbo life is the HTHS and the additives that will allow a long drain interval.

If the oil is on the MB Bevo list - it will meet both criteria.

Don't just change to any old 5W40 because a shop told you to - the Rotella is not on the approved list.

Mercedes actually tests oil - and if it isn't on the list - it failed one of those tests - so don't use it.
MB is worried about the DPR clogging up early with the diesel 15-40's. Many place to get the DPR cleaned these days. Cheaper than $8-10k. That's the reason for the 229.51/2.
 
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