2015 Mercedes S63(M157 5.5T) - Liqui Moly Leichtlauf High Tech 5w-40 3150 miles

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zk2004mb

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Feb 20, 2025
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Hi everyone!

I'm new to this site and it's my first post. I have learned tons of information here and it inspired me to start doing UOA . Wanted to share with you the results.
I'm a little bit surprised that the KV100 is diminished so much after only 3k miles. I've seen 14.8 from LM website and 13.6 from VOA posted by other users.
And it's only 11.7 after 6 months and 3150 miles. That's more of a thick 30 oil rather than a 40 oil.
Is it necessary to switch to 5w-50?
image_14875eec497bd2e2d87a476bfeab5d4f3e17b169.webp
 
You're using a lab that has demonstrated an inability to accurately measure viscosity. Try a different lab before you condemn the oil you're using.
 
These wider spread viscosity's, like this 5w-40, tend to have initial shear and somewhat level off. You are putting this into a high performance engine so it will be a bit harder on it. However, You could stick with this product, try Mobil ESP 0w-40, or the 5w-50 like you mentioned. Thanks for sharing.
 
LM Leichtlauf 5w40 is approx 13.5 KV100. All the 229.5, Porsche A40, 5w40 oils had to thin down to meet BMW's new LL01 requirements. They all shear down into the 11's after Approx 2.5K miles. They all have the same behavioral characteristics. This is normal and a very good UOA. There are no LL01 approved oils that start out at 14.8. They wouldn't meet the requirements...

 
edyvw said:
It is average oil at best.
Mobil1 0W40, Castrol Edge 0W30 would be much better choices.
Click to expand...
This oil is far from average oil. Used it may my Mercedes and its smoother and gets significantly better MPG than all shelf oils I've tried over the years. Nothing in 5w40 matches the uncanny creamy power delivery and MPG of this oil. Currently have Valvoline 5w40 in right now. Though im assured metal parts are more than adequately protected as Valvoline makes a very good product, that's where the premium benefits stop. It cant match Leichtlauf for smoothness and MPG. I'll defer to Liqui Molly's expertise and my own experiences over yours...
 
Sean1112 said:
This oil is far from average oil. Used it may my Mercedes and its smoother and gets significantly better MPG than all shelf oils I've tried over the years. Nothing in 5w40 matches the uncanny creamy power delivery and MPG of this oil. Currently have Valvoline 5w40 in right now. Though im assured metal parts are more than adequately protected as Valvoline makes a very good product, that's where the premium benefits stop. It cant match Leichtlauf for smoothness and MPG. I'll defer to Liqui Molly's expertise and my own experiences over yours...
Click to expand...
The Smoothness of operation is not indicative of the quality of the oil. That depends on additives etc. Mobil1 0W40, for a long time, had a loud operation, and it always returned immiscible UOA and is used extensively as racing oil.
The lower mpg means that oil has lower HTHS. That is actually not good. Valvoline, you now have has an HTHS of 3.7. If LM is returning better mpg, that is due to lower HTHS, and if HTHS (which LM does not publish for a reason) is lower than 3.7 out of such high KV100, that tells you all you need to know.
But hey, Made in Germany sticker has to have some value.
As for your experience, I worked on oil development and we tested numerous LM products. But they do have an excellent marketing department.
 
Sean1112 said:
LM Leichtlauf 5w40 is approx 13.5 KV100. All the 229.5, Porsche A40, 5w40 oils had to thin down to meet BMW's new LL01 requirements. They all shear down into the 11's after Approx 2.5K miles. They all have the same behavioral characteristics. This is normal and a very good UOA. There are no LL01 approved oils that start out at 14.8. They wouldn't meet the requirements...
Click to expand...
All BMW approvals are based on HTHS, NOT on grade.
 
Show me an LL01 oil with an almost 15cst... These are all excellent oils as they wouldn't have approvals from the best car manufacturers in the world if they weren't. All the UOA's are going to be statistical noise in similar applications so i dont worry about UOA's. Its the little things: noises at startup up, the Valvoline is loud on cold starts and car sounds like it needs lifters replaced, sometimes for a few minutes. Didn't get that with Leichtlauf, Total Quartz, or Fuchs Titan. The Valvoline burns like water and needs to be topped off frequently, not with the others. With Liqui Moly it feels like oil reaches the top of the motor instantaneously with the turn of the key on cold starts(same for Total), a far cry from Valvoline. But I bet if I did a UOA it would be excellent. LM feels like a more premium product once I get beyond UOA's...
 
Sean1112 said:
Show me an LL01 oil with an almost 15cst... These are all excellent oils as they wouldn't have approvals from the best car manufacturers in the world if they weren't. All the UOA's are going to be statistical noise in similar applications so i dont worry about UOA's. Its the little things: noises at startup up, the Valvoline is loud on cold starts and car sounds like it needs lifters replaced, sometimes for a few minutes. Didn't get that with Leichtlauf, Total Quartz, or Fuchs Titan. The Valvoline burns like water and needs to be topped off frequently, not with the others. With Liqui Moly it feels like oil reaches the top of the motor instantaneously with the turn of the key on cold starts(same for Total), a far cry from Valvoline. But I bet if I did a UOA it would be excellent. LM feels like a more premium product once I get beyond UOA's...
Click to expand...
Again, LL01 is not based on grade, it is based on HTHS. Min HTHS is 3.5cP and max 4.1cP. There were LL01 oils with KV100 well above 14cst. This particular LM is just cheap Group III, nothing else. Not that Valvoline is any better. Yes, they are all approved, but approvals are minimum, not maximum standard. But the, Made in Germany sticker has to be worth something.
As far as I am concerned, you can use Extra Virgin Olive OIl, and based on price per quart, they do "feel" premium.
 
Nathan said:
Looks good. Going to a 5w-50 of the same oil will be unlikely to help with "wear numbers" and result in less performance and efficiency.
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Absolutely no reason to go 5W50.
Based on exploitation, Castrol Edge 0W30 from local AAP that goes $37 for 5qt is best bet.
 
kschachn said:
You're using a lab that has demonstrated an inability to accurately measure viscosity. Try a different lab before you condemn the oil you're using.
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Has Blackstone Labs gone downhill? Is it just viscosity that they're not accurate with? I've used them for several uoa's.
 
97prizm said:
Has Blackstone Labs gone downhill? Is it just viscosity that they're not accurate with? I've used them for several uoa's.
Click to expand...
They are also not accurate with fuel%. They use an inferred method rather than direct measurement. People who have had the same sample sent to them and a lab that uses gas chromatography have share results that indicate BS's fuel results are usually 2-4x lower than actual measurement.

Not to mention, they charge extra for TBN, TAN, and oxidation. A lab like Oil Analyzers includes those in the standard analysis, which turns out to be much less money when you factor it all in.

This kit includes TBN and oxidation/nitration results plus prepaid UPS shipping for ~$40
https://www.amsoil.com/p/oil-analyzers-test-kit-ups-pre-paid-oaiuppkit/?code=KIT02-EA

Blackstone's kit cost $40, but to get TBN you pay an extra $10, and to get oxidation/nitration, you pay another $20 on top of that. So you end up paying $70 for a kit to get the same results that Oil Analyzers includes in their $40 kit.
 
I dont have any complaints about this oil so far. Used it for 4 oil changes, all within 3000-4000 miles, never needed to top off.
Only concern was the dropping of KV100. If 5w-50 won't provide better protection then guess I will stick with this oil.
 
edyvw said:
Again, LL01 is not based on grade, it is based on HTHS. Min HTHS is 3.5cP and max 4.1cP. There were LL01 oils with KV100 well above 14cst. This particular LM is just cheap Group III, nothing else. Not that Valvoline is any better. Yes, they are all approved, but approvals are minimum, not maximum standard. But the, Made in Germany sticker has to be worth something.
As far as I am concerned, you can use Extra Virgin Olive OIl, and based on price per quart, they do "feel" premium.
Click to expand...
 
Just added Liqui Moly MOS2 to the no frills Valvoline 5W40 in the sump. Engine is now immediately smoother and much quieter with better fuel economy. Liqui Moly so good I could drink it. Have a class Edyvw...
 
zk2004mb said:
I dont have any complaints about this oil so far. Used it for 4 oil changes, all within 3000-4000 miles, never needed to top off.
Only concern was the dropping of KV100. If 5w-50 won't provide better protection then guess I will stick with this oil.
Click to expand...
Why did it drop?
 
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