2016 MB GL450 116.3k mi; HPL Supercar 5w-40, 10.2k mi

Joined
Dec 11, 2023
Messages
275
Location
North Alabama
2016 MB GL450. Engine is a 3.0 TTGDI. This is my first run of HPL in this car. Ran the oil for 10,200 miles using a Fram Endurance cartridge. Car now has 116,350mi total on it. Dumped this fill since it was diluted with whatever came in the car when we bought it. Will run the new HPL fill out just shy of 20,000 miles and will pull a sample at 135k on the odo.

IMG_7129.webp
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Yeah, HPL does not disappoint.
Before taking a sample, how long did you run the engine?
Agreed. It’s performed admirably in every application I’ve used it in thus far. This engine was run around town on a 92 degree day for pretty much an entire day and then driven right up onto the waiting ramps when I came home. Takes a few minutes to pull the lower air cover off the underside but it was drained right then. Drain bolt (replaced with a Fumoto valve now) was so hot that it still nearly burned me with 9mil nitrile gloves on, lol.
 
Agreed. It’s performed admirably in every application I’ve used it in thus far. This engine was run around town on a 92 degree day for pretty much an entire day and then driven right up onto the waiting ramps when I came home. Takes a few minutes to pull the lower air cover off the underside but it was drained right then. Drain bolt (replaced with a Fumoto valve now) was so hot that it still nearly burned me with 9mil nitrile gloves on, lol.
Ah OK. Was wondering bcs. fuel. But I guess that is normal, then.
 
Solid report for sure.

Is 20k the next best step? If you're going to pull a sample (assuming not changing), would 15k be a better next interval? I'm impressed with going straight to 10k on the first change, but doubling is a big jump, IMO, for the next check.
 
Solid report for sure.

Is 20k the next best step? If you're going to pull a sample (assuming not changing), would 15k be a better next interval? I'm impressed with going straight to 10k on the first change, but doubling is a big jump, IMO, for the next check.
Thanks!

The 10k is the OLM interval for this particular vehicle. The MB oil specs are apparently pretty strict and I’m assuming their reasoning for that is the 10k factory intervals on a twin turbo direct injection engine.

I’ve got a UOA posted here of 20k on my Harley Road Glide using HPL V-Twin 20w-50 which sees significantly higher head temps and hard riding. The TBN was 4.85 at 7400 miles and was 4.66 at 16,800. I’ve got faith that it will make it to 20k. I kicked around the idea of sampling at 15k, but based on my previous use of HPL in other vehicles, it would likely be a waste of one of my analysis kits. The USPS keeps losing my kits at their Indy Distro Center and I have to put in a package search request. One of the ones for my Navigator never even made it to the lab 😞
 
Thanks!

The 10k is the OLM interval for this particular vehicle. The MB oil specs are apparently pretty strict and I’m assuming their reasoning for that is the 10k factory intervals on a twin turbo direct injection engine.

I’ve got a UOA posted here of 20k on my Harley Road Glide using HPL V-Twin 20w-50 which sees significantly higher head temps and hard riding. The TBN was 4.85 at 7400 miles and was 4.66 at 16,800. I’ve got faith that it will make it to 20k. I kicked around the idea of sampling at 15k, but based on my previous use of HPL in other vehicles, it would likely be a waste of one of my analysis kits. The USPS keeps losing my kits at their Indy Distro Center and I have to put in a package search request. One of the ones for my Navigator never even made it to the lab 😞
Highly recommend UPS.

Not saying they're the best but they're better than USPS
 
Highly recommend UPS.

Not saying they're the best but they're better than USPS
Agreed 1000%. The USPS has become nearly unreliable. So many things of mine have been delivered very late. I have 2 more prepaid USPS analysis kits, but I’m just going to bite the bullet and send them via UPS for the added cost because they are more reliable.
 
Agreed 1000%. The USPS has become nearly unreliable. So many things of mine have been delivered very late. I have 2 more prepaid USPS analysis kits, but I’m just going to bite the bullet and send them via UPS for the added cost because they are more reliable.
I have found the opposite lately. USPS ground advantage is cheaper and faster than UPS ground.
 
I have found the opposite lately. USPS ground advantage is cheaper and faster than UPS ground.
Unless you’re shipping something to Polaris Labs in Indianapolis. The USPS recently stood up a massive regional distribution center there and it’s been an abysmal failure that’s gotten so bad that congressional folks have gotten involved.
 
Unless you’re shipping something to Polaris Labs in Indianapolis. The USPS recently stood up a massive regional distribution center there and it’s been an abysmal failure that’s gotten so bad that congressional folks have gotten involved.
FYI, my last sample took 3 days to get to Polaris. So Indy isn’t such a hot mess right now, or at least as of 2 weeks ago.
 
FYI, my last sample took 3 days to get to Polaris. So Indy isn’t such a hot mess right now, or at least as of 2 weeks ago.
The first sample I sent on the 6th just got to Polaris yesterday. 😖. I sent that one a few days prior to the one for the GL. They both took over 2 weeks to arrive from my place in North Alabama. It takes two days to get to Indy and then spends the next two weeks dorked up at the Indy distro. It’s been this way for every single sample I’ve sent in 2025.
 
The first sample I sent on the 6th just got to Polaris yesterday. 😖. I sent that one a few days prior to the one for the GL. They both took over 2 weeks to arrive from my place in North Alabama. It takes two days to get to Indy and then spends the next two weeks dorked up at the Indy distro. It’s been this way for every single sample I’ve sent in 2025.
Maybe I got special treatment by the USPS since I mailed it from 40 miles away ;)
 
I don't know anything about USPS operations, but it's possible from Columbus(?) to Indy side-steps the DC. Or at least, the FUBAR'd part of it.
 
The first sample I sent on the 6th just got to Polaris yesterday. 😖. I sent that one a few days prior to the one for the GL. They both took over 2 weeks to arrive from my place in North Alabama. It takes two days to get to Indy and then spends the next two weeks dorked up at the Indy distro. It’s been this way for every single sample I’ve sent in 2025.
This happens a lot in the distribution centers. I'm guessing that it won't go thru the auto machines so they don't bother with it. ALS moved their Atlanta lab to get out of the Atlanta district. system because they wouldn't deliver the samples.
 
Nice report!

You're right about the Mercedes spec being very robust. I have two cars with this engine (M276.8) and have routinely taken one out to 10K+ miles on Castrol 5w40 Euro and the engine still runs very strong at 140K miles.
 
Back
Top Bottom