API SP oil vs DI OEM-approved oils

[esandes]

I have a Mercedes Benz M256 engine (DI I6 turbo 3L) and I use the MB approved oil Pennzoil Platinum Euro LX 0W-30. This is an API SN oil.

I recently found out about the relatively new API SP spec oils that are "beneficial" for DI engines.

Unfortunately Pennzoil Platinum Ultra is not MB-approved for my engine, otherwise I would use it. It is SP.

So one question is; if SP spec is so good for DI engines, why do the OEMs require it? Is there a strong consensus to use SP for DI or is there a risk to use SN for DI?

The last DI engine I had used PP Euro 0W-40 (SP) and that engine could have run forever so I have some "confidence" in SP oils for DI engines.

Also what is the risk, if any, to just use PP Ultra 5W30 (not MB approved) going forward? Purely from a technical point of view.

 

[Kalle.J]

I have a Mercedes Benz M256 engine (DI I6 turbo 3L) and I use the MB approved oil Pennzoil Platinum Euro LX 0W-30. This is an API SN oil.

I recently found out about the relatively new API SP spec oils that are "beneficial" for DI engines.

Unfortunately Pennzoil Platinum Ultra is not MB-approved for my engine, otherwise I would use it. It is SP.

So one question is; if SP spec is so good for DI engines, why do the OEMs require it? Is there a strong consensus to use SP for DI or is there a risk to use SN for DI?

The last DI engine I had used PP Euro 0W-40 (SP) and that engine could have run forever so I have some "confidence" in SP oils for DI engines.

Also what is the risk, if any, to just use PP Ultra 5W30 (not MB approved) going forward? Purely from a technical point of view.

SP 40 grade and 30 grade have different requirements.

MB 229.51/52 already have the LSPI mitigation (good part of SP). Keep using approved oil.

 

[chris719]

Just use M1 ESP 5W-30, API SP and also MB 229.31/51/52.

 

[esandes]

Based on my past experience with Mobil and Pennzoil Platinum I'm sticking with Pennzoil.

 

[Kalle.J]

Based on my past experience with Mobil and Pennzoil Platinum I'm sticking with Pennzoil.

 

[JavierH19]

Use anything that's 229.5 rated. A lot of euro oils have it and a lot are now sp rated. They have less calcium and more magnesium than before so there's less lspi but it wasn't really an issue before with a non sp 229.5 oil. You can look around at Walmart there's about a half dozen options. I'm using qs 5w-40 it's sp rated and has 229.5 and a few others.

 

[esandes]

For the sake of keeping this thread on the topic of PP I can PM you if you really need to know.

Let's please keep this to PP and the MB 229.51, 229.52, 229.61, 229.71, 229.72

As mentioned I'm currently using PP Euro LX 0W30 which has 31, 51 and 52 approval. But it's API SN.

 

[chris719]

Based on my past experience with Mobil and Pennzoil Platinum I'm sticking with Pennzoil.

It's clear you are beyond any reasoning, you should just do whatever you want. Nothing factual will convince you otherwise. Just use MB approved oil.

 

[Kalle.J]

For the sake of keeping this thread on the topic of PP I can PM you if you really need to know.

Let's please keep this to PP and the MB 229.51, 229.52, 229.61, 229.71, 229.72

As mentioned I'm currently using PP Euro LX 0W30 which has 31, 51 and 52 approval. But it's API SN.

Please do. Ultimately its your choice of oil either way.

I would not worry about it, doubt the 3.0 has any LSPI issues.
Read up on 40 grade SN vs SP & 30 grade.

 

[chris719]

For the sake of keeping this thread on the topic of PP I can PM you if you really need to know.

Let's please keep this to PP and the MB 229.51, 229.52, 229.61, 229.71, 229.72

As mentioned I'm currently using PP Euro LX 0W30 which has 31, 51 and 52 approval. But it's API SN.

Does this engine have GPF/OPF? If it does not, and you must use PP for some reason, then just use PP Euro 5W-40.

 

[Kalle.J]

Does this engine have GPF/OPF? If it does not, and you must use PP for some reason, then just use PP Euro 5W-40.

Its the wrong approval Chris. 229.51/52 ACEA C oils.
Why should he change approval when Pennzoil have the right stuff?

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I have a Mercedes Benz M256 engine (DI I6 turbo 3L) and I use the MB approved oil Pennzoil Platinum Euro LX 0W-30. This is an API SN oil.

I recently found out about the relatively new API SP spec oils that are "beneficial" for DI engines.

Unfortunately Pennzoil Platinum Ultra is not MB-approved for my engine, otherwise I would use it. It is SP.

So one question is; if SP spec is so good for DI engines, why do the OEMs require it? Is there a strong consensus to use SP for DI or is there a risk to use SN for DI?

The last DI engine I had used PP Euro 0W-40 (SP) and that engine could have run forever so I have some "confidence" in SP oils for DI engines.

Also what is the risk, if any, to just use PP Ultra 5W30 (not MB approved) going forward? Purely from a technical point of view.

Mercedes approvals contain similar tests which fall under SP. Primarily LSPI and their own chain wear test which I presume is on a DI engine.

The LSPI and TGDI test for SP are conducted on a modified Ford 4-cylinder Ecoboost.

 

[esandes]

Mercedes approvals contain similar tests which fall under SP. Primarily LSPI and their own chain wear tear which I presume is on a DI engine.

The LSPI and TGDI test for SP are conducted on a modified Ford 4-cylinder Ecoboost.

SP 40 grade and 30 grade have different requirements.

MB 229.51/52 already have the LSPI mitigation (good part of SP). Keep using approved oil.

Thank you gentlemen!

 

[edyvw]

For the sake of keeping this thread on the topic of PP I can PM you if you really need to know.

Let's please keep this to PP and the MB 229.51, 229.52, 229.61, 229.71, 229.72

As mentioned I'm currently using PP Euro LX 0W30 which has 31, 51 and 52 approval. But it's API SN.

API is absolutely irrelevant in your case.
MB229.51/52 approval is far more stringent than API SP.
As mentioned above, PPE Euro 5W40 is excellent oil and I would prefer it in gas engine over LX.

 

[chris719]

Its the wrong approval Chris. 229.51/52 ACEA C oils.
Why should he change approval when Pennzoil have the right stuff?

I’ve never seen a technical reason A3/B4 can’t be substituted for C3 oils if the engine doesn’t have a GPF. I agree it’s technically not the exact approval but it’s better than him going to PUP without any Euro approvals.

 

[kschachn]

For the sake of keeping this thread on the topic of PP I can PM you if you really need to know.

Let's please keep this to PP and the MB 229.51, 229.52, 229.61, 229.71, 229.72

As mentioned I'm currently using PP Euro LX 0W30 which has 31, 51 and 52 approval. But it's API SN.

But you’re the one who brought up the brands. If you wanted to keep it on topic, why did you mention that?

 

[kschachn]

API is absolutely irrelevant in your case.
MB229.51/52 approval is far more stringent than API SP.
As mentioned above, PPE Euro 5W40 is excellent oil and I would prefer it in gas engine over LX.

Yes on this. We get a few of these strange posts now and then where people wish to substitute and then argue about the use of API oils or a manufacturer approval is specified.