M1 HM 10w40 in a 2004 Mercedes ML350

[wavinwayne]

I plan to change the oil this week in my wife's newly-aquired '04 Mercedes ML350. Nowhere in the .pdf owners manual does it state specifically which oil to use. It just says something to the effect that if there is a Mercedes spec. listed on the oil filler cap, to use an oil that meets that spec. I figure the spec. will either be 229.3 or 229.5, which are easy enough oils to find.

I don't have the vehicle right now to look at; I'll check the oil cap later for specs. Since I can't verify the service history on this vehicle, I'm planning to use Mobil 1 High-Mileage 10w40 for the first OCI. I will likely run this oil for around 7500 miles. Then I'll go with GC, Syntec 5w40, or M1 0w40, or Amsoil AFL, or..........

Does anybody see any potential problems with running the M1 HM 10w40 to get things started? FWIW, the vehicle has 52k miles.

 

[G-MAN]

That oil should do fine. If it were mine, I'd ignore the FSS and change the oil twice a year regardless of mileage no matter what you decide to run in it.

 

[TimVipond]

From the Amsoil site:
2004 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 3.7L 6-cyl Engine Code 112.970
LUBRICANTS & FLUIDS
Engine Oil
Grade 1......SEO[1]
Synthetic 5W-40 European Engine Oil
Above 5°F......15W-40, 15W-50
Above -4°F......10W-30, 10W-40, 10W-50, 10W-60
Above 23°F......20W-40, 20W-50
All Temps......0W-30, 5W-30, 0W-40, 5W-40, 5W-50
1. Use only synthetic engine oil meeting MB Sheet 229.3 or MB
Sheet 229.5 or MB Sheet 229.51

Mobil 1 High Mileage 10W40 does not list any European specs.

 

[Merkava_4]

CAPACITIES
Engine, with filter..........8.5 quarts
Cooling System, Initial Fill..........13.0 quarts
Automatic Transmission, Total Fill
W5A400..........9.6 quarts
Differential, Rear..........3.4 pints
Differential, Front..........2.5 pints
Transfer Case,..........3.2 pints


It looks like another European car with a large sump capacity. I'm jealous.

 

[98LSC32V]

I would use regular Mobil 1 0w-40...

 

[daman]

Quote:

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Does anybody see any potential problems with running the M1 HM 10w40 to get things started?

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Nope,,M1 will serve you well.

 

[Camu Mahubah]

Why don't you use the European Car Formula from Amsoil or Valvoline Synpower 5w-40... Or the Mobil 1 recommended for your SUV which is Mobil 1 0w-40 according to Exxon people in black suits...

 

[wavinwayne]

Quote:

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Why don't you use.....the Mobil 1 recommended for your SUV which is Mobil 1 0w-40....

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The only reason I want to use M1 HM for the first oil change is because I don't know for sure how the previous owner treated oil changes. The M1 HM bottle states that the HM formula will do some cleaning.

Ater the first oil change with the M1 HM, I will probably go to a MB approved oil.

Interestingly though, the oil cap does not list any specs that the oil must meet. The owners manual only says to use a MB approved oil if the corresponding spec is listed on the oil cap. I checked the oil cap & it is a genuine MB part with a MB part # molded into the under-side of the cap. Following the owners manual logic, I can use any off the shelf oil & be fine. I won't do that though; I'm a BITOGer for goodness sake.

 

[Merkava_4]

wavinwayne, you do realise that you're going to have to pick up. . .

TWO ENTIRE 5 QUART BOTTLES, DON'T YOU?

. . .

. . .

 

[wavinwayne]

Quote:

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wavinwayne, you do realise that you're going to have to pick up. . .

TWO ENTIRE 5 QUART BOTTLES, DON'T YOU?

. . .

. . .

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Yes. Why is that so shocking to you?

 

[Merkava_4]

Because you're going to have to pay twice as much as most people do for an OCI, but I'd gladly pay that if I had an 8.5 quart sump.

 

[paul_e320]

wavinwayne,

Look here:

http://www.whnet.com/4x4/oil.html

Regards,
paul...

 

[paul_e320]

Quote:

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That oil should do fine. If it were mine, I'd ignore the FSS and change the oil twice a year regardless of mileage no matter what you decide to run in it.

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G-Man, I saw a TSB a few years ago when MB introduced the new V-6/V-8 aluminum engines showing the cylinder wall scoring that can occur. It's amazing that when MB offered free oil changes, they were really touting FSS. Now that the freebies are history, MB recommends 13Kmi for regular engines and 10Kmi for the AMG engines, and has ignored the FSS.

With all this MB history (and piston ring problems with many of the 3.5L engines), I will agree with you!!

Regards,
paul...

 

[Pablo]

Quote:

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Because you're going to have to pay twice as much as most people do for an OCI, but I'd gladly pay that if I had an 8.5 quart sump.

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Some come here for the big jugs, I come here for the big sumps!

 

[wavinwayne]

I decided not to use the M1 HM oil. I just checked my stash,and realized I have enough GC for an oil change. GC will be going in today or tomorrow.

p.s. I'm on vacation this week, in case any of you wonders how I have time to do this stuff during the middle of the day during the week.

 

[Merkava_4]

Quote:

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p.s. I'm on vacation this week, in case any of you wonders how I have time to do this stuff during the middle of the day during the week.

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Are you worried about us thinking you're unemployed?

 

[BrianWC]

I gazed longingly at the M1 HM 10W40 tonight at Wal-Mart. For the first time I was made I had a stash. I bought a Fram and went home and sulked.

Yes, I know it's a Fram, but I had to buy something.

So is ANYBODY running the 10W40 HM yet?

 

[Merkava_4]

Quote:

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Yes, I know it's a Fram, but I had to buy something.

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I think I would've rather left the store with a 99 cent funnel as opposed to buying a Fram.

 

[Camu Mahubah]

You bought a Fram, be careful you might end up running it...

 

[BrianWC]

Eh, ran em for years before coming here and being enlightened.....They're so pretty.