Service dept uses unapproved oil. Looking for advice (M-Benz GLC 300)
- Thread starter FreeWoRLD
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That is what I do. Every 6 months. I mark it on the calendar, that way I won't forget. Except I space it out from October 1st to April 1st. Mostly because where I'm at those are the 2 mildest months temperature wise. (Low 70's in the AM).
I just finished all 3 vehicles the other day. The most work is getting all the stuff out to do it, then putting it all back. I have drain valves on all 3 oil pans. So the actual oil and filter changes are quick and easy.
The worst of it was I ended up having to go to 3 places to dump the old oil. Both O'Reilly and the closest Autozone had full tanks. (That's never happened before). So I went to the newest Autozone that just opened on the other side of town.
Apparently more and more people are changing their own oil around these parts. Next time I'll call first, and save gas.
That's what I'm going with in my Toyota when I do my Spring / Summer oil change in 6 months. This last change I used 0W-20, only because I had a jug of it, "in stock". So I decided to get rid of it with the cooler weather coming.
From now on it will get 0W-30 in the Fall / Winter. And 0W-40 for Spring / Summer.
The shilling for the site sponsor is starting to get a little much on here.
Edit: My comment above was inspired by a now deleted previous post.
Edit: My comment above was inspired by a now deleted previous post.
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Any Euro oil would work well with 5-6k mile intervals. Euro oils are designed for longer intervals, but the Fram oil is not. I doubt the Fram oil would hurt anything if run at shorter intervals just commuting, but it probably isn't a good idea to run it for longer.
Mobil 1 0w40, Castrol 0w40, Quaker State Euro 5w40, Valvoline Euro 5w40, all great oils that are widely available that would work great.
Mobil 1 0w40, Castrol 0w40, Quaker State Euro 5w40, Valvoline Euro 5w40, all great oils that are widely available that would work great.
Thank you for reminding us how smart we all are, it's refreshing and we love to hear how we are always right, about everything.
Yes that's sarcasm and yes I am having a laugh about it.
The clear picture here is to use Mobil 1 0w40, sample at 5k and if you feel comfortable go the full 10k OCI as already stated.
If you want to go off the beaten path give Amsoil or HPL a try.
I have your same vehicle from new. My understanding is that it needs the M1 ESP full-syn. ESP is important for the cat filter 9avoids clogging) on these vehicles. Have been using 0W-30 and seems to be fine and widely available here in cold winter Michigan that also gets hot some summer days. I change the oil/filter every 6/7,500 miles after the initial change at 5,000 miles to be safe. Do NOT ignore the second digit (229.5X) in the recommended oil spec. as makes a difference.
Was surprised how tappety(?) the sound of the engine has been from new until it warms up. Seems to be getting quieter, but maybe because the weather has been warmer. Not sure. Anyway, I believe this is normal on start-up.
Was surprised how tappety(?) the sound of the engine has been from new until it warms up. Seems to be getting quieter, but maybe because the weather has been warmer. Not sure. Anyway, I believe this is normal on start-up.
Asked Merc dealership where/when I bought the vehicle what oil they recommended, and they said they use the same oil on all the Mercs. Didn't make sense to me!! Checked on Merc website and sure enough it did NOT meet the spec. I know the M1 ESP 0W-30 is compliant. Also want to be sure I don't compromise the warranty.
Thanks for your comment. Mine is 2018 and I believe it runs on 229.5 and 229.6. Starting with 2020, I think they updated the recommendation to .5x or .6x
I agree with you on the sound of the engine. It almost sounds like the diesel engine (1.6 JTDm) that I had years ago
No, really. Such a good community here, all of you guys are amazing. I would have never thought a forum dedicated to just motor oils would exist and it would be so deep.Thank you for reminding us how smart we all are, it's refreshing and we love to hear how we are always right, about everything.
Yes that's sarcasm and yes I am having a laugh about it.
The clear picture here is to use Mobil 1 0w40, sample at 5k and if you feel comfortable go the full 10k OCI as already stated.
If you want to go off the beaten path give Amsoil or HPL a try.
Choose a good 229.5 approved oil and be done with it. Look, like many, I’m an HPL fan, and the signature proves it, so does my Visa bill after an order of three more cases of HPL this week.
But that Mobil 1 0W40 is a great oil.
The Mobil 1 0W40 is approved by Mercedes, and about $28/jug on Amazon or at Walmart (and I don’t buy oil at Walmart, but that’s another topic).
Here is a shot of the engine sump on my wife’s Mercedes, when I had to fix a buggered oil drain plug (also another topic). You’re looking up into the engine from below. Oil pick up screen in the center.
Here is a look under the valve cover (slight weep found when I was doing sparkplugs).
10,000 mile intervals, done at the dealer, using the Mobil 0W40.
If you need a 229.5 for a Mercedes, that Mobil 1 0W40 is an excellent choice.
But that Mobil 1 0W40 is a great oil.
The Mobil 1 0W40 is approved by Mercedes, and about $28/jug on Amazon or at Walmart (and I don’t buy oil at Walmart, but that’s another topic).
Here is a shot of the engine sump on my wife’s Mercedes, when I had to fix a buggered oil drain plug (also another topic). You’re looking up into the engine from below. Oil pick up screen in the center.
Here is a look under the valve cover (slight weep found when I was doing sparkplugs).
10,000 mile intervals, done at the dealer, using the Mobil 0W40.
If you need a 229.5 for a Mercedes, that Mobil 1 0W40 is an excellent choice.
I am nowhere near being an expert, but that looks really clean. What was the mileage of the vehicle at the time of these pics, if you don't mind me asking?
Just over 50,000 miles. My S600 has the identical engine, and it is equally clean, with about 126,000. I don't have any good pictures from that engine, but I did the valve cover gaskets at about 80,000 on that one, and it is also spotless. A recent peek inside the oil fill and in the drain plug/pan with the borescope shows the same condition.
A lifetime of MB 229.5 oil will do that for you...
Not trying to be difficult, but have we actually established that this ‘Fram 0W-30’ exists, and that it isn’t a Euro-approved oil?
I don’t think I’ve ever read that Fram makes a 0W-30; 5W-30 for sure, but not 0W-30…so is this another oil, an Amalie-made 0W-30 that IS actually a Euro oil??
Did someone just tell you they use ‘Fram 0W-30’, without really knowing what it was? Have you seen a bottle of it?
Lots of conclusions here, when we don’t know if there is a problem!!
I don’t think I’ve ever read that Fram makes a 0W-30; 5W-30 for sure, but not 0W-30…so is this another oil, an Amalie-made 0W-30 that IS actually a Euro oil??
Did someone just tell you they use ‘Fram 0W-30’, without really knowing what it was? Have you seen a bottle of it?
Lots of conclusions here, when we don’t know if there is a problem!!
Yup, Fram 0W-30 exists and only sold at AA parts. Here's a photo of the bottle I've found online. Lots of people believe it is Amelie Elixir 0w-30
So.... Basically does, "European Formula" = Better? 
You could make a good argument that it is if the oil in question had the approvals to back it up. But as Overkill noted way back in post #5 it has none.So.... Basically does, "European Formula" = Better?
Why anyone would mess around with that is a little beyond me when you can walk into nearly any Walmart and get an oil with the approvals for a very good price.