I have a 2012 Mercedes Benz GL 350 that suffered a timing chain failure at 63k. Fortunately it was covered under the CPO warranty. My friend with the same model waited too long to address the start up clatter and wiped out the engine...again fortunately under CPO warranty. I have read a number of other post indicating similar issues with premature timing chain wear on the Bluetec 3.0 V-6 diesel engine. Incidentally I had no such failures on our 07 GL 350 with 160k miles on it.
Is it possible that extended OCI combined with the move from 229.5 to 229.51 for the DPF equipped Bluetec can be contributing to these failures? This spec change dropped Zn from 1100 PPM to 900 PPM, HTHS from 3.7 to 3.6, phosphorus from 1000 PPM to 800 PPM, and sulfated ash from 900 PPM to 600 PPM. We could get a decent 5W40 and 5W30 in 229.5 and 229.51 until recently when is was all superseded by the 0W30.
Will 229.52 with even lower typical TBN, HTHS and vicosity (for the dealer used Mobil 1 ESP 0W30) be even more harmful? Mobil 1 does not list a flash point for the ESP 0W30, the SDS just states "Greater that 200"...the 5W30 was 254!
I am concerned that these aspects plus the higher and higher operating temperatures to gain fuel economy and reduced emissions are having a detrimental effect on our engine life.
I have found a Lucas 229.52 rated oil in a 10W60 weight (which is listed in the owner's manual as acceptable) that I am intrigued with based on the fact that I tow, have extended city driving and considerable hot weather driving. Any experience with this oil?
Am I just being paranoid?
I just bought a CPO 2014 GL 350 and want to get off on the right foot with this one and plan to put several hundred thousand miles on it.
Is it possible that extended OCI combined with the move from 229.5 to 229.51 for the DPF equipped Bluetec can be contributing to these failures? This spec change dropped Zn from 1100 PPM to 900 PPM, HTHS from 3.7 to 3.6, phosphorus from 1000 PPM to 800 PPM, and sulfated ash from 900 PPM to 600 PPM. We could get a decent 5W40 and 5W30 in 229.5 and 229.51 until recently when is was all superseded by the 0W30.
Will 229.52 with even lower typical TBN, HTHS and vicosity (for the dealer used Mobil 1 ESP 0W30) be even more harmful? Mobil 1 does not list a flash point for the ESP 0W30, the SDS just states "Greater that 200"...the 5W30 was 254!
I am concerned that these aspects plus the higher and higher operating temperatures to gain fuel economy and reduced emissions are having a detrimental effect on our engine life.
I have found a Lucas 229.52 rated oil in a 10W60 weight (which is listed in the owner's manual as acceptable) that I am intrigued with based on the fact that I tow, have extended city driving and considerable hot weather driving. Any experience with this oil?
Am I just being paranoid?
I just bought a CPO 2014 GL 350 and want to get off on the right foot with this one and plan to put several hundred thousand miles on it.