Just had car serviced and they used..

[timwood2000]

Shell 10w40 oil. Having always had Mobil Synt S before, I queried this and the guy said that they had been issued with a new directive from Mercedes that they no longer needed to use the 'expensive stuff' and that this was just fine.

Smells like BS to me - am I worrying about nothing or should I be thinking of finding someone to do an oil and filter change, despite a 10 day old B service?

Thanks

 

[GeorgeA]

Its the spec that is important not the brand name. MB 229.5 perhaps?

I had Shell last time MB serviced the car so I would not be bothered

 

[jaymanek]

10w40 doesnt sound right to me... a 0-40 or 5-30 would be better IMO.

Was this a dealer?

 

[grober]

Depends what variety of Shell 10w40 it is but doesn't seem right as Jay says . You must find out exactly what oil was used and whether it meets the correct specification for your particular car. This should be listed in your owners handbook or on the online owners information. In particular check it has the low ash spec number if your car exhaust is fitted with a diesel particulate filter. e.g. 229.51 not 229.5
http://www.whnet.com/4x4/oil.html

 

[grober]

HERE ARE THE SPECS FROM THE ONLINE INTERACTIVE MANUAL

R 300 CDI

R 300 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY

R 300 CDI 4MATIC

R 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC

R 350 CDI 4MATIC

R 350 CDI 4MATIC (Belgium)

MB Sheet number

Vehicles without a diesel particle filter

(Only for certain countries.)


228.3, 228.5, 228.51, 229.3, 229.31, 229.5, 229.51

MB Sheet number

Vehicles with a diesel particle filter


228.51, 229.31, 229.51

 

[timwood2000]

10w40 doesnt sound right to me... a 0-40 or 5-30 would be better IMO.

Was this a dealer?

Yes - MB Canterbury. I didn't ask exactly what oil it was. The whole experience was v disappointing and just felt generally fobbed off.

 

[timwood2000]

So - should, for peace of mind, I go for an oil and filter change? Is this going to be an A service in MB language?

 

[GeorgeA]

So - should, for peace of mind, I go for an oil and filter change? Is this going to be an A service in MB language?

Usually the oil spec is given on the invoice or on the service book.

Why not phone and speak to the dealer principal and explain how you felt about your service experience and the oil spec issue. At least give them the opprotunity to resolve this.

If still not satisfied then write to MBUK in Milton Keynes.

 

[rf065]

There was a thread before saying that Mercedes are no longer using Mobil.
My last service is marked as Castrol being used & others have had Shell.

As long as it meets 229.5 or the relevant spec for your engine, it will be fine.

Russ

 

[Smiley]

I would suggest that you go back to MB canterbury and ask to see the spec of the oil that they have used - and get them to write it down. If it does not meet the spec reqd for your car it is up to them to change it not you.

 

[phil c]

i worked at mb hull for 6 years ,and we always used shell helix ultra or ultra ax (low ash ) , i highly recomend this oil and use it eqclusivey in my own garage . i would give the dealer a chance and ask what spec of shell oil they use

 

[Smiley]

i worked at mb hull for 6 years ,and we always used shell helix ultra or ultra ax (low ash ) , i highly recomend this oil and use it eqclusivey in my own garage . i would give the dealer a chance and ask what spec of shell oil they use

are either of those 10/40 though?

 

[Dryce]

So - should, for peace of mind, I go for an oil and filter change? Is this going to be an A service in MB language?

Ask the dealer.

On a MB dealer service I had last year they simply stated it was Castrol (previously it had been Mobil 1). I phoned and they confirmed the details of the oil used - ISTR at the time it wasn't something I'd seen retailed.

You're right to be concerned as the Shell Helix variants that are 229.5 seem to be 0w40 and 5w40 whereas as the 229.1 variants are available in 10w40.

 

[timskemp]

i worked at mb hull for 6 years ,and we always used shell helix ultra or ultra ax (low ash ) , i highly recomend this oil and use it eqclusivey in my own garage . i would give the dealer a chance and ask what spec of shell oil they use

Hi - from a fellow Hull dweller - mine gets serviced at Steve Barraclough's and he's another shell helix user.

Service before last though MB had an offer on branded oil and it got that. Personally as long as it's up to spec for protection, an low viscosity for economy (I do high miles) I don't mind, it's had Castrol in the past too.

Anyone who's concerned can just buy their own from Opie or a local factors - I've done that before.

 

[wemorgan]

I find the Opie Oil webpage useful when searching for a particular oil grade and spec. Their search tool seems to suggest 0W-30 or 5W-30 like:

Fuchs TITAN GT1 5W-30 Zinc-Free Synthetic BMW LL04, MB229.31, MB229.51
or
Castrol EDGE Turbo Diesel 0W-30 For Modern High Performance Diesel Engines

HTH

 

[jaymanek]

Im no oil expert but 80's and early 90's cars use 10w40... We wouldnt use 10w40 in anything relatively modern... the cold viscosity just seems too thick...

 

[timwood2000]

Just by way of a quick update - having failed to get any response to 2 emails to MB Canterbury, I called MB Head Office customer services (who were very helpful and friendly).

They called me back in about an hour and said that having checked with their technicians, that the Shell 10w40 was indeed suitable for my car and was 228.3 compliant. In explanation as to why I thought my car wasn't running as smoothly as it was before the service, they said that it was possible that they had not programmed the car for that oil (?).

They seemed more concerned that I hadn't had a response to 2 emails and were going to get onto the dealer about their lack of response.

Anyway, for peace of mind, I am booked in at Vikings for an oil and filter change tomorrow morning (using Mobil 1). An expensive lesson for straying away from a decent dealer, just because the others were cheap.

 

[wemorgan]

Out of interest, if the Shell oil is MB compliant why are you still going to change the oil to Mobil?

 

[timwood2000]

Good question - partly because of some of the comments in this thread suggesting that they wouldn't use it, an secondly, the car just feels different - less smooth, slightly louder and lastly, I have no confidence in the servicing dealer now.

It might well be a waste of money, but until I find out if it runs better with a different oil, I am always going to be wondering what if... - especially as I have 15,500 miles to go until nex service is due!

Thanks everyone for your comments

 

[wemorgan]

Thanks for the quick response.

The reason I ask is that I too have recently switched oil, in a very different car to you, a Smart ForTwo.

Here's my thread: http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/engine/72923-10w-40-full-synth-oil-smart-car.html

Since going from a 5W-40 to a 10W-50 I subjectively feel that the car is a little more noisy on cold starts and less responsive. Though I accept this might just be in my head. On a positive note, it's not burning any oil, but it's rather too early to tell the long term outcome.