ML270 Engine Oil

[vRS]

Hi, can anyone please tell me the grade of engine oil that i need for my ML270?
I have had a look at the service history book and it just lists the make that has been used (Mobil and Castrol) but not the grade.

Does the engine oil need to be specific for diesels?
I have a little oil left in a bottle of 'Castrol SLX Professional Longtec 0W-30' is this okay to use to top-up?

Thanks

 

[partsspecialist]

We use Mobil here whereas at Bolton i know they use Castrol. Both branches use 5w30 synthetic for CDI cars.

We only use 0w40 on AMG powered vehicles and some Smart cars.

 

[panason1c]

I use Mobil 0w-40 synthetic in mine.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I use Mobil 0w-40 synthetic in mine.

+1

Ideally look for an oil approved by MB. The container should have a list of approval codes from various manufacturers. For MB they start 229, followed by a decimal, the higher the decimal the better it's rated by MB, therefore aim for 229.3 as a minimum, or ideally 229.5.

Mobil 1 is the probably the oil of choice for many owners, and satisfies 229.5, and can be bagged for £20 plus VAT from Costco for four litres - you'll need two containers though.

Find out more about approvals here: http://www.whnet.com/4x4/oil.html

 

[mikevernon]

Alternatively you can buy some of my 5W40 Shell Helix Ultra Diesel at around £3 per litre.

This oil is fully synthetic and satisfies Mercedes 229.5

See my ad in the For Sale forum or email me at [email protected]

 

[Dieselman]

the higher the decimal the better it's rated by MB, therefore aim for 229.3 as a minimum, or ideally 229.5.

That is only partially true as latterly oil specs have changed to give better mpg at the expense of ultimate engine protection so a higher number will reflect that as well.
One really needs to know what the specification means.
For example a 229.3 and 229.5 oils are both decent oils but 229.5 is classed as long-life, but how is that achieved? Generally by using lower viscosity oil to allow for thickening.
For a non particulate filtered diesel a 229.5 diesel specific oil would be better than a 229.51 as that isn't a diesel specific oil, but is designed to reduce small particles entering the FAP.

Complicated innit..

 

[x332race]

Its very complicated.
I have a C270CDI. This is the 1st diesel I have owned.....do I have to put diesel specific oil in engine or can I use the oil I have been using for my previous petrol engined cars (all to MB 229.5 spec). I do not believe that the C270CDI has a particulate filter.

 

[Dieselman]

You can use a mutipurpose oil, but a diesel specific one would be better as it combats carbon build up better.
Not all oils labelled 'Diesel' are deisel specific. If it says not for use in petrol engines then that is a specific oil, if it says low ash then that's a petrol engine oil.
The TBN (total base number) is usually a giveaway. Diesel specific oils are generally much higher.

The 229.51 oils are basically petrol engine oils.

 

[Number_Cruncher]

For some more on the detail of MB oil requirements;

http://www.w124performance.com/docs/general/oil_rating_info.pdf

Where it shows that 229.5 & 229.3 oils have a lower allowable wear limit on cam and cylinder than the 229.1 oils - which suggests to me that there isn't a problem with the protection they offer.