Sorry bit of a 'dipstick' question!

[peterg1965]

Hopefully someone will know the answer!

I need to top up the oil in my GL320CDI, it has done 3850 miles now, although not desperately in need of a top up the level is getting close to the 'min' marker on the dipstick.

I have checked in the handbook under 'engine oil' and it is not clear what I need to buy! It isn't in some kind of standard format that I am used to. It is also different for engines with a DPF. I do not know if mine has a DPF!

So, dumb question, what oil do I need to buy?

 

[recycled]

just call the service desk to make sure.
i think it is mobil 1

 

[grober]

DPF means diesel particulate filter. I'm not sure if your car has one or not. It should say in the car data sheet on perhaps on a sticker in the engine compartment. If your car has a DPF it requires a low ash engine oil to prevent clogging up this filter. This has a slightly different spec number than the oil for non particulate filter cars.

 

[peterg1965]

just call the service desk to make sure.
i think it is mobil 1

I will give the dealership a call tomorrow morning. I would have thought a UK spec GL would have a DPF, could be wrong though! NO doubt a MB dealer will charge me a small fortune for a litre of top up oil!

 

[recycled]

you do not have to get it from them. after confirming mine,and the visco numbers, i went to costco and got it cheap

 

[st4]

I will give the dealership a call tomorrow morning. I would have thought a UK spec GL would have a DPF, could be wrong though! NO doubt a MB dealer will charge me a small fortune for a litre of top up oil!

I thought all the V6 diesels have one.

 

[MBManInKen]

I need to top up the oil in my GL320CDI, it has done 3850 miles now

Isn't that a very high oil consumption?

Mine never needs a topup. I do check the oil levels via the dipstick as I'm a bit paranoia about these things , but have never had to add oil in between services.

 

[hawk20]

I thought all the V6 diesels have one.

No. There was a period when DPF's were needed to meet EU regs but then MB got the engines cleaner and DPFs have been dropped on most cars.

Halfords are quite cheap for oil if there is no Costco near you.

Several recent new diesels i have had or driven have used oil for the first few thousand miles and then after settling down, hardly used any. The S320cdi used a litre before the first service at 15k but used almost none before the second service. No idea why.

 

[hawk20]

Diesel particulate filters are not used now on most MB models.
I can confirm that the current E class diesels do not have a diesel particulate filter.

In fact, the only vehicles that are now fitted as standard with DPF are the ML and GL 320/420 CDI’s and the S320CDI. DPF is not even listed as an option for other models.
http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=451974&highlight=particulate#post451974

 

[Dieselman]

Isn't that a very high oil consumption?

Not on a new direct injection engine. They can really consume then gradually it abates. Often it will take 10k miles to stem the flow.

 

[IanA2]

My M class needed about the same amount of oil at 3.5K miles. Never needed topping up again.

 

[Diesel Benz]

I would buy MB 229.51 grade engine oil and it would be fine for the car irrespectively if it had a DPF or not.

 

[hawk20]

I would buy the oil recommended in the handbook.

 

[GeorgeA]

Often there is a sticker in the engine compartment that states the oil spec required. May have to remove plastic engine cover to see this.

I would expect for a DPF the MB spec 229.31 or 229.51 would be appropriate but please check beforehand.

 

[kwakdonut]

For the sake of being cost-effective, DO NOT buy 1 litre top-up bottles!!! Buy a 4 or 5 Litre can instead.