If you have read my past posts on the Sprinter you may know that I was once very excited to see that my 2015 Sprinter and even the new 2019's boast 20,000 mile oil change intervals. That was a good thing in my mind, as an oil change easily costs hundreds of dollars. The reason it costs $200 dollars Plus at every change is because there are around 13 quarts of the pricey synthetic oil to change.
While my Sprinter has not shown any issues thus far, with abit over 48,000 miles on it at this point, I have read some disappointing, scary and costly accounts, some from owners and some most recently from a retired MB mechanic of 50 years.
It would seem prudent from what I have learned, that I should probably switch from using the Mobil 1 5w-30 that Mercedes uses and onto something better, something perhaps that meets and exceeds the ACEA E9 rating or API CI-4, CJ-4 and CK-4 ratings. Whatever I decide to use, i will be changing it far more often. Unfortunately, it isn't easy to locate such an oil that also carries the MB 229.5 approval, so I will update this blog when (or if) I do.
The 20,000 mile oil change intervals do not apply to "arduous conditions", unfortunately most people did not know that driving to the store was considered "arduous". However, city driving is now defined as "arduous" with Mercedes (listed in the 2019 manual), so more frequent oil changes should occur to maintain your engine's life and your money.
This is a good time to remember that manufacture suggested maintenance is always the minimum, not the most ideal for the longest engine life.
I will be changing the oil and filter every 10,000 miles, rather than manufacture's listed 20,000 intervals.
For more information I will refer you to the site: StephensService.com.
After reading this blog you will likely learn what a catch tank is and why our US BlueTec engines don't have them and why they should. You will learn what effect the removal of zinc in your motor oil has on your timing chain and why it isn't there anymore.You will also know what the Noack Volatility Test is about and why you should really care and why Mobil 1 and other brands don't list this information on their products. Lastly, you will be a smarter consumer, possibly even looking up data sheets, as I now do on diesel motor oils (online) to better understand how the oil really performs, it's in the numbers, not the fiction they write on the bottle.
While my Sprinter has not shown any issues thus far, with abit over 48,000 miles on it at this point, I have read some disappointing, scary and costly accounts, some from owners and some most recently from a retired MB mechanic of 50 years.
It would seem prudent from what I have learned, that I should probably switch from using the Mobil 1 5w-30 that Mercedes uses and onto something better, something perhaps that meets and exceeds the ACEA E9 rating or API CI-4, CJ-4 and CK-4 ratings. Whatever I decide to use, i will be changing it far more often. Unfortunately, it isn't easy to locate such an oil that also carries the MB 229.5 approval, so I will update this blog when (or if) I do.
The 20,000 mile oil change intervals do not apply to "arduous conditions", unfortunately most people did not know that driving to the store was considered "arduous". However, city driving is now defined as "arduous" with Mercedes (listed in the 2019 manual), so more frequent oil changes should occur to maintain your engine's life and your money.
This is a good time to remember that manufacture suggested maintenance is always the minimum, not the most ideal for the longest engine life.
I will be changing the oil and filter every 10,000 miles, rather than manufacture's listed 20,000 intervals.
For more information I will refer you to the site: StephensService.com.
After reading this blog you will likely learn what a catch tank is and why our US BlueTec engines don't have them and why they should. You will learn what effect the removal of zinc in your motor oil has on your timing chain and why it isn't there anymore.You will also know what the Noack Volatility Test is about and why you should really care and why Mobil 1 and other brands don't list this information on their products. Lastly, you will be a smarter consumer, possibly even looking up data sheets, as I now do on diesel motor oils (online) to better understand how the oil really performs, it's in the numbers, not the fiction they write on the bottle.
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