My B200's first oil change is computer scheduled for 23000 kms. Not bad for the fine little paper filter that is used. Normal consumption on any motor should be around .5 to .75 liter per 5000 k. So raise that bonnet often and check your oil level between oil changes. A good synthetic oil filter has many filtering membranes. Our "B" filter does not. Purchase one from the dealer and see what I mean. I change my oil on a more regular basis than the computer recommends. I always use Mobil 1 full synthetic and if you know of a better oil than this, please let me know! Regular car filters remove particles and such but they don't address fuel and water dilution in our oil. Heat brakes down these long chain molecules in our oil and offers less protection as time wears on. Remember when we changed our oil depending on time or mileage,whichever came first? That wasn't a bad idea. Here where I live, north of Montreal, our weather changes from -40 C to +38 C as the seasons change and for me that's too extreme for 20000 to 23000 k of driving. Changing the oil yourself is a simple job, if you can find the oil filter and have a few long extensions and a big socket. Hint , look down from the firewall and' voila,' there it is! Be delicate because it's all plastic!!! Cheers, Derek
Last edited by Derek Lecours : 06-12-2007 at 07:51 AM.
Is it easy to replace oil on this car? I thought it would be difficult due to the shape/place of the engine... On all of my previous cars i replaced oil much earlier than the main services.. You are right Derek. Also.. another problem .. where to dispose the used oil?? I think its pretty bad for the environment..
In the UK the recommended oil is Shell Helix AX5W30 and is extremly expensive especially when supplied by Mercedes costing about £80 (roughly 150 Canadian Dollars C$) for the amount required on an oil change, that figure is the oil only & does not include the labour or a filter.
The cheapest I have seen it is about £10 per litre (20 C$).
I agree about the lengthy oil change period I used to have a Renault Scenic Diesel & I used to like to change that every 6,000 miles. But with oil at these prices that is not a viable option.
In the UK our recycling centres will take the oil & I gather it is recycled & probably ends up back in my sump after processing.
Do you guys use the Dip Stick or the Electronic dashboard indication for checking the level of your oil ??
Hello again my helpful friend "gsp1". Changing the oil is one of the easiest jobs to do on a car. The filter on our 'B' class is a cartridge type and this is better enviromentaly but a little different from what we're used to. Oil recycling is very easy in Canada due to the many local recycling centers, and car service centers will also accept used oil, sometimes with a small drop off fee. Large department stores often have specials and sell synthetic oil at $ 19 to $25 for a 4.4 liter jug of Valvoline or Quaker State or Mobil 1 . A really good price compared to what many of you have to pay, so it makes it easier to change our oil more often. Our MB dealer uses Quaker State synthetic oil on our 'B' class and Mobil 1 on the more expensive models and a past history of working with "NHRA" drag racers shows that Mobil 1 keeps their motors together longer. But I'll try to find out more about the Shell Helix oils, because I'm always interested in better products. I always rely on the dipstick. If I saw a light come on showing low oil I'd probably think I've cooked the motor. In the good old days, if you saw a low oil light, it was already too late and the motor was fried. Cheers for now. Derek
Last edited by Derek Lecours : 06-14-2007 at 02:32 PM.
Mercedes actually state that you should use the dashboard method which relies on oil temperature being at a certain value for accurate readings. Personally I think the dipstick method is safer & more accurate. Sensors can go wrong 2 marks on a dipstick cannot. Also on the B class you have to go into the correct mode to get the oil level electronically with the Scenic it automatically showed the level prior to startup which was a much better method as you could see before each journey if the oil level was low.
Interesting article "oil against oils" I did note,however, that they were using the Shell 15 w 50 & not the 5 w 30 as recommended by Mercedes. The 5 w 30 should have come higher up in the results tables I would have thought.
Perhaps Mercedes are recommending it for some financial reason !!
It is surprising how different brands & viscosities alter the BHP performance.
According to MB, their OE oil filters are required for the extended drain intervals of our vehicles.
But, to be safe, replacement of the oil filter between oil changes would be good practice.
By the way, i use Amsoil european formula 5W40 and OE filters.
Cheers!
Hi again Derek, thank you and the other guys for useful info. Mine is still new for replacing oil (just 3200km) and i don't know what oil is inside... I must go and get some tool stuff to start replacing them on my own... Mine also HAS NOT dashboard info about oil so i have to check manually but more surely(!)...
Check Your Oil Level Now !
Linear Mode
