First oil analysis in 2007 Mercedes Benz ML320CDI

[TDI's RULE]

Total miles on unit - 5,197
Oil from factory is Mobil1 5w-40 Formula 1 MB spec 229.51

Iron - 49
Chromium - 2
Lead - 2
Copper - 16
Tin - 0
Aluminum - 8
Nickel - 0
Silicon - 23
Boron - 54
Sodium - 7
Magnesium - 16
Calcium - 2402
Barium - 0
Phosphorus - 693
Zinc - 699
Molybdenum - 102
Titanium - 0
Vanadium - 0
Potassium - 0
Fuel Visc100 - 12.01
Water - 0
Soot/solids - .29
TBN - 4.43

Analysis completed by Oil Analyzers
Anybody know what TBN starts at in this oil?
MB doesn't recommend a first oil change until 10,000 miles. However since Fe is already 49, SI is 23, Visc100 is already is the high 30 range and TNB is low, I am going to change the oil tomorrow and retest at 10,000 miles.

 

[buster]

You could make 10k most likely based on these numbers. Changing it out early won't be a problem though either. Wear metals are within range for break-in. Tbn is strong at 4.43. Visc. is low but could thicken back up over the course of the longer 10k mile drain interval.

 

[TDI's RULE]

DOes anybody know the starting TBN of this oil?

 

[wjdell]

Good results for a new engine - I would change it and I would use the same oil. Its currently the thickest oil with less than .65 ash. I thought I read somewhere the TBN was about 8, I looked in my files and can not confirm that.

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
TDI's RULE - A very good UOA on a new engine. The MB factory fill is likely to be a "tuned" version of Delvac 1 5w-40 (going by the viscosity - as Esso XD3 0w-40 is and etc)

This was always a favorite for their diesel engined vehicles ex the factory

 

[FordSVT]

Looks Very Good!

Thats about 1/2 of the oil life. 10k OCI is spot on!

 

[TDI's RULE]

Well I had it at the dealer for a recall item . While there I had them change oil. In my opinion, the silicon was 2 points away from abnormal and the viscosity was in the 5w-37 range already. I just felt it was best to get the breakin oil out with any "floater" from the casting process. Hopefully this will help in my quest in higher fuel mileage! This will be hard to do coming from a 2003 VW Jetta TDI. I usre miss MY LittleTDI!

 

[milehighassassin]

Is it just me or is that silicon high? Is that from the new engine? Additives? or a leaky air filter seal?

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: milehighassassin
Is it just me or is that silicon high? Is that from the new engine? Additives? or a leaky air filter seal?
Silicone sealer.

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: TDI's RULE
Well I had it at the dealer for a recall item . While there I had them change oil. In my opinion, the silicon was 2 points away from abnormal and the viscosity was in the 5w-37 range already. I just felt it was best to get the breakin oil out with any "floater" from the casting process. Hopefully this will help in my quest in higher fuel mileage! This will be hard to do coming from a 2003 VW Jetta TDI. I usre miss MY LittleTDI!


Silicon will always be high in new engines. Changing this oil would be a complete waste.

 

[boxcab]

These are surprisingly close to my numbers. I have the same engine, albeit in a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I have added my numbers to the right of yours (in parentheses). BTW, my factory fill is Mobil 1 ESP 5W-30, which is what you also appear to have, given the viscosity reading.

Originally Posted By: TDI's RULE
Total miles on unit - 5,197 (6,147)
Oil from factory is Mobil 1 5w-40 (5W-30) Formula 1 (ESP) MB spec 229.51

Iron - 49 (44)
Chromium - 2 (1)
Lead - 2 (0)
Copper - 16 (10)
Tin - 0 (0)
Aluminum - 8 (6)
Nickel - 0 (0)
Silicon - 23 (17)
Boron - 54 (53)
Sodium - 7 (3)
Magnesium - 16 (19)
Calcium - 2402 (1965)
Barium - 0 (0)
Phosphorus - 693 (690)
Zinc - 699 (772)
Molybdenum - 102 (107)
Titanium - 0 (0)
Vanadium - 0 (0)
Potassium - 0 (0)
Fuel (b>
Visc100 - 12.01 (11.39)
Water - 0 (0)
Soot/solids - .29 (0.33)
TBN - 4.43 (4.44)

Analysis completed by Oil Analyzers
Anybody know what TBN starts at in this oil?


Since mine was getting into the abnormal range for iron, I changed mine out, but otherwise it was doing fine. I just passed 6,250 miles on the second fill and have sent in a sample. I also changed the filter. After 12,500+ miles, I've added less than 1 liter of oil. BTW, I had the initial (factory) fill tested at 1020 miles for a baseline reading of 6.00 TBN, 11.75 cSt viscosity.

Doug