CTD
Stockton, CA, USA
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Thanks for the great information but why is the dipstick not reliable, it seems it would be a positve backup to the electronic monitoring? I guess I have been technologically challenged not relying on all these electronics, to many years of using "hardware."  Thanks for the details on Mobil 1 and Valvoline!
Has anyone found a good service manual for these vehicles?
2012 Roadtrek Agile
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Old Crows
Texas
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krell wrote:I have been using Valvoline Synpower MST 5w-40(VV966) in the OM642 Sprinter Engine for 22,000+ miles now. Meets the the 229.51 spec. I have been buying it at the local NAPA store. I asked what is your best price and how many cases do I need to buy to get that price. I bought enough for 2+ oil changes and for less than $6 a quart.
Another good choice!!!
Old Crows
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Old Crows
Texas
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CTD wrote:Thanks for the great information but why is the dipstick not reliable, it seems it would be a positve backup to the electronic monitoring? I guess I have been technologically challenged not relying on all these electronics, to many years of using "hardware." Thanks for the details on Mobil 1 and Valvoline!
Has anyone found a good service manual for these vehicles?
It's my view that the dip stick depends too much on the temperature of the oil. The volume increases as the oil heats up. The height on the dip stick then changes. You might have been just right and when warm looks over full, which it isn't. It could read OK, when it's actually needing a quart or two, depending on the oil's temperature. Also, oil is left in the upper parts of the engine and needs to drain down to give you an accurate reading. You could add oil and not really need to resulting in it being over full.
(Actually, I recall that mine was telling me that the oil almost needed a quart by the dip stick when I got the Sprinter a year ago. The Assyst said NO. I drove it about another 4500 miles before it told me to add a quart.
Over full is not a good thing on these engines.
The ASSYST system works something like this. With the engine hot... like driven for a good long time (I check at the end of a day's run...). Vehicle level. Turn key to systems "ON" (10,000 warning lights go off and then go away!!!) DO NOT START ENGINE!
Push on the button marked "M" and cycle through the selections until you see an oil can picture on the amber display. To the right of the oil can will be three dashes, __ __ __. They will begin to blink and within about 30 seconds it will read.... OK, 1 QT, 2QT (meaning add that amount of oil). There may be another reading indicating you are LOW!!!! Don't want to see that!!!
So simple! So easy! No greasy hands or screwing around with the hood, dip stick, and greasy paper towels.
I hope this helps!
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bobo35
Baton Rouge, La. USA
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Try royal Purple;
http://www.royalpurple.com/?utm_source=B/Y&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=B/Y_Royal_Purple_Text
Also they make a premium filter that will last the lifetime of the oil...which should be a consideration when changing your oil.
SW
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gdoug83
Central Florida
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CTD wrote:How long do you go between changes?
The oil change interval is 2 years or 10K whichever comes first. I changed at 2 years. I only have 5000 miles on mine. Don't get out much. The computer will tell you in the display when you turn the key that you are X days overdue and it will remind you every day until you change the oil....or fudge and fix the ASSYST. When that first started telling me I'm thinking, I only bought this 16 months ago, but then I remember the chassis was on the RT lot as an '09. The RT part is 2010. So it had been sitting there a while before the build date.
Doug
2010 RT RS Adventurous
Sprinter 3500
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gdoug83
Central Florida
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CTD here's a great site for MB Sprinter chassis information and help. Everything you ever wanted to know about Sprinters.
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CTD
Stockton, CA, USA
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Thanks everyone! I guess it's the two years that I have trouble with and the service intervals/lubes required are different than my Dodge. There's nothing that says I can't do the oil at earlier times but to toss pricey oil isn't attractive either. Today I changed my Cummin's oil in the Dodge with Valvoline Premium Blue, so for giggles I checked the container. It says it can be used in vehicles with particulate filters BUT the Mercedes Benz acceptance on the label is for 228.31, not 228.51 or 229.whatever. When did it get so complicated! Probably with all the air quality stds. I'm use to no particulate filter nor DEF fluid etc.
I did check out the Sprinter site and it is a wealth of information as well...thanks!
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mowog
Maryland
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I think Mobil1 ESP meets the MB specs and should be available most places.
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My Roadtrek
Tucson, AZ.
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Joined: 03/20/2002
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Mercedes-Benz Engine Oil Recommendations
Scroll down to "A Few Mercedes-Benz Approved Oils"
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CTD
Stockton, CA, USA
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I've written the Mobil 1 ESP down for reference but I was unable to open the link to the M-Benz oil recommendations. I have an ignorant computer that does't have WORD. I did find a list of M-Benz oils that listed a lot of European brands along with a few American labels.
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