How to Choose the Right Motor Oil for Mercedes

Giancarlo Perlas March 31, 2017

If you own a Mercedes-Benz, you surely have an eye for quality, an appreciation of luxury and unprecedented class. Whether you drive an executive model or a sporty little number, it is important to properly maintain your car.

Mercedes epitomises high quality German engineering, but if you want it to last for years to come then it needs to be serviced every 10,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first. During the service, the car’s filters should be replaced and the engine’s oil drained and changed. Of course, you should use the right motor oil for Mercedes to get optimum results.

Why is Regular Servicing Important?

Frequently servicing your Mercedes helps it to run more efficiently, prevents build-up of grime and pollution in the filters and protects the engine. The engine is essentially the heart of the car so looking after it is important. It helps retain the vehicle’s longevity and in the first few years is essential to retain the manufacturer’s warranty.

To ensure your Mercedes is properly maintained, it is vital you choose the correct engine oil and install good quality filters. The filters should be the same brand as the ones currently on the car. Manufacturers vary depending on the model but choosing cheaper brands could affect the longevity and performance of the filters. With such an expensive and luxurious car, it is not worth cutting corners.

What to Look for in an Oil?

The oil you choose for your Mercedes will depend on whether your car runs on diesel or gasoline. Engine oil is a blend of oil and specially formulated additives which lubricate internal combustion engines. It is also used in reciprocating and pistonless rotary engines.

The formula reduces heat and prolongs the overall wear of the moving parts within this type of engine. Incidentally, using a good quality engine oil prevents carbon build-up, stops corrosion and extends the life of an engine.

There are three different types of oil available; conventional, fully synthetic and a synthetic blend. Cars which are newer are designed to run on fully synthetic oil while older cars can use both synthetic types and conventional oil. Fully synthetic oil is more expensive as it is better quality. Conventional oil and synthetic blends are cheaper but they must be changed more often and they are not as durable.

The other thing that must be considered when choosing an oil for your Mercedes is the SAE viscosity grade. This varies from model to model, but the manual will state which one your vehicle requires. Most engines require multi-grade viscosity oil because this is suitable for both hot and cold start up temperatures.

Engine oil has two numbers on the bottle. If for example you see 20W-50 on the label, this is a multi-grade oil and it is suitable for use in all seasons. The 20W tells you the viscosity of the oil when the car is started up in the cold.

The W stands for winter. While the last number, the 50 in this case, indicates the viscosity during high temperatures. In simple terms, the oil will flow through the engine at low temperatures or cold weather and will keep the engine protected even in hotter weather.

Multi-grade oil is very versatile. However, it is always important to use the exact oil Mercedes recommend. Using the wrong oil could cause serious wear on your engine.

The final thing to consider when changing the oil on your Mercedes is the volume you require. Usually it is between 4 and 5 litres, and not adding enough could have serious implications.