Question about engine oil for Sprinter

[John1048]

Two questions, please.

First, I have a 2018 Airstream Interstate. Can someone tell me what brand and weight of engine oil is in my Sprinter as it came from the dealer/MB factory.

Second, the manual says 20K for the first service. Is this a reasonable mileage between oil changes? The Interstate is now 24 months in my possession and 8K miles. I've never had a vehicle that has gone so long between oil changes.

Your advice and assistance will be greatly appreciated.

John1048

[KSA63]

According to my brief research, you should use a Mercedes specification 229.51 or 229.52 oil likely in a 5W30 viscosity.

https://www.idparts.com/oil-change-k...42-p-2462.html

My experience with German oil change requirements would suggest that they expect you to get your oil changed at the recommended interval OR yearly if you do not make enough trips to hit the actual mileage interval.
Hopefully someone else knows the official answers for you.
BTW, I also think that 20k miles is too many between changes.
Cheers
Kevin.

[Titus]

Somewhere on-line I found a list of all oils that meet the various MB specs. The oil I use is Northland Eurosyn 5W40. I buy it in 16 gallon drums (the only way they sell it) at a price of $5 per quart.

[Boxster1971]

JOHN1048 - check with a Sprinter dealer. I think there is a time limit, like a year if you don’t drive enough to hit the 20,000 miles. But the ASSYST system should tell you when you need to change oil. If I only drove 4000 mile a year I’d get the oil changed once a year. But others might have better ideas.

[Alex AVI]

JOHN1048 - there are many threads about this, search the forum using keywords "oil change". I will point you to one I am familiar with coz I asked the question on this thread . That should answer your questions (and more detailed discussions even beyond).

[TXWJ]

Its 12 months and up to 20,000 miles whichever is first.

[Ken G]

I have some advice, not about oil but rather oil filters. I learned the hard way DO NOT use anything but the correct oil filter from MB. Driving through Nevada in August the rubber seal on a major brand parts store filter failed. I lost 5-6 qtr. which was splattered throughout engine bay by belts etc. $450 to fix & clean up. The service writer at MB of Henderson said quote "once a week I have to tell someone don't put pep boys sh*t on your Mercedes Benz, it's made in China to fit multiple vehicles." After that I always carried several MB OEM filters in case my van needed service when I was not near a dealer.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by Ken G

I have some advice, not about oil but rather oil filters. I learned the hard way DO NOT use anything but the correct oil filter from MB. Driving through Nevada in August the rubber seal on a major brand parts store filter failed. I lost 5-6 qtr. which was splattered throughout engine bay by belts etc. $450 to fix & clean up. The service writer at MB of Henderson said quote "once a week I have to tell someone don't put pep boys sh*t on your Mercedes Benz, it's made in China to fit multiple vehicles." After that I always carried several MB OEM filters in case my van needed service when I was not near a dealer.

This is good advice. Cheap parts are mostly made in China and fail often. Beware!

[JJKinnerup]

Based upon several MB Sprinter Service Reps recommendations from three states, and common sense, I believe, oil service interval of 15,000 or annually is the guidance I follow. Mann or MB Oil Filters with Mobil ESP Formula M 5W-30 have been the products that I have used since vehicle was new. https://europarts-sd.com/2007-2010sp...lchangekit.asp is a source for the oil and filter. NAPA offers same products less MB filters.

Note that the MB recommended viscosity changed sometime ago from 5W-40 to the current 5W-30. Also, for DIY, the Sprinter crankcase will take some volume from 12.5 to 13.2 quarts of oil. I learned early on that though most kits come with 14 quarts, fill first with 12 quarts, then allow some time before checking the dip stick before adding, very carefully any additional amount of oil! If the crankcase is overfilled, the dash computer will let you know! Changing the oil on this vehicle has been the easiest oil change of any vehicle I have owned.

[Havinfun]

I have a 2017. It is when you go for an annual oil change that you realize you bought a Mercedes.

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by Havinfun

I have a 2017. It is when you go for an annual oil change that you realize you bought a Mercedes.

It’s 13 quarts of oil... and you should use the oil that is certified. So in oil alone you have 130-180.00 (depending where you buy it)...and then add the filter... we are not dealing with a 4 quarts oil change...

It is an expensive oil change no matter how you look at it.

I have done two so far in the 11k miles that I have with my AI... I will be changing it every 10k miles or every year

[Jim Flower]

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

This is good advice. Cheap parts are mostly made in China and fail often. Beware!

I bought an oil filter for my eco diesel from amazon.ca. It was shipped by a Chinese company and it took 2 weeks for delivery. It was 25%of the cost of an oem filter. It was stamped as shown in the photo. ???? Jim

[pivotal1]

It was recommended to me by a Sprinter mechanic at Mercedes of 35 years to use 5w40 diesel truck full synthetic motor oil, Mobil 1 or Amazon 5w40 full synthetic diesel truck motor oil. Change the oil at 12-15 k intervals.
Not only is this oil better for the engine but it also reduces the diesel carbon emissions entering the dpf filter. This oil reduces blow through in the cylinders .
The 5w30 oil is not designed for Diesel engines according to this mechanic.
He also cautioned to always keep the DEF tank mostly full to avoid the cycle of warnings that come on when the DEF level runs low.
I own a 2016 Interstate.