Factory oil brand, Type & SAE?

[cajundjb]

I did a search for 'engine oil' and pulled up 500 threads. After reading all that pertained to this, unless I missed it, I could not find any that addressed the type of oil that is put in the diesel engine from the factory. Does anyone know what type, brand and SAE they put in initially? I don't want to change the oil in this 2008 3/4 ton until 10,000 miles but the manual on P.322 says to expect the engine to consume ~ 1 quart per 620 miles. It may be a bit finicky but I have always tried to add the same type as needed due to the belief that some different brands, etc don't mix and could cause premature engine wear/failure. This may be an old train of thought but it hasn't failed me yet. Any thoughts/insight would be appreciated. TIA

[jdcaples]

Originally Posted by cajundjb

I did a search for 'engine oil' and pulled up 500 threads. After reading all that pertained to this, unless I missed it, I could not find any that addressed the type of oil that is put in the diesel engine from the factory. Does anyone know what type, brand and SAE they put in initially? I don't want to change the oil in this 2008 3/4 ton until 10,000 miles but the manual on P.322 says to expect the engine to consume ~ 1 quart per 620 miles. It may be a bit finicky but I have always tried to add the same type as needed due to the belief that some different brands, etc don't mix and could cause premature engine wear/failure. This may be an old train of thought but it hasn't failed me yet. Any thoughts/insight would be appreciated. TIA

Most of us find that blurb about oil consumption pretty alarming, too. I didn't burn a perceptible amount of oil in the first 10,000 miles. I think that's true for most of us, as well.


The MB USA, LLC service DVD for another OM642 engine indicated MB 225.14 was the original break in oil. However, there are over a dozen different OM642 variants in North America. There's no comprehensive list of differences, either, at least as far as I've looked.

I think you'll have a tough time finding a supply of break in oil for your Sprinter. The service DVD said that regular MB 229.51 engine oil should be added to the factory fill during the first 10,000 miles if needed.

You may peruse bevo.daimler.com if you're really determined, but I don't believe Chrysler's published what Daimler uses in NAFTA Diesel NCV3 Sprinters as a factory fill for break-in engine oil.

All we know is that it is special and you shouldn't replace it early.

-Jon

[cajundjb]

Jon, thank you very much for the response. I'm in Cincinnati and should pick up the Sprinter this morning. I plan on taking a few back roads heading home and wanted to pick up a spare quart of oil as a precaution. I think I'll pick up some Mobil I as specified in the manual because that's what I'll run for my successive oil changes. I know it cost me $7800.00 in 1990 for a top end job on a Ford International diesel engine. I can only imagine what it would cost for the same job on a foreign diesel engine at today's rates. Those old diesels back then did use quite a bit of oil so it wouldn't have surprised me if this one did as well. But I'm glad to hear that you guys are are seeing less consumption.