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G
I know BMW had alot of problems with their 4.0 V8 engines. I believe BMW may use the same coating on the engines, I don't believe "Nikasil" is proprietary to either manufacturer. I am unsure if the coating was a root problem on the BMW engine. I haven't heard anything out of MB that would cast a negative light on the cylinder coating, and again, I am unsure if Nikasil is the correct type of coating, I am fairly sure though.
Some early MB 112 engine had to be replaced, but I believe on the earlier engines it was due to an early engine tolerance problem, resulting in a problem referred to as "keyholing" of the cylinder, maybe there is a machinist who could better address what this is. The FSS "oil sludging" problem seems to be connected to the use of non-synthetic oil and the extended oil change life. We have had very few problems associated with this, as I mentioned earlier. I believe the use of synthetic oil will keep problems to a minimum. The vehicles I mentioned earlier that are doing fine at 200,000 miles on non-synthetic oil and FSS service intervals are vehicles which are driven almost completely for highway use, this may be an important component in why these particular engines are holding up so well.
Gilly
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