ml320 2001 oil consumption - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

drgleb · #1 07-21-2006, 08:54 AM

Ok so I am not going crazy. My ml 320 has 77k on it. purchased with 29K. This thing eats oil. approx every 1000 miles give or take I have to ad a quart of synthetic oil. Has anyone had any luck getting the dealer or MB to address this issue. Any words of wisdom appreciated.

azinn · #2 07-21-2006, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drgleb

Ok so I am not going crazy. My ml 320 has 77k on it. purchased with 29K. This thing eats oil. approx every 1000 miles give or take I have to ad a quart of synthetic oil. Has anyone had any luck getting the dealer or MB to address this issue. Any words of wisdom appreciated.

If you do a Search This Forum for the oil lawsuit you will find all the information you need. See http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=81559&highlight=oil+lawsuit

sdanville · #3 11-30-2006, 10:43 PM

the origional owner of my ML320 used a quart every 1,000 miles for 70,000 miles. he used regular gas.
i use mobil premium and use -0- oil . i have 120,000 miles.
when regular gas is used,,the computer retards the timing and sends the emmission controls out of wack and oil consumption happens.

ILUVMILS · #4 12-02-2006, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drgleb

Has anyone had any luck getting the dealer or MB to address this issue. Any words of wisdom appreciated.

I've seen this scenario played out many times, from start to finish. It's quite simple, but there are some things to keep in mind.

The dealer most likely won't pay for anything. They will however, go to bat for you. You'll need to be patient though. The process takes some time. If your ML isn't included in the O'Keefe Class Action Settlement, don't worry. There's still a good chance MB will help you.

MB will happily pay for the repair if the rate of oil consumption exceeds specification (approx. 1 quart/1,000 miles), and you can prove the vehicle has been properly maintained. The first thing you need to do is call your local dealer and schedule an appointment to begin the process. Before MB will consider any warranty assistance, the dealer MUST document the rate of oil consumption. They'll need to retreive some information from your vehicles' instrument cluster (this is where the oil change data is stored), and change the oil and filter. After that, just drive as you normally would. They'll probably tell you to add oil if necessary, or they may offer to do it for you, if it's convenient. The vehicles' instrument cluster will recognize any replenishments and store the information. You'll probably have to drive it for at least 1,000 miles. Then, you'll go back to the dealer and they'll retreive the oil data from the instrument cluster again. They can then calculate the actual rate of consumption.

I'd like to know how you make out. I hear plenty of negative comments about dealer support, but this is one situation where the dealer should definitely help you out. Good luck and keep us posted.

sdanville · #5 12-02-2006, 10:42 PM

Dear Mr Master Tech.

What is the cure for the common ML320 oil consumption. This is the 1st I have read Mercedes is happy to fix a ML that uses a quart every 1.000 miles.

Steve

ILUVMILS · #6 12-03-2006, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdanville

Dear Mr Master Tech.
What is the cure for the common ML320 oil consumption.

By far, the most common cause of excessive oil consumption is worn, or sticking oil rings. The cure is to replace them. This requires a complete tear-down of the engine, and close inspection of the cylinder walls. If excessive scoring/wear of the cylinder walls is found, we replace the block, along with a set of factory-fitted pistons and rings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdanville

This is the 1st I have read Mercedes is happy to fix a ML that uses a quart every 1.000 miles.Steve

The few occasions I've seen MB refuse to help were when the criteria outlined in my original post were not met. If the documentation doesn't support the claim of excessive oil consumption, or, if the vehicle hasn't been serviced properly, MB won't do a thing about it. However, if the paperwork is in order, there's never a problem. So far this year, my shop has done about two dozen re-ring jobs, and three engine block/piston jobs, on vehicles that were well out of warranty. In each case, there was no problem getting MB to pay for the work.

sdanville · #7 12-03-2006, 11:22 AM

Thank you for the reply. That almost makes me wonder even more things.

If it is the rings, are there certain years that are effected?
The reringing I assume are a new style ring ?
Is the early wear due to design flaws or the over optomistic maintenance schedule ? I read a lot about sludge - I think lots of readers would love to hear the whole story. Unless I missed a thread this is a revelation for many.

I had an exceptional problem. I bought my ML320 cheap because of the oil consumption. All I did was change the oil, gas octane, and cleaned the EGR tube and totally cured the oil consumption. I talked with the talk radio mechanic's and they said i did all the right things. the regular gas retards the timing and contaminates the oil with gasoline and then it thins & burns oil.

ILUVMILS · #8 12-03-2006, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdanville

Thank you for the reply.

You’re welcome.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdanville

If it is the rings, are there certain years that are effected? The reringing I assume are a new style ring ?Is the early wear due to design flaws or the over optomistic maintenance schedule ?

Good question. Oil consumption was never an issue (as far as I know) until the M112/113 engines were produced. As for the oil rings? I don't have a clue. Perhaps the MB engineers on this Forum can answer that question.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdanville

I had an exceptional problem. I bought my ML320 cheap because of the oil consumption. All I did was change the oil, gas octane, and cleaned the EGR tube and totally cured the oil consumption. I talked with the talk radio mechanic's and they said i did all the right things. the regular gas retards the timing and contaminates the oil with gasoline and then it thins & burns oil.

Congratulations, I'm glad your story had a happy ending.

tt33 · #9 12-04-2006, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdanville

Dear Mr Master Tech.

What is the cure for the common ML320 oil consumption. This is the 1st I have read Mercedes is happy to fix a ML that uses a quart every 1.000 miles.

Steve

MBZ will not be happy to pay for correcting the problem. My 99 ML320 engine failed at 77K miles due to the fact MBZ dealers kept changing the fossil oil but at the end they reset the computer reminder to change the oir after 12K miles. It took me about 6 months to prove it was the MBZ problem, and MBZ agreed to pay 50% of engine fix, even though it was 100% of the MBZ dealers fault.

ILUVMILS · #10 12-07-2006, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tt33

MBZ will not be happy to pay for correcting the problem. My 99 ML320 engine failed at 77K miles due to the fact MBZ dealers kept changing the fossil oil but at the end they reset the computer reminder to change the oir after 12K miles. It took me about 6 months to prove it was the MBZ problem, and MBZ agreed to pay 50% of engine fix, even though it was 100% of the MBZ dealers fault.

I'm surprised MB helped at all, since it was the dealers' fault. You need to remember that most MB dealers are privately owned. If the dealer screwed up, then they're the ones that should have been responsible.

sdanville · #11 12-07-2006, 09:26 PM

I am surprised people are relying on guages to tell them when to change the oil. My wife intended to do that because the saleman said thats how it is done. I over ruled in this one area of our lives.

I try and keep it simple with easy numbers to remember.
5000 miles on the chevy equinox with dino Mobil.
every 7500 on the ML320 with Mobil one.
5000 on the Honda civic with valvoline.
3000 on the ST1100 Honda with durablend.
Im just old school.

onesixthree · #12 12-08-2006, 09:07 AM

I have an 02 320 that only burns oil in long trips. I average driving about 30 miles a day ~65-70 mph. On normal day to day driving, I usually get the oil light at about 4k miles after oil change, but when I go on long distance trips, I almost always have to add a quart at some point in the trip. I do drive a bit faster on long hauls, but not by much. Is this normal? Was my engine broken in improperly? I never see any smoke out the exhaust or notice any leaks.

sdanville · #13 12-08-2006, 11:36 PM

after many parts replacements hoping to cure problems on my ML320. , I can say this, there are many answers for a simple question...like why do i use oil.
In a perfect world no, you shouldnt burn even a quart between oil changes.
it can be a stick ring, too low octane gas, worn rings, contaminated oil, your computer out of sinc, some silly emission control thing , vacuum leak , etc.
maybe when we all switch to hydrogen engines we can eliminate all the emmission contral stuff and have simple engines like pre-1970's.

steve