Excessive oil consumption on ML.
 

I knowe we have talked about this in the past, but I want to take a new pole.

How may of you have excessive oil consumption problems on your ML and what is your story??

blau

15,000 on my ML 2000 and can't say that it is consuming oil at all (knock on wood) hope it stay this way.

I have only seen the oil consumption on the vehicles that were not usning synthetic from the beginning. The problem is those 10,000-12,000 mile oil changes. What were they drinking when they came up with that idea?

In the USA, you can't run a car 10k plus miles and not change the oil!

We've had very few complaints at our dealership. Before the Mobil1 became required for the free maintenance plan, we were using Penzoil 15W-40. One other dealer in our district also was having little oil consumption problems, at what we had in common was the Penzoil oil we were using, this was all per our district rep.
Gilly

gilly,

Just to clearified the penzoil you mention were not synthetic.

blau

One more thing your guys. My ML was built Aug 2000. That was the date stamped next to the vin number. Do you guys know if my ML was fill with synthetic from the factory?

thanks

blau

Blau:
Correct, this was 15W-40 dino Penzoil we were using, before MB dropped the synthetis requirement on the dealers for the free maintenance cars.
I'm certain that your truck had synthetic from the factory.
Gilly

Thanks guys for the information. Now I have less to worry about ;).

blau

I wouldn't say you have less to worry about because you never know when the consumption problem will arise. Here's my story.
98 ML320 oil changed at 28K. Within a thousand miles it started to burn oil. No smoke from exhaust, just consumed, it was blowing through the ring because of one scratched cylinder.
They tried to fix the problem first with one synthetic change because MB was paying after they made switch recommendation to syntheic, and then did a second oil change because it was still using oil. That didn't work either.
Finally they pulled the engine, found the scratch and replaced the entire short block. That's the only good part with all I went through.