I just paid $250 for an oil change!

[maggie88ca]

So I have a new 2008 Jeep Cherokee diesel and had to get the first oil change.  I went to my local quickie lube place and they said they don't carry that kind of oil and that I would have to take it to the dealer.  I took it to the dealer and they said it would cost $250 for an oil change.  To make a long story short no one carries the specific synthic oil I need.  Dealer says its Mobile One ESP low ash synthetic and that they have to import it. 

Can this be true?

Where do other Cherokee owners get their oil changed?

Can I use something other than the SAE 5w-30 synthetic low ash oil the manual recommends?

Thanks.

[random006]

Here is a link from the UK that has the product at roughly £16 per litre or a little under $30.00 CDN.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_256991_langId_-1_categoryId_165581

The question becomes, how many litres get used to flush and then replace the oil in your Jeep?  Add labour charges and you then have an expected bill.  Does that jibe with the $250.00 bill you received?

[vdk]

Or you could use w/e Benz recommends for their CDI.

[tpl]

These are the magic words

    * ACEA C2/C3, ACEA A3/B3, ACEA A3/B4; API CF
    * ACEA A5/B5; API SL/SM
    * VW 504 00/507 00; MB-Approval 229.31/229.51; BMW Longlife 04;

The ACEA  A5/B5 rating and C2/C3  would be the ratings that matter for the emission controls.

Maybe VW 507 spec oil ( Castrol)  or whatever BMW sell for the 335D would be ok as well as the MB CDI oil

[airbalancer]

Is the $250 for a oil change or for an oil change service
I have seen it were they throw on extra things in an oil change service, eg air filters, interior filter

[maggie88ca]

Nope $250 was just for the oil change, at that price I certainly didn't want any extras.   

Any other Cherokee diesel owners around?

[safristi]

.....................WELL LUBED.............................

[maggie88ca]

No other Cherokee diesel owners on the boards?

Does everyone just take it to the dealer?

[mrthompson]

Perhaps you should pose your question at a Jeep-specific forum?  Try jeepsunlimited.com

[articsteve]

Go to Esso Bulk Fuel and Lubricants dealer and buy that special Mobil 1 oil for about 35% that the dealer charges.  Last time I was I think it was around $11.00 a litre.  You buy by the case.

[PJungnitsch]

Here's a partial list of oils that meet the that Mercedes spec:

MB sheet 229.51 approved oils; low ash long life
Mercedes pioneered this new spec for passenger cars with diesel engines with exhaust particulate filters, and gasoline engines, and longer service life than the 229.31 oils. The spec was introduced in 2005. Change intervals increased to 20,000 kilometers. Based on ACEA A3 B4 and C3. As of December 2008 more than 100 oils meet this spec, including:

Aral SuperTronic 229.51 0W-40 LOW SAPS
Aral SuperTronic Diesel 229.51 0W-30 LOW SAPS
Bizol New Generation SAE 5W-30 (added 09 July 2007)
Castrol EDGE Formula RS SAE 0W-40 (added 09 July 2007)
Castrol EDGE Turbodiesel SAE 0W-30 (added 09 July 2007)
ELF Solaris LSX 5W-30
Fuchs TITAN GT1 229.51 SAE 5W-30
megol Motorenoel New Generation SAE 5W-30
Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5W-40 (to become available in the USA on 15 May 2006)
Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 Emission System Protection (Europe, from December 2005)
Motul Mercedes-Benz Specific 229.51 5W-30 (added October 2008)
OMV BIXXOL special C3 SAE 5W-30 (added 09 July 2007)
Pentosynth HC 5W-40 (added December 2007)
Pennzoil Platinum European Ultra Diesel 5W-30
Pennzoil Platinum Low SAPS 5W-30
Q European Engine Ultra Diesel 5W-30
Quaker State Synquest Low SAPS 5W-30
Shell Helix Ultra AX 5W-30 Mercedes 229.51
Sunoco Synturo Xenon SAE 5W30 (added 09 July 2007)
Total Quartz INEO MC3 5W-30
Valvoline SynPower MST 5W-30 229.51 (added 01 June 2006)
Valvoline SynPower MST 5W-40 229.51 (added November 2007)

http://www.whnet.com/4x4/oil.html

I believe Amsoil European Car formula 5w-40 is also 229.51 rated.

[TISMIN2001]

MAGGIE!!!
lol
Im actually employed with dodge, I current drive a 2008 Jeep Grand Chrokee Diesel as well.......


My employee pricing on oil changes for my suv is $220
diesel oil changes on these cherokees are always more expensive because the oil itself is a fortune... however, you need to change the oil and filter ever 10 000kms
not every 5000.....................

[tpl]

PJ, your oil table has the same "problem" as a VW one I've seen. Most of those oild are not sold in NA.  As more modern diesels get here maybe some of the oil brands will follow.

[PJungnitsch]

Very true. The complete current list is here:

http://bevo.daimler.com/bevolistenmain.php?navigation_path=bevolisten&blatt=229.51&content_action=show

It is huge, but as mentioned is almost all European products. It is however obviously not a tough spec to meet.

Other than the Mobil 1 ESP, Valvoline Synpower MST 5w30 and 5w40 may be available here. Amsoil is not listed yet.

[maguiremichael]

True it is of course.. What current list it is...




___________
carouselmicrowave.com

[farleywilbur]

I've only had one service on my 08 Mercedes diesel and I paid around $300.  This was at 15,000 kms.  Probably the biggest thing I miss about my BMW is the free service for 4 years.

[weebl]

Generally speaking, diesel oil changes, especially for European makes, will be very expensive.  To being with, diesel engine oil is normally required to be synthetic, and formulated diffrerently from a gasoline engine oil.  Add to these factors that make the oil expensive the fact that most Euro makes have a proprietary specification, and the oil becomes even harder (and more expensive) to source.  Add dealer labour to that, and it's time to bend over.

When I had my TDI Golf, my oil change costs were not outrageous, as I did it myself, sourcing the correct oil at a reasonable price, and sourcing OE grade filters also at a reasonable.  I supply my own labour by doing it myself.  And I know the job is done properly, and not by a high school drop out who really doesn't care what he's doing (yes, even dealerships hire these guys as they save their certified mechanics for more profitable work).  This is very easy maintenance every vehicle owner can and should do.

If you have no interest, at least get the oil and filter yourself, and find a good independent mechanic and pay him for just the labour.

[johngenx]

I can't speak to the newest MB diesels, but my OM606-engined E300 turbo was dead simple to do an oil change at home.  For $80, I bought a top-sider device that extracts the oil through the dipstick tube (as do the dealers) and the oil filter is located on the top and front of the engine.  No need to crawl underneath.  It can be done in about 10-15 minutes and no mess at all.  Paid for the extractor with one change.

In todays prices, it would be about $90 for oil (MB's have large oil capacities) and $15 for the filter.  Also, MB dealers are notorious for overfilling crankcases and blowing out front main seals, so if you DIY, you know it's done right.

[airbalancer]

I can't speak to the newest MB diesels, but my OM606-engined E300 turbo was dead simple to do an oil change at home.  For $80, I bought a top-sider device that extracts the oil through the dipstick tube (as do the dealers) and the oil filter is located on the top and front of the engine.  No need to crawl underneath.  It can be done in about 10-15 minutes and no mess at all.  Paid for the extractor with one change.

In todays prices, it would be about $90 for oil (MB's have large oil capacities) and $15 for the filter.  Also, MB dealers are notorious for overfilling crankcases and blowing out front main seals, so if you DIY, you know it's done right.

All oil filters should be located there

[blur911]

I can't speak to the newest MB diesels, but my OM606-engined E300 turbo was dead simple to do an oil change at home.  For $80, I bought a top-sider device that extracts the oil through the dipstick tube (as do the dealers) and the oil filter is located on the top and front of the engine.  No need to crawl underneath.  It can be done in about 10-15 minutes and no mess at all.  Paid for the extractor with one change.

In todays prices, it would be about $90 for oil (MB's have large oil capacities) and $15 for the filter.  Also, MB dealers are notorious for overfilling crankcases and blowing out front main seals, so if you DIY, you know it's done right.

All oil filters should be located there

It's not bad on an older 911 either.  It's in the engine compartment, but spins onto the right side inner fender where the oil tank is.  A change takes 12 liters and a $12 filter.