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Engine oil with MB-Approval 229.72
MB-Approval 229.72 is the newest 0W-20 sheet from Mercedes-Benz: built on 229.71, with tighter requirements for oxidation stability and cleanliness - written for the current petrol engines and mild hybrids. The oil finder shows whether your engine calls for this sheet.
Why there is another number after 229.71
Mild hybrids pose a problem of their own for the oil: the engine stops and starts constantly, oil temperature swings, and between the load phases the thin 0W-20 film still has to stay stable. For that, 229.72 demands more reserve against oil ageing and deposits than 229.71 - the direction is the same, the bar is higher.
In practice many current low-friction oils carry both numbers together on the label; the product data in our range lists each approval individually. If the owner's manual explicitly names 229.72, only that number counts.
The line drawn downwards still holds
Like 229.71, 229.72 is **not** a substitute for the classic sheets: an engine specified for 229.51 or 229.52 is designed around the stronger lubricant film of the 5W-30 grade. The 0W-20 sheets belong exclusively in engines whose manual names them.
How to recognise an approved oil
Mercedes lists every approval in the public BeVo database, and the container carries the number without qualifying additions. Wording such as "meets MB 229.72" or "suitable for" is the oil manufacturer's own claim - and if a warranty claim comes up, that difference is a matter of documentation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 229.71 and 229.72?
Both are 0W-20 low-friction sheets; 229.72 tightens the requirements for oxidation stability and deposits - written for the newest engine generations, mild hybrids included. Many oils carry both numbers together.
Can I run a 229.72 oil if the manual names 229.71?
If the oil carries both approvals - which is the rule with current products - then yes, it is simply approved for both sheets. If it carries only 229.72, check the BeVo list or select directly by your engine in the oil finder.
