Understanding the Change in Daimler Truck Specifications from MB to DTFR

The commercial vehicle lubricant industry is transitioning from Mercedes-Benz (MB) specifications to Daimler Truck Fluid Releases (DTFR). This change follows the separation of Daimler AG into two independent businesses in December 2021: Mercedes-Benz Group AG and Daimler Truck Holding AG.

While Mercedes-Benz Group focuses on passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (LCVs), Daimler Truck specialises in heavy commercial vehicles, including trucks and buses. Following the separation, Daimler Truck introduced its own fluid specification system, DTFR, replacing the previous MB specifications for relevant heavy-duty engine oils and driveline fluids.

This establishes a distinct framework for Daimler Truck’s fluid requirements and approvals, alongside a new naming convention for identifying suitable lubricants. While the transition is primarily administrative for the specifications being carried over, it has implications for lubricant manufacturers, distributors and customers who rely on product approvals and technical documentation.

What is the difference between MB and DTFR?

The transition from MB to DTFR is primarily a change in specification naming and administration, rather than a change in the technical requirements of the specifications being transitioned.

The new system introduces DTFR codes to identify the relevant fluid requirements for Daimler Truck applications. However, not every previous MB specification has a direct DTFR equivalent, and new DTFR specifications have also been introduced for certain applications where no previous MB specification existed.

It is therefore important to check the relevant specification for your application and refer to the latest product documentation when selecting a lubricant.

Understanding the specification changes

To help you identify the corresponding specifications, we have provided a comparison of the previous MB specifications and their new DTFR designations for Millers Oils products.

Mercedes-Benz conversion to Daimler Trucks (DTFR) specifications

Some legacy specifications including MB 226.9, MB 229.1 and MB 228.1 remain as Mercedes-Benz (MB) specifications and relate to light commercial vehicles rather than  heavy duty commercial vehicles. As such there are no changes to the aforementioned MB specifications. Download the conversion chart here.

When will you see the change?

You may notice that our product labels and Technical Data Sheets (TDS) have been updated to reflect the new specifications.

For approved Truckmaster products, specification claims have been updated to the relevant DTFR designations. The previous corresponding MB specifications are temporarily retained in the footnotes for reference, helping to identify the link between the old and new naming conventions.

When selecting a lubricant, always check the latest Technical Data Sheet and confirm that the product meets the requirements of your vehicle and application.

For advice on lubricant selection or to confirm the relevant specification for your application, contact the Millers Oils technical team.

Download the MB to DTFR conversion chart here.