Everyone knows that running an engine as hard as possible makes it last longer. That's why race car engines are lucky to last for one race and then have to be rebuilt.

I don't baby my MB engines but I never take them to maximim RPM unless absolutely necessary and they run just fine. ABout the hardest I have run the '80 300SD was near Vail Co going up the mountains at 60 MPH and 4000 RPM outrunning everything else on the road because of the high altitude.

A long hot drive at normal engine speeds with Mobil 1 or Castrol Syntech synthetic oil in the engine is be better for the engine than an "Italian" tune up.


P E H