Did my first Synthetic Oil Change.... Rotella Synthetic 5w-40 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

kamil · #1 09-20-2004, 08:09 PM

What's up....

Today was the first time I put synthetic in my 240D. I even went to Wal-Mart on a mission to find all the synthetic oils. I first put 8 quarts of MOBIL 1 with red cap in the shopping cart and then as I was walking through the isle I noticed Rotella Synthetic at 12.99 per gallon. Wow is that a bargain for an oil brand that I have been using all the time. For the last 20,000 miles only Rotella regular went into the car. The grade of the oil is 5W-40 so it is perfect for those cold winter starts... If I have been changing the oil on my car religiously at 3,000 mile intervals what would be a good schedule since I have gone to synthetic ?

As I was reading the one trillion oil threads here I noticed that most will use MOBIL or DELVAC as opposed to ROTELLA. Is there something with ROTELLA that many are staying away from it ?

MTUpower · #2 09-20-2004, 08:15 PM

Rotella is not a full synthetic like the Mobil, and that's why it is more expensive than the regular "dino" oil but cheaper than the Mobil 1. Nothing wrong with the Rotella- I did use that stuff first and then changed to Mobil 1.

BrierS · #3 09-20-2004, 08:22 PM

About a year ago I also switched to synthetic oils. Differential and engine at least. A couple months ago I changed autotransmission fluid and filter and went with the Mobil 1 there also. All seems good and for whatever reason I feel more confident. Though I haven't put enough miles on in the one year period, I am going to change engine oil & filter again before the winter hits.

kamil · #4 09-20-2004, 08:29 PM

I do all highway miles at the rate of about 500 miles a week. So I'm kind of thinking like you guys at going to 5,000 miles between changes.

oh yeh....can I get mobil 1 with the red cap in a big jug ? I only seen the 10w-30 and 5-w30 in the big jugs but could not find the 15w-50.... what's up with that ?

compress ignite · #5 09-21-2004, 12:14 AM

Kamil,

Try another wal-mart; although you really want DELVAC 1 5W40 (at w-mart)
packaged in quarts as "Mobil 1 Truck+Suv". ( you will not like the price,but
the quality and LONG term performance/protection are without equal )

Hatterasguy · #6 09-21-2004, 11:42 AM

Go all the way

, Walmart isn't to bad on price I think I paid $4.62 a quart, for the Delvac.

Brian Carlton · #7 09-20-2004, 08:19 PM

Some of us have started using Rotella synthetic, including Dave and myself, because it was attractively priced. However, if you look into the details of the oil, and I won't go into it here, the Rotella is a Group III synthetic that is not up to the performance level of the Mobil 1 which is a group IV synthetic.

Now, whether you really need a group IV synthetic is a different story altogether. The group IV oils will typically allow you to go further between oil changes. However, with your engine, this may not be possible in any case due to the amount of soot that it produces.

I will probably continue to use the Rotella in the 617 because I will definitely change it every 5K. Now, the 603 can probably go longer than 5K, and, it has lifter noise, so I will likely switch it to the more costly Mobil 1.