That's right. Rotella is what's called a Group III synthetic, which means it's just conventional oil that's been more refined than typical conventional oil. The real synthetics are Group IV and Group V oils. The reason it's called synthetic is some court somewhere ruled that it can be called so. But, it's not that there's anything wrong with using Rotella, like LarryBible says, "change it hot and often" and you'll be fine.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

What BS it ain't a group 4 like Mobil 1 and Amsoil is. So technicaly it isn't a synthetic.

I'm sure its a fine oil, so is Delo 400 for that matter, great stuff.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

You guys made me want to read up on this a little I found a nice little website that give a lot of info on different oil groups, viscosities, ratings, manufacturers,etc...

http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Oils1.html

According to them, oil is much more abused in the bikes than it is in cars, and so they actually recommend diesel oils for use in bikes. One interesting thing I learned from that website is that Mobil 1 oils tend to contain some of that anti-friction MoS2 additive, which is nice to know.

According to the website, "Mobil-1 (Delvac-1), AMSOil, Redline and Motul synthetics contain no petroleum oils - pure synthetics". Shell Rotella T synthetic is 87% Group III oil but also comes highly recommended.

A couple questions...

1) MB Article 229.5 says MB requires the use of "fleece oil filters" with 229.5 approved oils. How are these different from the usual oil filters that we've been discussing in those lengthy threads?

2) Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5W-40 (to become available in the USA on 5/15/06) appears in MB 229.51 spec that says "low ash" and says "for diesel engines with EURO 4 soot particle filters"... Is this the Mobil 1 oil that this thread is talking about, and what are those EURO 4 soot particle filters?

The cost of 5w-40 syn oil badged for motorcycles in a bike shop Sunday: $9.99 a quart.

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'91 300D 2.5 Turbo 330K
'00 VW TDI Golf, 190K
'67 BMW R50/2
'73 Norton Commando Interstate

Mobil 1 5W40 Turbo Diesel Truck is apparently available TODAY through Amazon (or directly through Auto Barn).

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FGYN8Y/qid=1145897395/sr=8-5/ref=sr_1_5/104-5663600-0275144?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=15684181

But the price is 6.99 a quart...plus shipping.

At that price, better off ordering Delvac 1 through AVlube.

For myself, I can wait for Walmart. But, for any who need it now, it is available.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

That's interesting, at $6.99 it's the same price as Delvac 1. I wonder if it really is the same stuff now? It will be interesting to see the Walmart price, and if it will be available in 5 quart jugs.

Many motorcycles run their tranny and clutch in the same oil as the motor.
Aside from warranty issues for motorcycles using non motorcycle specific oil, there were some reports of 'synthetics' being too slippery for the clutch plates. Diesel soot and clutch plate material was somehow classified as 'similar' by someone somewhere and diesel oils became popular w/ many.
I run rotella's fake synthetic in all my engines. Suzuki sv 1000, bandit 1200, Home depot lawn mower, slightly tweaked subaru wrx, 94 legend and 90 sdl. My 78 bmw 530i came w/ a case of mobil1 extended formula so I will be using that in the bmw and wrx but will be changing in the normal 5K intervals (3k for the diesel).
If you are looking for the 'best' oil and you are willing to read lot...take a look at motorcyle specific oils.

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82 300D....went to MB heaven
90 350 SDL....excercising con rods

For the late model MB cars like the E320CDI, E320/E350 ect their are two oil filters availible. The fleece filters are designed for the 13k mile drain intervails.

Unless you have a late model MB the use of fleece filters does not apply to your car.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

The "ESP" stands for "Emission System Protection" so the soot particle filters in the exhaust dont plug up....

The cleanest MB diesels in Europe currently comply to "EURO 4" emission limits.

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W163.154, M112.942, 722.662, ZF.970.402

Can we get fleece filters for 603 motors?

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82 300D....went to MB heaven
90 350 SDL....excercising con rods

No, you don't get a fleece filter unless you buy a CDI!

The who fleece filter thing is a product of the recent 13k mile drain schedual.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

FYI

For those in the NW, GI Joe's is carrying Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck 5W-40 now in gallon jugs for $23.99. I didn't see it when I last looked sometime in December (they only had quarts). Walmart still wasn't carrying it when I looked three weeks ago so this might be the only place to get it locally in gallons.

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=-=-=-=-=
1987 300TD 231,000
#22, afterglow, plastic fan, euro lights, alternator upgrade, cluster housing update

I bought an oil change of Mobil 1 5w-40 Turbo diesel oil from O'Rilley's, and changed it from the Mobil 1 0w-40 Saturday. I can tell a big difference in the viscosity and flow characteristic in the two. The 0w-40 is probably somewhat quicker on flowing at start-up in some of the very cold days we have had, but I am liking the 5w-40 better. I think it will be the best all around protection for the 80's model MB's like I have. I just hope they stick with the product for awhile...and it is not discontinued like so many in the past.

mobil 1 turbo diesel truck 5w40 $5.99 at autozone. Bought a 8 quarts for the next oil change. Also kragen was having a sale on mobil 1 oils. $1 off so i bought a 8 quarts of 15w50 as well.

Im stocked up on the oil for both the diesel and the gasser. All thanks to coupons

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Current:
05 E320 CDI
07 GL320 CDI
08 Sprinter
05 Dodge Cummins
01 Dodge Cummins

Previous
2004 E55 AMG
2002 C32 AMG (#2)
1995 E300
1978 300D
1987 300D
2002 C32 AMG(blown motor :[
1981 300SD
1983 300SD
1987 300SDL
2002 Jetta TDI
1996 S420
1995 S500
1993 190E 2.6
1992 190E 2.3
1985 190E 2.3 5-Speed

OK, so all this is confusing me...

Which oil do I want for my CDI? How often do I change it and my fleece filter?

Or do I just take it to the MB dealer and trust them to put the right stuff in?

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'87 300D 183K
'06 E320 CDI 10K