Oil Change Help 1998 E300TD - Not another oil thread!!!
 

:confused: Just two quick questions...

I just had an oil and filter change performed on my 1998 E300 Turbodiesel (72,000 miles) . I performed a search on the topic of synthetic diesel rated oils and change intervals but discovered too many conflicting opinions.

1. Is Mobil 1 0W-40 suitable for my vehicle?

2. Are 5,000 to 7,000 mile oil change intervals damaging to the engine when using synthetic oil in very urban (rarely highway) driving?

I think I've read here that that weight is acceptable for the newer diesels but I'm not certain. You should be able to go that long with synthetic oil but to be sure, you can send a sample off to be tested. I think most people use a place called Blackstone Labs or something like that. As long as your soot levels are under 1%, you should be fine.

Amsoil 5w-40 European spec oil is perfect and will match with when your FSS says your oil needs changed.
http://www.amsoil.com/StoreFront/afl.aspx
Look for oil that is raited Mercedes Benz 229.31, 229.51.
Mobile 1 5w-40 is what they put in the new CDIs from the factory (AFAIK).
If it dosen't have the MB 229.31 or 229.51 on it and is "C" raited (CF, CD, etc) don't use it in your 98 E300.
The FSS knows best but it only works when you use the right kind of oil, when the FSS says change it change it.
(The FSS monitors your driving habits, run times, temps, speeds etc and based on the 229.31 and 229.51 spec makes an educated guess as to how used up your oil is. It starts at 10K miles and will reduce if you drive in more "severe" conditions.)
Avoid non-synthetic oils or oils that don't bear the "C something" raiting, as they won't have the appropriate soot control and turbo anti-coking additives.
I have all Amsoil synthetic oils in my 98 E300.
http://www.turbofroggy.com/e300.htm
And no I am not an Amsoil dealer, I just like to buy Made in the USA whenever possible.

that amsoil is also 505.01 rated for VW TDI's with PD fuel systems. From the TDIclub the oil isnt recommended but thats them not my opinion.

I use ELF 505.01 5w40 its a real german oil straight from germany, use it in my 87 300D and the passat TDI.

As for the 0w40 i think as long as its labeled that its rated for diesel engines then it should be fine. If not maybe someone else will chime in.
I know ELF has a diesel rated 0w30 but its a very expensive oil used for bringing up MPG's...

You sure about that? I am fairly certain it has an oil quality sensor that runs a current at the sensor and determines the resistance and from that, decides when you need the oil change. Something written up by Stu Ritter or whoever is the tech guy at MBCA.

I am using Delvac1 for now. It is the same stuff as Turbo Diesel Truck. Supposedly it should hit the shelves soon but who knows who will carry that oil

In answer to your questions... 1) Yes, 2) No, probably not, but to know for sure an oil analysis would tell you the certain answer.

Don't think the FSS monitoring system is the same for gas and diesel. Gas engines oil quality is measured as you say, but on the diesels, I think it's as described above, i.e. miles, time, starts, etc. Guess the FSS monitor can't see through that black diesel oil. :) Otherwise it might tell you to change your oil every ten miles or so. :)

Len

Mobil 1 0W-40 is fine. In fact, that's what the dealership recommends for that car. It's what I run in mine. I change mine every 7,500 miles. You should be just fine.

Scott

oil
 

5-7k oil change would not be damaging your engine with any oil...
modern oils do not break down that quickly....

0w40 or Delvac 1 5w40 are both fine use whichever one you can get. 5k-8k mile changes are about right for a 606. FSS usualy likes to bring you out to 10k-12k miles, that seems a bit long.

FSS has had me do it in 7600 miles before but because we are cruising, it has me do it 14000 miles later

We are supposed to be using oils that meet 229.5 spec. Mobil 1's 0W-40 certainly meets that specs as do many other Euro oils.

http://www.whnet.com/4x4/oil.html

RLGDiesel,
I have always run my diesels all year round with dino 15W40, usually Rotella.
In more recent years I have switched to synthetic 5w40 Rotella T because of better cold weather flow characteristic and easier winter starting. But I still run dino 15w40 Rotella in the summers.
I drive almost all highway...so I change the dino oil and filter at 5,000mi. and the synthetic at 7,000mi.

The oil filters clog and loose their flow rate way before a modern oil would break down so I prefer not to push the mileage out there to far. You should be within the limits of the filter and a good synthetic oil with 5,000mi changes even with urban/city driving.
Cheers,