On the VW TDI site they have installed bypass oil filters and run Amsoil for 20000-30000 mile intervals, oil analysis showed that the oil was fine and very healthy at that point! The point is YOUR engine must be healthy and strong so it does not let soot into the oil (past the piston rings) in order to run longer intervals. My fathers 300SD (116) has 530000 miles, we run any synthetic 10000 miles between changes and it keeps going... my VW Jetta diesels go 10000 mile intervals to and I have never experienced engine failures or other oil problems, I have an average of 250000 miles on each car once sold (age/reliability issues other then the engine). The engines are perfectly clean inside if the valve cover is off. The new diesel specific synthetics (CH-4) are capable of suspending ALOT of soot in the oil, due in part to the use of EGR's on so many new diesels which intorduces alot of soot into the oil. And how many Mercedes diesel owners have actually owned their car long enough to say they have worn out the engine (not seized from a lack of oil)? I do not know of ONE PERSON who has worn their engine out regardless of maintenace done, it takes along time to do in one of these engines, and most people do not own their car for that many hundreds of thousands of miles. The point is changing the oil at 3000 or 4000 miles is an enviromental hazard and a complete waste, even with regular oil! The manual states 5000 miles intervals regardless of oil. With the new oils that have come out extending the drain intervals is not a problem, just talk to any oil company (and they are in the business of selling it!)-most companies say their synthetic is capable of over 20000 mile intervals in passenger car use with proper filtration.
Also, truck use gallons of oil, not quarts, hence the oil can handle alot more soot/particles due to the amount of oil (percentage wise).

Thanks, Clacker at least some else has heard about bypass filters and benefits of using a good synthetic oil to increase the engine longevity.

Some of you guys who are interested about finding out more should check out the VW TDI site. Their are users on the site that have bypass filters, and use Amsoil or Delvac 1 synthetic. The evaluations of bypass filter and syn oil are on going with oil analysis showing that you can run good syn oil a lot longer than most of us ever thought, with out hurting internal engine components.

Please direct me to the sources of compact, effective bypass filters. Also, how do I log onto the VW TDI website?

As an aside, Schneider Trucking (the orange rigs) do nothing more than filter changes and add, after the initial change, using D-A Lubricants diesel oil. These are not synthetics. If interested, their phone is 800 645 5823. I believe they are using either Extra Treated III or Super Treated IV. These are excellent oils but do not, as mentioned earlier, try this change interval in your CAR engine.

Brothers of The Benz

Hi Scott you Old Scallawag.
Fullers earth is an Abrasive as most particulate filter media. But when contained is one of the best filter media that can be had.
I'm surprised that using large engined vehicles you didn't use an external filter named "Lubri Liner". It has 2 configurations; 1 heated by exhaust gases and the other only filtered.
It's known that Synth oil is the superior lubricant. But MBNA reports the 103983 engine requires 20 50W Dino oil.
If I was going to use Synth Oil it would be the RED LINE oil.
Scott, your pic of your Benz and your Home are beautimus.
Always first class for Scott.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman in Houston!!!

I'd have to say that the spider venom may have sharpened you up a tad...

You make reference to Lubri-Liner, but I think you mean, Luber-Finer, which makes external oil filtration systems for commercial vehicles as well as all manner of other filtration systems. They do happen to make a filter package that uses Fullers Earth as a filtration medium, but that is primarily used for fuel filtration, although it can be used with synthetic motor oil in some specific applications.

However, Luber-Finer tells me that they have never made a filtration system that is heated by exhaust gases. In fact, the Luber-Finer filters are designed to be mounted on the outside of big trucks to aid in cooling by outside air flow.

And Howard, I called that number for D-A Lubricants, and they told me that they could not comment on what Schneider National was doing, but that on average, most fleets are still using a 12-15,000 mile drain interval with filter change. They were also the single least friendly and helpful company I have ever called to ask questions of. It was like pulling teeth on a mule without an anesthetic...

As far as Schneider National, their national service and maintenance manager told me that they are changing their oil and filters every 20,000 miles. With one exception, the older venicles in their fleet that burn and leak so much oil that the constant replenishment of motor oil in 2 gallon increments, along with scheduled oil analysis, results in a "filter only" oil change as the oil additive package never breaks down to the point of needing a complete oil change due to the constant replenisment of oil that is being used by those trucks. But we are also talking about 11 gallon sumps.

__________________

Scott Longston
Northern California Wine Country...
"Turbos whistle, grapes wine..."

Brother of the benz, Scott!
Yes, as my memory has failed, it is Lubri-Finer.
I'm going back 30 years in my remembering the heated oil filter; but you knew what I was referencing for oil filtering.
My fifth year at GMI was on oil filtration and the requalifing of the used oil.
The most used filter in our plant rolling equiptment was the Franz Filter using 500 count double fold toilet tissue.
The results using this filter was amazing.
I used the Franz on my personal autos with outstanding results.
I've considered using it again on my Benz, but never have considering how clean the crankcase stays using the OEM filter.
I knew L/F filtered the fuel as well, but we weren't discussing that.
Scott, when you changed to the Synth Oil at 80,000 miles, was there a time for the engine to become acclimated to the new oil?
Which of the oils do you prefer,Mobil, Red Line?
There are new kids on the block now, Pennzoil, Valvoline, Castrol, it has become an attractive market considerring the advantages they offer.
As always,
Happy Trails Beep Beep from the Spiderman in Houston!!!

anyone have a web site for bypass oil filter for 81 SD?also sure would like at top of the engine oil filter for my 74 240D ,changing oil on that old babe takes about the same amount of grunt time as changing its clucth!
William Rogers.....

William, here are three web sites to get some info on by-pass oil filters.

1. gulfcoastfilter.com
2. amsoil.com
3. oilguard.com

The amsoil site requires a little bit of searching to find the section on the by-pass filters. Good luck.

It still amazes me that more Mercedes Benz owners are not running theses on their vehicles since the initial investment for the car is so high, especially if the car is new. Johnny