Hey Rick,

Do you live in Tampa? If so, where about? Drop me an email. I'm in the south side of the city.

Daniel

__________________
1988 Mercedes-Benz 260E

Greetings All,

I particularly interested in a heavier weight oil going into Summer and several have mentioned Castrol GTX 20W-50 and having a few quarts left over from a Harley I use to own, (should have kept my Baby) I looked at the bottle and it listed it as a multigrade oil suitable for diesel engines. Although after looking all over the place locally for the same thing, the 20W-50 Castrol GTX is only listed as a gasoline engine oil with no rating for diesel use. I'm still curious for an answer to my prayers so I contact Castrol by e-mail and here is their response.


Thank you for your inquiry regarding the proper oil to use in your Mercedes
diesel car.

Just to clarify the change of labeling-- The American Petroleum Institute (API)
Performance
Category CD has become obsolete as of January 1, 1996. Oil marketers can no
longer use the
CD category designation inside the API donut. The test associated with this API
category is no
longer available, and the Industry can no longer measure API CD performance.
Castrol GTX
as well as leading competitors' grades does not meet API CC/CD performance. For
example,
Mercedes Benz for some time has recommended API CH-4, CG-4 diesel rating.
Having said
that, API CH-4, CG-4 oils should be used for Mercedes Benz passenger car
diesels.

Castrol RX Super 15W-40, a mineral based oil, meets API CH-4, CG-4, CF/SJ
performance for
Mercedes Benz. RX Super SAE 15W-40 contains special anti-wear, anti-oxidant,
and
detergent additives that protect and maintain cleanliness, in hot running,
heavy-duty diesel
engines.

Additionally, an alternative in a part synthetic, SYNTEC Blend Truck 15W-40 has
an API CH-4,
CG-4 approval rating. This would certainly be another avenue to consider if you
are looking to
upgrade to part synthetic oil.

Thank you for your interest in Castrol products, we value your patronage.

Susan Howell

So at this point in time I see no 20W-50 in my near oil change. Can anyone recommend a suitable brand that is diesel rated?

Thanks,

Charles

Charles,

If you are cost concsious and a Walmart guy, sounds like Rotella is a popular choice. If you are a Costco guy like me, you may want to lean toward Chevron Delo.
Check all the other oil polls in this forum...

__________________
Ed "Don't Benz's just feel better..."

Current wives...
2000 ML430 Skyview "The Mel"
2000 CLK430 Cab "The Cab"
85 300D Turbo "The Diesel"

Past wives...
92 300E
85 190E

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to
avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond
this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to
interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways."
Bertrand Russell

Greetings,

I am a Wal-Mart Guy and yes both brands, actually all three top brands mentioned are offered by them, but I was wanting to switch for Summer use to a 20W-50 that is diesel rated, and have found none available. I guess if I can't find it, I'll just keep running the delo 400 15W-40 in her. Just looking for the added 10W for Summer use.


Charles

Hmmm, this is an interesting question. can-do wants a 20W-50 mineral oil and we already know Castrol is out of the picture (btw, thanks for the quote). So, I checked some web sites and here's what I found:

Mobil Delvac 1300 Super - no
Chevron Delo 400 - no
Shell Rotella - site was down, but probably no as well
Valvoline - no

The only product I found with a Diesel rating (CF) and 20W-50 weight was Valvoline's Dura-Blend semi-synthetic. Now, good luck finding it. Any other ideas out there?

__________________
Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

Rick
You might try looking up a wholesale oil distributor. Sometimes it takes a few phone calls, but I have had pretty good luck locating obscure lubricant products that way.

__________________
Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

Greetings Oil Burners,

I know there are many diesel owners out there using Castrol against their better judgement, Castrol's that is. I guess it is safe to assume that a 40W oil is plenty heavy for Summer heat in a heat producing engine. I'd say if it wasn't, Mercedes would have their name on a 20W-50 out there somewhere, wouldn't you say? If you find an oil that if readily available to the consumers that is diesel rated in a 50W, let me know. I'm still curious. Looking into my official MB owner's manual under recommended oils, is shows SAE grades for the current temp range I will be running in to include 20W-50, 20W-40, 30W. I guess there was no soot dispersal added back in 1980 to the oils, so is it O.K. to run a SAE grade? Tell me more. If you have your original manual, tell me what it says.


Charles

I see you have a 1980 TD Wagon, yes? But where do you live, and what are the owner's manual recommendations for oil viscosity for your car?

Boosting viscosity isn't always good for the engine when we measure from the lower figures. We should use the higher numbers, as the lower the viscosity when the engine is "cold" the better flow. I'd stick with a 15W50 over a 20W40.

However, as regards Castrol GTX, I had an extensive conversation with a tech at Castrol the other day about GTX, and it seems that older Mercedes diesels like yours (and mine) would still be able to use GTX despite the new API ratings, as the oil hasn't changed, just the rating.

__________________

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

Longston, is that really your house or I should say estate? Nice.

Seeing your car parked outside of an antebellum mansion with the "stars & bars" hanging off of it...

Was that one yours?

Here's your answer to your question:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=16554

__________________

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

Greetings Scott,

The ambiant temp at this point in time through Summer won't be anything under 40 F and the highs will start rising to 86-upper 90's or above. The rated temp range I was looking at in the manual is for anything over 32'F. I'd say honestly that GTX 20W-50 would probably work in these higher temps that will remain constant for the next four to five months. Don't know for sure if there is any advantage to a higher grade except under extreme engine temps, the engine remains lubricated a bit better, but the trade off will be soot dispersal that you gain from a C or CH, or CH-4 rated oil. Is the trade off worth it?


Charles

Yes -- They are both mine or should I say me and my wife. Bought it with the money I saved from using Rotella instead of Delvac 1.



1990 copy of D'Evereux

Look for the two links I have posted for API's chart at their website. An older Mercedes diesel with indirect injection will do just fine with Castrol 20W50. If you want the added benefits of CG-4 or CH-4 rated oil, then use Rotella or DELO 400 15W40, or you could even choose a synthetic 15W50 with a CF rating like Mobil 1. Our local Oil Change GURU, Larry Bible, swears by DELO 400...

Allowing for a high ambient temperature when starting is not an exact factor in selecting motor oil. The ideal motor oil to use in a temperate climate would be a 0W50, as it flows faster and better at start-up. BTW: The Sales Manager for Lubro-Moly, who is located in San Diego, uses their 0W40 synthetic in his Suburban year-round.

The choice of motor oils is highly subjective, and one of the most discussed topics on these forums. Check the archives, ask the manufacturers, go to their websites, and do your homework. I have, and I chose Mobil 1 15W50. Your results may vary...

[Edited by longston on 04-28-2001 at 07:56 PM]

__________________

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

Greetings Scott,

You did mean Delo 400 15W-40 didn't you? If they have it in a 15W-50 I'd probably use it in a heartbeat during the Summer.


Charles

Y'all's right, there ain't no 15W50 DELO, only 15W40...

I'm sorry about that, but all of these recurrin' oil threads are startin' ta wear me down. Did you know that some of the newer members seem to think that this is a new subject?

But I assure you all, it was going on long before I became a member, and you will see it continue with each new addition to the membership.

What kind of oil should I use?

What's the best oil to use in my diesel?

What does the API rating on the container mean?

Should I use a multi-grade or single grade oil?

Is it better to use synthetic or regular oil?

What viscosity of motor oil should I use?

Should I change grades for summer and winter?

Will using synthetic cause my engine to start leaking?

Can I blend regular motor oil with synthetic?

Is it safe to change to synthetic after using regular motor oil for over 200K miles?

How often should I change my motor oil?

Should I follow FSS, or change my oil sooner?

Will using a synthetic void my warranty?

Why is synthetic so much more expensive?

Should I drain my oil from the pan, or pump it out?

What brand of oil is the best?

What is the best oil filter to use?

Do I need to change my filter every time I change the oil?

Should I change my filter before doing an oil change?


ALL of these questionas have been asked and answered on these forums, and many of them, several times. It's all in the archives...

After a while, the typing finger doesn't move as fast as the brain, and we have a minor error. Thanks for pointing that out, so I could make the correction.

__________________

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