Even if you don't care, some of us would like to know how the oil is holding up.

Chris

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1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

I am proposing a very simple test. No oil changes, only filters once a year and top offs when needed. Oil analysis would only confuse the issue. That's part of the problem with doing it. It's like compression testing our old diesel. First compression test, then try to figure out what it all means.

If someone wants to pay for the analysis, that's fine, but my experiment won't be altered by it. I'm going to run it until the engine turns into a huge paperweight, or the car gets crashed, or the tranny pukes, etc.

240Joe

I'll get a kit. Please PM me with your address. When will the 617 reach 30K?

I knew someone that didn't know they needed to change their engine's oil, she drove the car (a ford sedan of some sort) about 5-6,000 miles before the engine seized. Oops.


He's obviously just trying to get us all riled up, and knows perfectly well that not changing the oil in an engine will slowly destroy it. Obviously as these are very very well built engines they will take the abuse for a significant amount of time before dying, but they still will at some point. Heck our minivan turns its oil dark brown after 3,500 to 4k on dino oil, I don't even want to think of what would happen by NEVER changing it... those engines only last 90-120k as it is! I bet a new one with no oil changes wouldn't run more than 7-8k before dying.

He's obviously also lacking knowledge in the "what things are worth" category, these mb diesels are worth plenty if they are in good conditions, and mint ones will fetch a huuge amount of $$

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I should hit 30kmiles in 7 months, if I drive the 300 most of the time, which I do.

Then you guys can argue about what it all means, as I'm sure the test guys will scream.....SHE'S ABOUT TO BLOW CAPTAIN....and I'll just keep driving it.

240Joe

I'll second that. I would not take $10k for my '83.

__________________
2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

I don't think there is any argument on "blowing up" the engine. It will continue to run fine with some increased wear. The only thing you'll see is more difficulty in cold starts as the compression drops. Oil consumption should also climb.

The question is how fast this process commences and continues.

What's the current oil consumption on the 617?

You have a Paypal account set up for your kits I believe. Can we contribute to the oil analysis kit?

Chris

__________________
1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

$10k for an 83? My 83 is perfect and I paid $2k for it and put $1k in parts in it.

You're on crack.

240Joe
300d uses less than a quart in 5kmiles

Nah, I'll take care of it..........the test is on me.

What a great thread! I work for a trucking company with a small fleet of trucks. Two Kenworth diesels and one Freightliner.

The freightliner has 500,000 miles with no major or minor service to the engine, and the two KW have similiar histories. One of them is a delivery truck with relatively low miles (100,000) but is 13 years old and has a LOT of idling hours (we deliver fuel oil).

Weekly the mechanics change all the filters, both fuel and oil, but not the oil itself. The FL puts on about 1500 miles a week. The mechanics tell me that the oil stays perfectly clean and nice and on the dipstick for about 12500 miles; at about that point it suddenly begins to drop which indicates to them that
the lubricity is compromised and thats the signal to change the oil

Its the filter that makes the difference, not the oil. The three thousand mile interval is not correct-- and these guys don'tthink much of a 7500 mile interval either-- change your filters more often than you change your oil.......

Ok, we're set then. I'll let you know when I get close to 30kmiles so you can have the little oil test done. Then you guys can guess how long before I melt it down.

You're in for a long, long wait.

240Joe

You will never melt it down. The only question is when you'll not be able to start it at 32F. That should be the defining factor as to the end of its life.

Agreed?

I think you are right there. And his main point is: we all love these cars and he doesn't. His abusing them is supposed to get us riled up. His point is that these are "old beaters" and crap, and should be driven into the ground. That they are not worth the oil we put into them.
He has a political point about it: that oil is expensive, much more than what we pay at the register when we buy it. I agree with that. But his argument is still completely flawed and short-sighted. There is no political or ecological gain in ruining these masterfully engineered cars because once they are all gone, we will all be completely in the hands of corporate power. The new computerized cars don't allow us to do or control anything. everything is dealership and corporation from that point on. They are unviable as soon as the warranty is up because no one will be able to afford maintenance and repair. So they all get sent to the crusher after 5-10 years, depending on the make. Now that is the real waste of resources, not our changing oil every 3 or 5 or 6K miles. To keep buying new cars is to really waste the world, to hand over all power to the corporation, to ruin local labor (mechanics!), and to loose all knowledge about how things work: just plug it into the computer and shell out $500 for the diagnosis. I want no part in that world. And ruining another couple great mechanical cars only gets us there faster. And out of sheer willfulness! (while thinking that he is making a point about saving resources)

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1974 240D, 125K mi, B100 now, SOLD
1980 300TD, 115K mi, 4-speed stick, roll-up windows, greasecar with two tank conversion (daily driver)
1985 300D, 220K miles, greasecar with two tank conversion, SOLD
1993 300D 2.5turbo, 158K miles, green/tan, B20-B50

aslong as you add new oil and check it once and a while it should be good if you
make sure the oil is toped off and change the filter every say 5-20k

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vin 123 123 10 155044