cgunderm,

No, you miss my point completely. I've had pitched battles with people on this board for years about this insane 3kmile OCI. I have tried everything I know to convince them it isn't necessary. But no talking will work. I have to do something to get them to rethink it. These guys think the 5kmile OCI that Mercedes indicates is wrong. They are changing their oil almost twice as often.

If I have to stress my cars, 2 cars in our little universe, to get some of these guys to stop dumping in 2 gallons of fresh oil every 3 months into theirs, it's worth it 1000 times over.

I'm an engineer and I don't get all excited about automobiles. They're just another piece of equipment. But I do really care about the human cost of this oil addiction we have, and I'm doing my part to try to convince others there is a better way.

I'm sorry if you think I don't like these cars. I have 2 of them and a BMW. I think that speaks for itself.

240Joe

Isnt 240Joe a woman?

Yes, I am, but what does that have to do with it?

MCP!

240Joe

has nothing to do with it aslong as you take the time to make sure noting is going wrong with the car ie blockage in the filter or low oil then it should work...

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vin 123 123 10 155044

Nothing, But everyone might as well stop saying "he".

I share that concern (or should I say rage?) with you (human cost of oil addiction). My point was that ruining older cars doesn't bring us less oil addiction. In this vein, I don't think your experiment will convince anyone of anything (except maybe with the recent oil test part added to it, courtesy of Brian Carlton). Apparently it will make you feel better.

(I won't go into all the different factors of how driving style, climate etc. will affect how often your engine should optimally have its oil changed so it will last and you won't have to buy one of those new "for the crusher" vehicles. We've heard this a million times over in the last few days)

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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

If resource conservation is your motivation, would it not be essential that you include fuel efficiency in your "experiment?" It would seem to me that there could be a reduction in fuel efficiency as a result of the increased oil change interval, such that the savings in lube oil is more than offset by an increase in the quantity of fuel required. (Assuming a 5k "normal" oil change interval and 25mpg, a mere 1% reduction in fuel efficiency would essentailly negate any advantage of the extemded OCI.)

As an engineer, I am sure that you are familiar with the so-called "Law of Unintended Consequences." If your study is going to have credibility, it needs to look at the entire picture. Saving a couple gallons of oil is nothing to crow about if it takes a couple tankfuls of diesel to do it.

85mph all the time!!! So you are concerned about the environment, just not when you are in a hurry, I suppose.

cgunderm,

You would think, by now, that words and logic could convince others. But they don't. I don't know why.

I had a friend once who asked me what new car she should buy because her old Saab only got 25 mpg and it needed some repairs. She wanted me to tell her to buy some car that got 35 mpg, but I told her instead to get the Saab fixed. She said, ok but what about the 25 versus the 35 mpg. This person was a PhD and wasn't stupid but it never crossed her mind the resources that it takes to build a new car, and the impact of the old one going to the crusher.

Once she was forced to think about it, it made sense. Maybe when I put 100kmiles on the oil, and it's still going fine, some of them will secretly extend their OCI...at least I can only hope.

240Joe

Tangofox,

I can do that as I track fuel economy every fill up. I've always used it as a rough indicator of how things are working with my cars.

You do have to be careful about winterized fuel as it does cause a measurable decrease in fuel economy.

240Joe

Why are you trying to change the world...there's a time when your realise this is an impossibility......and your WRONG about Mercedes too!
They have done their best to extend oil change intervals...re; FSS.

Ask some of the other tech's about 23,000 mile oil change reminders with this system...in fact...it was so effective at extending oil changes and Mercedes was so happy, they gave a lot of customers new engines ! How about that !

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

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/sitemap/t-52820.html




,

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[http://languageandgrammar.com/2008/01/14/youve-got-problems-not-issues/ ]

"A liberal is someone who feels they owe a great debt to their fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."

dkveuro,

I read the links and they said it was because people used dino oil instead of synthetic. FSS was calibrated for use with synthetic, apparently.

If you read my posts, I recommend and use diesel synthetic oil, CI-4 or better.

240Joe

Use synthetic lubes (derived from coal, shale, or polymer-based starting material) if your worried about the oil supply and the environment. I prefer Royal Purple to the synthetic my company buys.

Also, Due to their lower volatility, synthetics do not boil off or vaporize as much as petroleum motor oils, which can lose up to 20 percent of their mass in the high heat conditions of the internal combustion engine. Synthetics lose from four to ten percent.

The benefit is clear in the reduction of make-up oil required because vehicles use less oil.

That was TIC post Joe




.

__________________
[http://languageandgrammar.com/2008/01/14/youve-got-problems-not-issues/ ]

"A liberal is someone who feels they owe a great debt to their fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money."

Go for it, see how far they will go. A lot of people are interested in it, and if there is not a large financial risk in it, hey what the heck. Eventually they will mostly all end in the crusher. Even now they are not scarce in the junkyards. It is true that I also like the little car for its simplicity. I think they are great. And that we can enjoy that old MB quality on a low budget makes it even better. I will never ever pay $10,000 for a sleazy Focus or Aveo. $20,000.00 for an Impala, you have got to be kidding. $5000. to 8000.00 for a very good, 20 something year old MB, very much a possibility. So do it, have fun and keep us informed. We're listening.

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

Gotta give the man credit for putting his hardware on the line to prove his point.

It will be interesting to see how this works out.

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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



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