Planning for a BIG trip in July, and slowly checinkg things off of my "fixit" list.

Only I have one question.

Currently, I'm running 5-40 synth, and as the summer temps are approaching, my overall coolant temps are increasing (not alarmed) but with that, I've noticed that my oil pressure has decreased a little ( ~.25bar).

Before I go on this trip (or maybe sooner) should I switch back to good'ol' 15-40 non synth? and then back to synth in the fall?

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RIP: 80 300SD
RIP: 79 450SEL
2002 E430 4matic (212,000km)
2002 ML500 'sport'

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FACEBOOK: PANZER450

Also, for this trip, is there anything I can suppliment my fuel with to increase it's BTU?

__________________
RIP: 80 300SD
RIP: 79 450SEL
2002 E430 4matic (212,000km)
2002 ML500 'sport'

____________________________
FACEBOOK: PANZER450

Switching oils is not good. Once you pick the oil, you should stick with it. Don't worry too much about oil pressure. As long as it's above the 0 peg and hits the 3bar peg by 3000rpm, you're good to go. It's when you get 0 that real worrying should occur.

You might try Mobil1 15W50. It's diesel rated, although not as good as Delvac1.

ref. Technical Data Passenger Cars, April 1985 Edition....Group 18 - Oil Pressure (page 230)

" At operating temperatures, oil pressure at idling speed may drop to 0.3 bar gage pressure. Upon acceleration, oil pressure should rise again immediately and should attain at least 3 bar gage pressure at 3000/min."

SB

if it were me, and that 2.5 bar oil pressure was observed at less than 3000rpm......I would change oil if it was closing in on my usual oil change interval of 3000 miles (I use Shell, Rotella T, non synthetic).....and continue to use whatever oil you have been using.....

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Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG

In hot weather, I would rather have 5w-40 synthetic than 15w-40 non-synthetic.