Actually, this is pretty good advice.

Since MB got their a** in one helluva lawsuit-slinger over their FSS sludge-in-the-crankcase, running dino oil fiasco, they sent out a bulletin extending warranty coverage on engines to 150K miles, or 10 years, which ever came first. --Provided, you're running pure synthetic in your crankcase. Translation: Run pure synthetic, and forget the FSS BS.

Anyone dumb enough to believe they need to change their oil @ 3,000 miles, probably is stupid enough to think that their engine will blow-up @ 3,001 miles, if they don't change it.

I change my synthetic every couple of years or so, and don't sweat it.

I found a better solution, just put him on your ignore list and play "name that troll" by trying to guess what nonsense is being discussed by the reactions of the sane people. Great fun, as long as no one spoils it by quoting the troll in their post.

Actually, its not at all.

The reason we change the oil is because of a little thing called maintenance. Not changing your oil for very long periods is simply engine abuse.

Gee.......no kidding?

troll alert!

Watch out for BS!

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Somewhere his bridge is unguarded.....

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

My Humble Opinions:

1. Gasoline engines, on dino oil, should get changes at 3000 miles unless the owner's manual specifies differently. Refer to Cardinal Rule # 1.

2. These Merc diesels, on dino oil, should get changes at 5,000 miles unless the owner's manual specifies differently. I refer to 116, 123, 124, 126 models only. Refer to Cardinal Rule # 1.

3. When running synthetic oil, I am not in a position to offer advice as I have never done it. However, based on the price of synthetic oil, if you do not run a longer interval with it than you would dino, it is not worth the extra cost. Dino oil is fine for engines that do not recommend synthetic oil in the owner's manual. Refer to Cardinal Rule # 1.

Cardinal Rule # 1. Refer to the owners manual. It was written by the manufacturer of the engine and is therefore to be considered the final answer unless you are convinced that you personally know better. It contains information about oil type and oil interval.

That's my $.02, for the record.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

From my owners manual:

General city driving and rush hour traffic are severe conditions. So unless you live out in the sticks or commute via highway for long distances, 3000miles is a good oil change compromise between 2500miles and 5000miles. Modern synthetics allow us to safely extend that interval by 50%-100% (3700-10,000miles). It should still be changed every year at the least, no matter the miles driven.

Opinions on oil change frequency outside MB edicts are just that.

The 3,000 mile figure, is an arbitrarily "made-up" number. There's no research data I've ever seen to support it.

Mercedes-Benz recommends FSS with pure synthetic. How old is your owners manual?

3000 is indeed pretty much arbitrary. I recall reading somewhere (and wish I could remember where) that it was computed as 100 hours at 30mph average speed. Clearly, 100 hours takes my car a lot further than 3000 miles these days.

If you change your oil too early, yes you are wasting money. But oil certainly does break down (i.e., wear out) and does need to be replaced at some point. I believe that it is impossible to change the oil before there is any wear to the worst offenders in your engine, like the cam lobes and lifters. If I'm right, more frequent oil changes will extend the useful life of your engine.

It was made in 1986, just like the car for which it was written.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

Both

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

I don't use "oil". There's no place to put it in. I have this large black cap on the motor that says 710 and therefore I use 710 fluid. I have a terrible time trying to put the 710 fluid bottles on the shelf. They keep falling down because of their crazy shape. I don't understand why the bottom is so much smaller than the top.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

Funny, my cap says 730 fluid. Luckily, 710 and 730 fluid are the same thing.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

that the 730 fluid is ONLY for Euro spec cars.

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1987 300D (230,000 mi on a #14 head-watching the temp gauge and keeping the ghost in the machine)
Raleigh NC - Home of deep fried sushi!