Yes, Blackstone, IIUC measures all insolubles which include soot and on the latest check mine was at 0.3%. It had been as high as 0.5% in one change. I always used MB filters if that makes any difference.

Very true. My last oil sample (in June with 4k miles) showed 1.4%.

I just moved to Florida 3 weeks ago from VA, back in VA I had no problems finding the mobil1 gallon at walmart around $ 25, but walmart here in winter garden don't carry any synthetic oil for diesel engines, so I ended up buying the oil from Adv. auto parts 9 qt at $6.70 a qt, and my mistake the ticket also had and air filter in it for $17.87 and that came op to $82 tax included.
Terry let me get this strait, you change your oil every 12k to 16k miles? that's amazing, do you have an extra filter? I guess I will let the FSS do what it was built to do. thank you all.

The list I posted is the International list but includes all the US manufacturers too. Again, it is now old, and some of the product names have changed while other products marketed in the US go by subtly different product names.

Rotella T Syn is not on the list. Its a 3rd(?) generation syn rather than 4th?

My situation is different than most as I rack up lots of highway miles and very few city miles or short hops to the grocery store where the engine doesnt get above 60C before being turned off again. Both make a huge difference to oil life as measured by FSS. If driven strictly around town only on short tirps in cold climates FSS might only allow 6-8k even though the starting countdown mileage is 10K.

I only change the filter when I change oil. I dont have any bypass filter. I usually have to add 1 qt somewhere around 8-10k miles.

The 606 is a much cleaner burning engine than past engines and oils get better every year. Am sure the I6 and V6 CDI's run cleaner yet.

That said, more frequent changes is undoubtedly better.

There is no doubt about that at all. Its just a waste of good oil and money to change it very early.

I'm a little surprised at the 3qts for top-up in 4500miles. Should be above the add mark still at 4500 IMO.

Since its a group 3 you will run into the same problems that led to the class action suit if you try 15k mile oil changes with it.


How much do you drive? My friend changes the oil in his E300D every 8kish miles, sometimes 10k.

I'd just do it once a year or 13k miles, whatever comes first. Thats what MB tells you to do now.

I don't know where you are buying your oil, but its to much. Mobil 1 should be about $6-$7 a quart.

Yeah same here. Even my o'l 617 can usually go about 4k (my time between changes) without adding any oil. This is after I fixed most of my leaks. :D The most I've ever had to add after my leak fixes....was like .3 quarts between a 4k change....hardly anything. Plus I had done a lot of high speed driving on that cycle.