BINGO!

The older formula "CF" was supposed to have more zinc in it. Diesels with modern day emission controls can't tolerate it. FWIW, Castrol Tection Extra list it's zinc on the back in the fine print (an old bottle I got a couple years ago.)

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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!

The 5w-30 weight is used for Mercedes Benz 229.31/229.51 specifications on CDI/Bluetec engines and VW 505.01, 507.00 specification on TDI engines.

Here some 5w-30 rated oils that are available here in the states.

Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30
Elf Elf Solaris LSX SAE 5W-30
Castrol Castrol SLX Professional OE SAE 5W-30
Total Total Quartz Ineo MC3 SAE 5W-30
Elf Elf Solaris LLX SAE 5W-30
Motul MOTUL Specific 504 00 507 00 SAE 5W-30
Castrol Castrol SLX Professional LL03 SAE 5W-30
Total Total Quartz Ineo 504-507 SAE 5W-30
AMSOIL - Series 3000 Synthetic 5W-30
Valvoline SynPower MST 5W-30 229.51
Quaker State Q-Diesel Plus 5w-30

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

Those are fine for CDI engines, not for our OM61x/OM60x engines. These are like steam engines in machining tolerances compared to modern engines.

Darth Winmutt,
Only Sith deal in absolutes. Also, I think the MB manual for my 240D does recomend 10w-30 for temps below I think 60 degrees or such. I have seen this rated viscosity on the shelves of the Farm & Tractor supply store. Now would I run it, no. I would run synthetics though. I am on the first flush stage using AutoRX. So it will be at least 9,000 miles before I get to use synthetics. Then I'll see what the consumption of oil is and what leaks there are.
Tom

Dear 75Sv1,

Oil of the 1980's is very different from today's oil.

exactly!

Looking through the old maint sheet for my wagon I see the DEALER put in 20w50 for the first 10 years..............

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

From my 'limited' experience, going with a 20W-50 will cost you about 2mpg compared to a 10W-40. This was in a gasser motor, 351W. I have run heavier than recomended oil in a Ford 2.0 Z-Tech engine. I think a 15W-50. This engine takes a 5W-30. It did not run very well. I'm not going to claim to be an expert or such. Still, specing oil from yesteryear to what is avialable today is just dumb. In the early 80's synthetic oils were in their infancy. I don't know if any diesel rate synthetics were available back then. I am a firm believer in synthetics. Still, dino oils have improved drastically since then. I wouldn't run a non-diesel spec'ed oil in a diesel motor. I would run some of the newer spec'ed synthetic. The 5W-40 of various brands look good. I am looking at Elf Solarius at a local Import Parts store. That will depend on price. I do run synthetics in my gasser cars. I do extend the oil change to 7,500 miles ,sometime more. I do have a Ford Contour with the 2.0 Ztech with 214K miles on it. It has run synthetic since 20K. It doesn't use any oil between oil changes or not much.
Tom

Is this commentary based upon cars of 30 years ago or cars from the past decade, for example?

Many MBz-spec'ed 5W30 oils are diesel-rated: http://www.whnet.com/4x4/oil.html

What you fail to capture with your blanket statement is that the MBz spec contains an HT/HS criteria (MIN or a hi-low range) which overshadows the quoted viscosity. If you're making a generic reference to an "API 5W30", then I'd agree with your thoughts. Keep in mind, the API doesn't address European diesel autos anywhere in their specs. ACEA address light-duty diesels and the mfrs themselves obviously address light-duty diesels. API does not.

I've run xW30 229.5 oils in both our cars and the wear numbers were actually superior to the xW40 229.5 oils. I have multiple UOAs for our cars.

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1998 W210 diesel (wiped out by a texter)
Baum spring compressor "for rent"