Hi: My recently acquired MB is due an oil change. I went to Wally world and couldn't find a diesel rated oil so I drove to the next town and found a diesel rated oil at a rural Walmart. I bought Rotella T 5W40. It is full synthetic and meets MB 228.31. My owners manual said my dealer would put in the correct oil. The manual DID NOT specify any specs for oil. My question is: Do I need a higher spec oil? Some oil sites say the MB228.31 is for the larger commercial MB engines.

BTW, this oil stuff is getting to be a big headache. I also have two Corvairs and I STILL am fuzzy on what to put in them. They've gone to an SM oil that doesn't have enough zinc to protect the cam and lifters in the older collector cars. If you add zinc you could clog up everything. Everyone is afraid to buy oil and possibly trash their engines. Oh, all of this stuff was done without them notifying the owners of the new 'energy and emission compliant' formulations.
Ernie in Louisville

I can tell you right now that Rotella T isn't a full synthetic. It shouldn't hurt your engine, but it's not a full synthetic, it's a group III synthetic which means that it's just conventional oil hydrocracked to imitate a synthetic.

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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.

Not to fuel another oil thread but most of us with the same car you have use the Mobil 1 5W40 turbo diesel oil which is usually available at wal-mart in 1 gallon jugs. I just used my last 2 so I will be shopping for it soon. If you have trouble finding it any NAPA store can order any M1 oil by the quart.

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Oils/Mobil_1_Turbo_Diesel_Truck_5W-40.aspx

You can also use the M1 0W40 "european" formula which the dealers would use if you brought it to them for an oil change.

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Oils/Mobil_1_0W-40.aspx

"Mobil 1 0W-40 is recommended for all types of modern vehicles, especially high-performance turbo-charged, supercharged gasoline and diesel multi-valve fuel injected engines found in passenger cars, SUVs, light vans and trucks."

It is sold at wal-mart by the quart. You can buy that at any dealer's part counter too - mine sells it at the same price as wal-mart ($6/quart). I use it in my gassers and buy it from the dealer now since there is no price difference and I am there to buy filters anyway.

There is some debate as to whether it is 100% necessary to use the "strictly diesel" oil in them - apparently Mercedes doesn't think so - but some of that is probably driven by just not wanting to stock a special oil for a small number of cars - that's why most of us do it ourselves. Personally, while I think either one is fine, I use the 5W40.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

I will return it, but did NOT find Mobil 1 turbo-diesel oil at the two Walmarts I visited. This oil thing is a hassle. Ernie in Louisville

On the bright side you only have to change it every 10-15K miles. Like I said, check around, maybe call some auto parts stores...some seem to stock the 5W40 around me.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

Did you see any turbo diesel truck oil? That is what you want.

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1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

You should be fine. No problem at all.

I have to agree that the Rotella Syn doesn't meet spec.

I only go to Walmart for oil. When I was there a month ago they no longer had the M1 Turbo Diesel Truck product.

The did have the 0W/40 Euro Blend, but only in Qts.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)