FSS Trustworthiness Confirmed via Oil Analysis?
 

I am intrigued by the FSS on my new 98 E300D....have read various threads on how it works, dino vs. synthetic, how the system works somewhat differently on diesels, etc.... I don't know that I'd put a GREAT deal of stock in it....will probably just change oil (M1 5w40) at some sensible interval. But I am curious as to whether anyone has had an oil analysis done at or near the FSS interval and what you learned. Essentially I'm asking whether we have reason in the sense of independent confirmation to believe that the FSS should be trusted.

I guess if I sound skeptical it's because this is the same company that told us the tranny is sealed for life.....I mean change fluid/filter once at 39k miles....I mean change every 39k miles. ;)

I've done some minor comparison testing on our '02 E320. I can tell you the oil was pretty much depleted when the monitor said it needed to be changed, right around 11k miles. That, of course, was running an MBz-compliant oil (Mobil 1 0W40).

You're right, the result may be different on the diesels. Can they indicate beyond 10k miles? I'm just changing 1x/yr cuz our car is driven so little.

We're ignoring it on my bro's 2002 E320 and just changing every 7,500 miles or so with Mobil1 0w40 and a fleece filter.

Sorry, I didn't catch that. What did you say?

Its this website, 70% of the time it times out when making a post....the web server performance is horrible. I wonder what type of server/infrastructure this is being hosted from, its obviously inadequate. Or someone is not maintaining the database effectively..

Hmm... what browser are you using that times out on a post? is the Remember me check box checked at login? (you can always logout when finished with the forum) I never have a timeout... I use windows and firefox...

I've been timed out on may three times and all of those were with several hours and an internet connection catastrophe or inadvertent computer shutdown between writing the post and clicking the button to post.

Chrome and yes I have the site set to remember me. I have now switched to IE for this site to see if it makes a difference. From my looking into it it seems the initial query/request gets lost about 50-60% of the time when posting or browsing the site. Performance was much better before Pelican took the site over.

I've been having Blackstone labs run oil analysis on my E320 Bluetec after 10K mile change intervals. This car has a DPF, so requires a low ash oil. I use Mobil 1 5w-40 Formula M ESP.

In short, the oil holds up fine for 10K miles. Wear materials (mostly iron) are linearly higher from numbers seen at shorter change intervals. Viscosity is fine, insolubles are fine, additives are still within acceptable ranges. Because the OM642 uses post-injection to regenerate the DPF, the fuel dilution is 3.5% over 10K miles.

I suggest you send in a sample to Blackstone at whatever mileage you are comfortable with. My guess is the results of an analysis will point out that MB engineers actually do know what they are doing and the FSS intervals are fine.

Oddly enough I have never had an issue either reading or posting on this site. I use IE when at home, and a blackberry bold when out and about. I wonder if this is a geography thing, I may just be physically closer to wherever the server resides

My 99 consistently went 16k miles (FSS tripped) before oil changes using mostly M1 European Blend 0W/40 (factory fill).

Blackstone tests showed it had 50% of its TBN remaining and almost no fuel, soot or metal contaminants at that mileage.

Mine consumed 1 qt every 8k miles like clockwork.

My miles were mostly highway (80/20), FSS will have a considerably shorter interval if driving mostly city miles and things like shutting down before reaching full operating temp will affect it greatly. Some cars would trip at 5-6k miles. Is all based upon driving style.

I never found any reason not to trust it.

[QUOTE I never found any reason not to trust it.[/QUOTE]

I agree with Terry. I had trouble believing that I could go 10K+ miles on a diesel between changes, but the oil analyses I've had done convinced me. My '99 also has now stopped using any oil between changes. Until it was "broken in" at about 150,000 miles, it used maybe a quart between changes.

Take the time to look-up and read the bulletin MB sent out to owners of this car in the early 2000s. The FSS was a fiasco to the extent that MB was sued in court and prevailed upon by the owner of an FSS MB with Dino oil in it that developed the cottage cheese and a failed engine because of FSS oil change schedule.

The long and short of the bulletin sent to me and other W210 owners was that they were going to extend a "10 year or 150,000 mile engine warranty," to us, provided we switched to full-synthetic motor oil.

I don't know that the car I owned was anything but a; "timed by miles/days" schedule of FSSing. I do not know that the car or engine is capable of doing the "oil analysis," in real time.

Interesting stuff....though I'm sure I'll chicken out and change the oil at 7500 miles or something. Maybe the thing to do is do on OA at that point and get confirmation that the oil is still in good shape.

Well, if my schedule of doing an oil and filter change @ 10K increments helps you feel better about it, know that 7,500 mile increments are unecessary.

I think Terry Allison's testimonial with independent analysis pretty much proves the engine is fine with 15K change increments.

I only drove the car an average of 3,500 miles a year over a period of the past 10 years, so, I would change it out every three years or 10K.

You must use full-synthetic to feel safe about it, IMO.