FWIW the TDT 5w40 and Euro 0w40 seem to behave comparably in this respect. I think the driving patterns of my 98 and 99 are pretty similar. The 99 had 0w40 in it from PO. Both cars were on track for 16k or so.

But certainly confirms my leaning to go with somewhat shorter intervals....and especially on the chip-tuned 98, were oil changes should be somewhat more frequent anyway.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 179k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 77k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

My memory says that diesel cars did not have this sensor, only gasoline motors got it. Both gas and diesel cars received the FSS system, but the inputs and algorithms were different between them.

I am sure you are right, at least on the W210s when FSS first appeared. Makes sense not to put the quality sensor on diesels if it wouldn't work!

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

For, say, a 98/99, how would the FSS likely be skewed using M1 TDT? I play it safe and change the oil at just over 10k mi even though FSS says I can go 15k.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 179k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 77k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Funny I just dumped nine quarts of that into the Treg yesterday. I use it in all three cars - two diesel, one gas.

So what are you going to use? Pentosin? Fuchs? I wonder if maybe we are paying too much attention to the DPF/sulphated ash stuff and should all just use Delvac 1 or something like this dude:

Lubrication Engineers 8854 in 2011 3.0L VW Touareg | Used Oil Analysis - Diesel | Bob Is The Oil Guy

0W-30 Synthetic Oil | Mobil 1™ ESP X1 0W-30

When I now go to either one of those links, I get this site:

https://mobiloil.com/en/motor-oils/mobil-1/mobil-1-esp.

Nothing about 5W-40 being replaced.

It says that ESP 0W-30, ESP 5W-30 and ESP 5W-40 are the current ESP line of products. It also confirms the MB specs for each.

Can anyone explain this?

Interestingly, the Mobil Canada site does not include ESP 5W-40 but still has M 5W-40 and 0W-40
http://www.mobil.ca/Canada-English-LCW/carengineoils_products_mobil-1.aspx

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5

According to the Mobil1 link above, there is a product selector.
https://mobiloil.com/en/product-selector

For a 1998 MB E300D,

"Based on what you've told us, your vehicle manufacturer recommends a 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30, 5W-40 or 5W-50 viscosity and synthetic oil that meets MB-Approval 229.3, MB-Approval 229.5 or MB-Approval 229.51. We offer these motor oils to help protect your vehicle."

The oils are: Mobil1 0W-40 European Car Formula

Mobil1 5W-50 Full Synthetic

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The OM 642/722.9 powered family
Still going strong
2014 ML350 Bluetec (wife's DD)
2013 E350 Bluetec (my DD)

both my kids cars went to junkyard in 2023
2008 ML320 CDI (Older son’s DD) fatal transmission failure, water soaked/fried rear SAM, numerous other issues, just too far gone to save (165k miles)
2008 E320 Bluetec (Younger son's DD) injector failed open and diluted oil with diesel, spun main bearings (240k miles)

1998 E300DT sold to TimFreeh
1987 300TD sold to vstech

When did Mobil 1 come out with this MB approved grade? This might be a good alternative for summer driving on older MB diesels. Thoughts?

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-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991

Who can possibly keep up with Mobil's ever-changing formulations and recommendations? It's almost comical....

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 179k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 77k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

They have had that for some time, but you seldom see it at retail outlets. I used to use 15W50 (still have one jug) which could be found, but on my 85 300D I now use Mobil TDT 5W40.

I also use TDT or their High Mileage grade in 72 SL (V-8 gasser). Depends on what Walmart have when I am in USA! W210 gets Euro 0W-40 or High Mileage. I guess these oils are about the same for our older cars. By the way, TDT costs C$47 (US$42) for 4.4L at Walmart Canada vs US$26.83 for 3.78L at Walmart USA.

I seem to recall Marshall (der dieseling Doktor) saying he used Delvac on his old diesels. I have never been able to figure out what is different about Delvac and other Mobil diesel oils. Because of low mileage now between changes, I am 'thinking' of going to non synthetic Delvac or Rotella for 300D.
https://mobiloil.com/en/motor-oils/mobil-delvac

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Graham
85 300D,72 350SL, 98 E320, Outback 2.5