240D Recommended Oil - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Redpeople · #1 11-23-2015, 11:30 AM

Getting ready to do the first oil change on my new-to-me '78 240D and was wondering if there is a generally recommended oil. Weight? (assume I'll be operating in the chilly midwest, with occasional temps down to 0F, but rarely excessive heat) Synthetic or no? On my diesel motorhome, I use Rotella T. Is that recommended for this smaller diesel?

Thanks in advance.

-Scott

Assault · #2 11-23-2015, 12:06 PM

Rotella T6 full synthetic. Amazon has the best price, especially if you subscribe to it. There is no tax and there is almost always a $5.00 rebate going on. For $13 for a gallon of Full Synthetic oil that meets MB spec it is the best deal I have found. Otherwise it is generally about $23 with tax in a store.

Redpeople · #3 11-23-2015, 12:17 PM

Thanks for the advice. BTW, it has been suggested to me via PM that I may have unleashed a big oil debate by making the post. ;-) Based on my involvement in other old car forums, I fully appreciate what happens when someone posts a "what oil" question. (ZDDP vs. non, synthetic vs. dino, etc.) I did first try to do a forum search, but didn't really get relevant results. Probably used the wrong search terms.

dieselbenz1 · #4 11-23-2015, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Assault

Rotella T6 full synthetic. Amazon has the best price, especially if you subscribe to it. There is no tax and there is almost always a $5.00 rebate going on. For $13 for a gallon of Full Synthetic oil that meets MB spec it is the best deal I have found. Otherwise it is generally about $23 with tax in a store.

Wow nice price I'm moving to the USA $46.99 up in Canada!

cooljjay · #5 11-23-2015, 12:44 PM

Don't use synthetic...If there are any leaks on the engine, it will speed up the process as it cleans the engine to well....If the rings are worn, it will also burn the oil a lot faster....

Just use 15w-40....You'll be doing so many oil changes, it doesn't matter if it is the 75$ bottle jug or the 14$ jug....

The oil acts as a detergent....The more often you change it, the more gunk that will come out of the engine...

jabstick420 · #6 11-23-2015, 12:50 PM

I've been using delo 400 LE.

and I do have leaks.

could switching oil reduce the leaks?

leathermang · #7 11-23-2015, 01:28 PM

Choose oil for its lubricating properties...not for leak prevention ( if that is even possible ) that Delo 400 is great..

lovedumpster · #8 11-23-2015, 01:39 PM

I thought the manual recommended 15w-40 for the broadest temperature range? I use Rotella T and mix in Lucas stop leak.

I've had a bit of luck with the Lucas stop leak, it expanded my oil pan gasket which I re-torqued down and stopped that leak anyway.

cooljjay · #9 11-23-2015, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovedumpster

I thought the manual recommended 15w-40 for the broadest temperature range?

It does...

leathermang · #10 11-23-2015, 02:55 PM

Does not.

cooljjay · #11 11-23-2015, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leathermang

Does not.

My bad....Forgot some folks live where temps get below 5 degree.....

leathermang · #12 11-23-2015, 03:23 PM

LOL

mannys9130 · #13 11-23-2015, 04:28 PM

I second the suggestion for Rotella T6 full synthetic. Don't listen to anyone who tries to tell you synthetic oil causes leaks. They are perpetuating myths from the 1970s that were not true to begin with.

I use T6 year round here in Tucson. We have temps up at 115* F in the summer and 15* F in the winter. In both climates the T6 is a solid performer. I have no oil leaks, and I have no consumption issues. Synthetic actually resists burn off much much more than conventional.

You really need a 5W-40 in winter anyway. 15W-40 is much too heavy in any area that gets snow. Put some 15W-40 in a cup and leave it in your freezer for a couple hours. Tell me that it isn't too thick to lubricate properly. 5W-40 allows the starter to spin the engine fast enough for starting. People who live in extreme cold should use a 0W-40 instead of a 5W-40, places like Alaska and Minnesota and Northern Canada.

Other than T6, Mobil 1 turbo diesel truck 5W-40 is a good choice as well.

thatguy · #14 11-23-2015, 04:44 PM

T6 is a great choice, I'm using Delo 5w40 syn in my 1995 E300 diesel currently (I do use 15w40 Delo in summer) and I tend to visit the mountains where it can be left out for a few days in temps around 0*F. It certainly spins up quicker with the synthetic in there, and if you can find a good deal on a synthetic diesel oil I'd grab it and run it with confidence year-round if you feel like it. I just do the dino in summer because it's still great oil and costs about half as much.

Get your valves in perfect spec, new fuel filters and diesel purge, air filter, oil and filter, and possibly replace your glow plugs if it's been a couple of years or more, and you'll be square for a nasty Midwest winter. Also look at the condition of the block heater, with that you could get away with dino all winter assuming you can plug it in on those really cold nights.

Oh and I know this is kind of out of left field, but if it's been a long time since the brake fluid was flushed, I'd get that done with some Pentosin DOT 4 before it gets really cold, the last thing you want on an icy road at 10pm and -5*F is brake trouble.

Redpeople · #15 11-23-2015, 05:07 PM

Thanks for the advice, all. FWIW, I keep it in an unheated garage. It does get pretty cold here in IL, but not extreme. It has a block heater but I haven't tried it yet.

On a bit of a tangent, I was having a private conversation with another member in which I was discussing the car shuffling I had to do to free up a garage space. I told him I'd attach a picture but couldn't figure out how to do it with a pm so here it is.