Silly question but I needed to ask anyway...
 

Last night I needed oil and could only get 10-40. I usually use 15-40, or I used to use 20-50. I only used 1 quart and I usually use 2-3 quarts per week, so this will probably be gone soon. Was this bad? I don't think it was, and I knew that some oil was way better than no oil! Did I do right?

Just be sure you are using Diesel Rated Oil....

Uhoh, another oil thread!;) :eek: ;)

I normally use diesel rated 15-40, but it was an emergency last night, just regular old 10-40 from the gas station. Is this ok or should I change my oil right away because of some potential problem from using it this one time?

I would change it at your earliest convenience. It's not critical that the oil get changed RIGHT NOW, but I would try to do it within 500 miles or so...the 10W-40 does'nt have the soot-handling characteristics that a true diesel oil does, so even that little bit will get the oil dirty faster than it otherwise would have...

Hope that helps some...good luck! :)

you are totally fine and needn't even give it another thought, IMHO. At the rate that you burn oil, it'll be diluted/ used up in little time, and the small concentration you have won't harm a thing.
Thanks and good luck, Adam

Having seen on this and other MB boards how MB owners love to worry about engine oils I feel I must contribute this. I hate to be the harbenger of 'bad' news but in 45 years of driving, having taken many many cars and a couple of Diesel trucks well over 150-200K miles in the States and other countries (I spent 20 years over seas in and out of about 85 countries) there really isn't much difference in oils in general.

Certainly if I had a new MB that required synthetic oil I would probably use it, but on average most any name brand oil that is API approved will work. I run all my cars and trucks 10k miles between changes. I use whatever oil hyappens to be on special, I mix blends, I don't use additives, and I make sure that the engine gets hot and stays that way for 15 minutes or so when I drive. This is not difficult in S. Texas since most deives are over 10-15 miles long.

To back this up I can boast that in all these years I have never, ever not only not lost an engine to oil related problems but I have never even had an oil related problem. I don't drive new cars, most of mine are over 10 years old, and I don't pamper them.

I would say that your concern about mixing oils is unfounded. I am sure that some oil company 'techie' will advise you to change the oil immediately and pray to the god of OPEC that all goes well, but in reality you stand very little chance of harming your engine by mixing oils.

Now, I am sure that there are many out there that can relate horror stories about mixing oils but in 61 years I have never ever actually met anyone that has lost an engine because of this. Does 'urban legend' come to mind?

Hmmm
 

IMHO :D :D
The only bad question; is the one you do not ask.
Have a great day.

I am not chiding anyone for asking a question. We wouldn't know what we know if we didn't ask, but I have seen these questions go off into some 10 page convoluted, esoteric discussion on the very nature of oil and how it fits into the greater cosmic ether. Krap, all one needs to do is use a name brand oil and filter and take a break.

why don't ya just.....
 

Hi greasegridle,
I'm kinda like kip foss here, if ya need lube, then add lube. I usually burn/drink/leak the same brand.
the question I ask, we all know diesels burn/leak/drink oil, why don't ya just carry a couple of extra qts in the trunk? espeally if your traveling, it will usually save ya alittle cash, and give ya peace of mind knowing there's oil in the trunk. I do travel alot, and understand being low on oil, what do we do? stop at the first roadside place that sells oil, at a rather high price too... I did this once... qt of oil for 2.53 and was just crummy bottom of the oil, after that, I carry at least 2 qts in the trunk, and carry an extra gal. in the truck. just a idea to ponder on. enjoy

I would not worry about 1 quart of non-matching oil at the rate you are using oil.

I usually get the Shell oil in gallon jugs. Change oil and have a couple of quarts left over. Carry that in the trunk until needed. Usually need a quart or so between changes.

Damn, voices of sanity in the wilderness.