Not your garden-variety oil thread

[Benzadmiral]

Does anyone with an early W202 have an idea what oil viscosities MB recommends?

The owner's manual simply sniffs, "Ask your authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer." It doesn't even have the classic and very useful viscosity/temp chart! The British Haynes manual tells me 10W-40 to 15W-50, but I'm wondering what MB prescribed for the U.S. cars.

Has anyone with the pre-synthetic oil, normally-aspirated 4-cylinder M111 been told by his dealer what viscosities are recommended? Or do they simply say, "Go by the visc/temp chart"?

TIA,

[Benzadmiral]

Anybody?

[Will_w202]

I run 0w40 FSS-spec Mobil 1 in the winter, and Mobil 1 15w50 in summer. The best indy shop in my area only runs 15w50 in all his customer's cars, and MB gladly filled mine with 0w40 in winter, and gladly used my 15w50 last time I went in, and the car is under Starmark warranty.

PS - mine is a 97 C230 as well.

[Ethan]

you need tech info booklet S-0473-00N

it has the chart you want, plus all other factory approved service products

seven pages soft cover and inexpensive

probably order it from 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES

[Michael K]

I think the chart that tells you is in the owners manual. It goes by temperature. What's the hotests and coldest weather that you get? When the wife gets back from the store I can look it up. I personall use Valvoline 15W40 for both the 1997 C230 and 1994 E320 (and make sure the brand meets the rating criteria (some crazy codes) that the book spells out. It's nice that both engines take the same oil.

One of the other forum members put up this link... http://mywebpages.comcast.net/x0rr0/MBASP.pdf

[Benzadmiral]

The first place I checked was my owner's manual, and it startled me that there was no temp/visc chart and no recommendations other than to ask the dealer. Currently I'm using Chevron Delo 400 15W-40, since The Swamp (aka New Orleans) rarely sees a freeze and temps will soar up into the damp and sticky '90s from now until November. (If we're lucky, the vicious Loozyana summer will end that soon. It could drag on into December.)

I've thought about going to a thinner oil in an attempt to eke out a little more miles per gallon. The temp/visc chart in the .pdf whose link you posted, Michael, seems to indicate that 5W-30 (even 0W-30!) would be OK for temps above 85 F., though apparently MB means only synthetics in those grades.

This of course is a topic that's been discussed to the point of extreme unction around here -- and I flatter myself that I've read almost every thread on the subject -- but I guess it comes down to "Whatever works for you."

[Will_w202]

I would NEVER run 30 weight oil. Look, screw the manuals, any of these 0w40-15w50 oils is fine, unless you are in Canada or something (and then 0w40 is probably the best choice). There is an Indie shop here that runs 15w50 year round (NC climate). They have been in business 20 years, and you will see anything from a 50s Cabriolet to new models there. The guy knows his MBs. He says the extra protection from 50 weight oil might cost you 2mpg, but it is worth it from a wear standpoint.

[Michael K]

Yep it's interesting to see that the chart shows such a wide range of acceptable viscosities. I guest the question then becomes, does the particular brand you want to use meet the ACEA and/or the API classifications? I had to look at the really fine print on the oil bottle to be sure.

[Will_w202]

Bingo Michael, and FYI, most of these oils meet the ACEA/API rating this car requires, being a pre-FSS model. I run 0w40 SuperSyn, which is what the 2005 cars require, and 15w50 Mobil, which is still beyond the minimum spec for this car.

With my 97 C230 I run Castrol 20-50 in hte summertime and 10-40 in the fall/winter... Northern VA.. Been doing the same with my 911 since 1987... >> whatever works for you

[rickjordan]

personally I would sacrifice a little fuel economy, to give the engine the best protection. Oil is cheap engines are not.

[Impala]

Benzadmiral,

Maybe it's worth a call to an MB dealer in your area to see what oil they use. I'm in Canada and the local dealer has been putting 15W40 dino oil into my 95 E320... probably same oil (viscosity wise anyway) they'll put into a 97 C230.

I've also looked up my owner's manual and like you said, it does not show any chart but refers people to the dealer. Maybe that gives some leeway for dealers to adjust for local temperature range?

[QuickSilver2]

I have a 99 C23K, according to my local dealer, they use Mobil 1 5W40 and $84.00 for an oil change.

I was also put of by the viscosity chart that wasn't listed in the owners manual.

[manny]

If it is the NEW Mobil 1 ESP 5 W 40,and includes the filter, you're getting a great deal.

http://www.whnet.com/4x4/oil.html

[Texholdem]

I read my manual (1989 300CE) and it says only 10W-40 or 15W-40.
How do you know which sheet, for example 229.3, applies to your car?