Hello ShagBenz,

Glad to hear that you had good success with the Syntec! I think you were worried that your car would turn into a synthetic oil sprinkler nice to hear it didn't.

Sounds like you've had a change of heart on the importance of oil brand and rested more on the oil maintenance routine. I couldn't agree more!

I too have learned some things in this forum, I really wasn't aware of the need of soot dispersal charcteristics for my diesel oil. Based on all the discussion, it made sense for me to use Chevron Delo 400. It's found at Costco for $33.00 for 6gallons. At that price I can change it every 3000mi and treat my old girl well.

I still plan to switch my ML to Syntec though since the car is driven much less frequently and I will go longer between oil changes. Although, like you, I "feel" a difference in my past cars when I've used a good synthetic over the dino oil! That and the minor fuel efficency benefits play a part in my decision. Oils well that ends well...

"Live long and prosper"

__________________
Ed "Don't Benz's just feel better..."

Current wives...
2000 ML430 Skyview "The Mel"
2000 CLK430 Cab "The Cab"
85 300D Turbo "The Diesel"

Past wives...
92 300E
85 190E

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to
avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond
this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to
interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways."
Bertrand Russell

So what kind of oil should I NOT use. My only bad experience was taking apart an engine that had regular doses of STP, what a mess.

And what about Kendal oil, anybody use that?

Jim,

You need to read, that question been asked and answered, here and elsewhere

__________________
Ed "Don't Benz's just feel better..."

Current wives...
2000 ML430 Skyview "The Mel"
2000 CLK430 Cab "The Cab"
85 300D Turbo "The Diesel"

Past wives...
92 300E
85 190E

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to
avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond
this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to
interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways."
Bertrand Russell

Amsoil Is also a great choice.Been using it for 28 years.It had twice the drain interval life that amsoil recommends.Almost indestructable.

Rexall

5 mercedes
2 volvos
1 infinity
2 Honda goldwings

2001 called. It wants its thread back.

__________________
CENSORED due to not family friendly words

I and a few others are using Royal Purple...no problems. Lowered the temp by 5 degrees.

MAN!!!!!!!! Somebody was REALLY desperate to drag up an old oil thread. Just to make sure everyone knows, oils have RADICALLY changed since this thread was originally active. ZDDP has since been virtually dropped from all oils except racing oils and diesel blends. Treat most of the information in this thread as historical.

I was absent from this thread and I started thinking back. I was doing extensive travel in Western Europe during 2000 through 2002 and was sometimes away from internet access for long periods at a time (Mercedesshop Withdrawal could only be counteracted with good German beer.) I suppose that's why I was absent from this oil thread, something I can only rarely avoid.

I use diesel rated oils in all my gasser's.

__________________
1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran, deutschland deutschland uber alles uber alles in der welt

The thread should end on the note that Mercedes publishes oil specifications for its engines.

If the appropriate specification is not PRINTED ON THE BOTTLE, the oil is not suitable for your car.

See http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/outside/9511/?requestedDocId=9511

__________________
Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

In all cases, this is not true. The engine might have been built over 20 years ago and has not changed. Some oil formulas OTOH have indeed changed. The most important oil/engine match and maybe the only one to be concerned with is a non roller cam engine using todays standard Premium motor oils. On the can of this oil you would probably find the antiquated specification that is still on the 20 year old cars literature, but the oil no longer has adequate ZDDP additive.

This is why the two posts previous to this one attest to their success with
Rotella. The diesel engine oils still have more than adequate amounts of ZDDP. As an added bonus these oils have additional detergents put there to handle soot dispersal in a diesel engine. In a gas engine, these detergents keep the engines squeaky clean.

My M103 has over a half million kilometers and has seen nothing but Chevron Delo 15W40, the same type oil as Rotella.

That said, the M103 has a sliding cam follower as opposed to the flat tappet cams in the old American engines. The M103 might get by with the degraded ZDDP levels of todays standard oils, but don't try it in an old Ford or Chevy.

i see allot of people talking about mobil 1 synthetic,if you dont mind spending $8.00 per quart,good for you,ive been using castrol gtx 10w40 in all my engines from day 1 new or old, high performance or daily driver,always a great oil,it does not break down,it stays honey brown,and its not even $3.00 pr quart.i have never spun a bearing or blown an engine using castrol gtx,i use it in my racing engines and daily drivers. good luck.

I've been using Shell Rotella 15-40 Diesel oil in both my 103's and it keeps my wagon's valvetrain looking brand new...and is in the process of cleaning up my 260's. I'm very happy with it.

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k

I too have been using Rotella and have had great success with it as well.

__________________
1989 300CE

Doesn't Rotella and Delo meet MB Spec 229.3? At least that is what I remember reading. Isn't that the standard for some newer MB diesels?

As an added bonus these oils have additional detergents put there to handle soot dispersal in a diesel engine. In a gas engine, these detergents keep the engines squeaky clean.

I can definitely attest to that. The oil is still VERY clean even after 4000 km of driving. What intervals do you stick to Larry?

__________________
1989 300CE

My wagon's comes out clean every time, and my 260E has had prior neglect leaving a very "red" tinted valvetrain. It comes out somewhat black, but I see it as a positive because it IS actually cleaning all that junk off.

Shell Rotella, Chevron Delo and Mobil1 Delvac are the 3 main choices for Diesel oil. Some have their preference, I get whichever of the 3 is the cheapest/on sale. They are all good quality.

__________________
2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k
2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k
2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k
2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k