Hello All,
This is my first post, but by no means my first time viewing them here. I really, really wanted to thank everyone who posts here. There are millions of us who come here to see your valued and very informative answers. We cannot thank you enough for this forum. Please know that you are very much appreciated !!
Anyway, I recently purchased my first MB, even though it is a 1986 300e, with 166,867 miles on it. I have always dreamed of owning one, I have been reading on them all my life. My family could never afford such a luxury automobile, But I am 37 now, and I am fulfilling my dream. I test drove a few a before I bought this one, and ALL were very, very, solid automobiles. All one has to do is TEST DRIVE one, and it is understandable why they are truly built to last a lifetime. I want to give special thanks to the senior members of this forum, (larry biddle, benzmac, etc..) I wish I could list everyone, you are ALL legends to us and are looked upon as great contributors,you all deserve lifetime of achievement awards !! And if we all could give back half as much as you nice people have,then we would be half fulfilled, LOL! (laughing out loud) believe me, your comments and suggestions will live on forever. here Thanks again..
OK, now, I have searched for this question, and haven't found it before, but I think it has to be one of THE most important (maybe simple, maybe not) questions..
What is the BEST Oil to use in our MB engines ? this can be for both gasoline and diesel. Oil is the lifeblood of an engine, I think we all know about changing it every 3,000 - 7,500 miles is a no brainer. Lets talk about engines (both gas and diesel) that are new or used...what do we start with? synthetic or multigrade?..engines that have 100,000? (and we dont know the history of what the previous owner really used) but what would be BEST recommendation from everyone. How about engines with 150,000 miles? As an example, my previous owner SWEARS by Rotella - T 15w-40 oil. Well, that is one of the Cheapest oils (as far as price) that
there is.!! My engine is strong, and it doesnt leak any oil , but I wonder if I used Castrol or a synthetic would it be more powerful or last even longer?.. I have heard the stories about not putting in synthetics because of this and that (depending on miles on engine), but lets be real, Viscosity breakdown is Viscosity breakdown, and if an OIL is better, cannot it not be OK to change brands for the better? (meaning better for the engine parts to be protected with the BEST possible protection for viscosity protection, carbon buildup, etc? ..) I look forward to this lengthy discussion, and hopefully this post will be a favorite thanks

I would use Mobile 15/50 sythetic. Don't wory about what was in there before. I think all these stories about changing to sythetics are propaganda products of the oil companies. I've been using the Mobile 15/50 for years on high milage BMWs and it has kept them virtually ageless.

__________________
Earl



1993 190E 2.3
2000 Toyota 4x4 Tundra

You obviously didn't search thoroughly enough. Oil types are among the most hotly discussed threads on this forum. Oh, and BTW, it's Larry "Bible", and "Benzmac" is one of the partners here, not just a "senior member".

If I had a 1987 300E, I would change to Mobil 1 at my next oil change, and stay with it. Why? Because Mercedes ships all of their cars from the factory with Mobil 1 in the crankcase.

There is no way I would use Shell Rotella, even in a diesel engine...

Get the facts: http://www.mobil.com

__________________

Scott Longston
Northern California Wine Country...
"Turbos whistle, grapes wine..."

Thanks Scott for correcting me on the names (sorry Larry), and topic. But when you say Mercedes has been shipping their cars with Mobil 1, well, that oil hasnt been around for 15 years has it?..(if that is synthetic your speaking of). Also, I gather from your response that it is perfectly ok to switch from a multigrade oil to a synthetic , no matter how many miles have been put on the engine?.or what oil has been used previously? even if it is gas or diesel?
I have heard that synthetics will clean deposits on an engine and maybe cause leaks after they have removed soot and such. I have just heard this and have no experience, maybe someone else can discuss this further. Lets have everyone respond, thanks I will use whatever oil everyone here recommends (majority), so please lets have some feedback.!

Shag

Where have you been for the past 15 years? Mobile 1 is the most popular synthetic on the market. You may be confusing oil stories. It is high detergent oil not synthetic oil that will harm an older engine that has not been using detergent oil. And by the way... the selection of oil should be determined by rational thinking not democratic processes. Would you trust your Mercedes to current electoral procedures here in the States? If Congress did not compromise it and turn it into a Ford then Bush would steal it!

Smiles!

[Edited by ejsharp on 04-07-2001 at 05:11 PM]

__________________
Earl



1993 190E 2.3
2000 Toyota 4x4 Tundra

Shag,

I'm kind of old school and alot more paranoid then most about engine oil(I pay no attention to FSS!). I have always had good success with Castrol products. I suppose this topic could become dogmatic, but I've never ranked Mobil gasoline in the top three brands to use so I've never considered switching to Mobil oil.
I'd like to confirm that MBZ now ships all their cars with Mobil 1 in the crankcase, that would be news to me!

I think Castrol Syntec blend would give you all the performance you could want as long as you stay "old school" and change that oil every three months or three thousand miles. Of course if you live in extreme climates, then perhaps a full synthetic would be worth the added cost.
I have had four cars reach 150K miles+ with no oil burning and have switched people over to synthetic blends with no adverse effects.

"Live long and perform.."

__________________
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

Mobil 1 has my vote, I use it in both gas and diesel cars.

__________________
2000 Ford 7.3 Powerstroke 4x4
2006 Mazda Tribute
1983 Black 300 D (donated to charity)
1993 Teal 300 D (160K) Sold
"I love the smell of burnt diesel fuel in the morning, it smells like ....VICTORY"

Semper Fidelis
USMC 1973-1976

Well, it is true from mobil1's website that it says that they do ship Mercedes-Benz cars from the factory with mobil 1 now. (I wonder what they used before?). I have read alot about synthetics, and it seems that they do better in extreme weather climates, but if your climate is not that extreme, you could use any oil.? true? All I want is the BEST oil for my car, thats all, if every one says synthetic, and it wont hurt (and hopefully help) an existing older engine, then I will do it. I feel awful putting in such a cheap oil (rotella). So, if I am a quart low, could I just put in a quart of sythetic (along with the rotella multigrade?)would that hurt it?..or do I just change everything over to synthetic with my next oil change?..thanks

I've been reading a lot of the previous threads on oil. One thing IS for certain, they are LOOOOONG(ston) Read them carefully and make up your own mind. The question of what oil should I put in my car is more like "what shampoo shoud I use?" I've said before that the best oil to put in your car is CLEAN OIL! You might as well have olive oil in your crankcase if you're not going to change it "HOT and OFTEN!"

Kuan

ShagBenz,

I have used Dyno oil (Valvoline) all of my life. I recently purchased Mobil 1 15W50 for my Mercedes. I will continue to use Mobil 1 on my Mercedes. I will switch to Mobil 1 10W30 weight for the winter.

The reason I decided to switch to Mobil 1 is based on recommendations from prior posts and the fact that Mercedes recommends the use of Mobil 1 for their cars with FSS. I ignore FSS and change my oil every 3,000 miles.

Another reason I decided to switch to Mobil 1 is that on short trips (less than 20 minutes) during the Chicago winter, I get a white gunk build-up under the oil cap which I believe also exists in the valve covers. Discussions from prior posts indicate that the white gunk build-up is caused from the engine not getting to full operating temperature. I find this to be true because on long trips (45 minutes) during a Chicago winter the white gunk is gone (liquidified back into oil).

The cost difference is a little more for Mobil 1 (purchased on sale at Ammes for $4.07/Qt.) but I feel that the long term effect (longer engine life) is well worth it.

I would not mix different brands of oil since they each use their own blends of additives. It would be cheap insurance to change over to Mobil 1 instead of adding a quart to existing oil.

With any properly maintained vehicle, the engine will outlast the body.

__________________
Ray
1998 Mercedes E320, 200K Miles
2001 Acura 3.2TL, 178K Miles
1992 Chevy Astro, 205K Miles

That is what the materials that came with my '01 MB says.
They also say that they highly recommend that the owner CONTINUE to use Mobil 1 synthetic in the car.
FWIW.
Also, I changed it at 1500 miles, and intend to change it every 5000 miles (about 7 months of driving).

I was using Mobil 1 in my 1972 280SE back in 1977, although the only viscosity I could find at that time was 5W20.

__________________
Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic

I have tried to search for a topic on "oil", only to find mine at the top, and no other topic really has covered this. If anyone knows of a topic on "Best", or preffered oil , please post it here. I don't want to repeat any other "oil" type postings, but my search has been futile.
Anyway, lets continue, I myself have come to the conclusion to switch to Mobil 1 , since everyone has. My brother has a 740i BMW, and he actually has been putting in Slick 50 along with his oil change, and he has had no trouble (his BMW has 154,400 on it). So, what about adding Slick 50?. what is it made out of? I am starting to lean toward just changing the oil often and "hot", and using a sythetic, does everyone agree?. thanks again

Mobile 1 Synthetic is the way to go!!

Hm.. why the Canadian MBs still have Quaker State???

Also, by old thumbs rule, it MIGHT be better to use none-synthetic oil from factory 'til after break in period. Using Synthetic oil at the beginning may not give piston rings enough friction to seat themselves properly. But not sure if the "old" rules still apply??

Any thoughts, guys??

Andy Kuo

__________________
1992 Mercedes-Benz 400SE
http://members.shaw.ca/AKRY/W140_Side.gif

2002 Acura TL Type S
http://members.shaw.ca/AKRY/type_s_side.gif

Just found this article on another post here that explains alot about additives in Oil..

http://www.gsresources.com/additives.oil.html