When To Change Oil?

[ymsin]

This is the story.

Swanee's dad with a C200 W202 booked an 11 am slot for an oil change today. He promptly arrived at 11 am at the local dealer, and was shocked to know that its first-come-first- served basis despite having an appointment.

Anyway, the C200 has about 5,000 km on it, and its about 1 year since it rolled out of the showroom.

The service technician told Stanley, Swanee's dad, that "no oil change is necessary".

When Stanley came by my office later that day, I was amused. I told him, matter of factly, that the oil would have broken down after 1 year and might be a better idea to change it. Apparently the service technician advised him to put in some more km and come back later for an oil change.

Now, that is coming from the local MB dealer.

Nevertheless, the oil remains in the engine.

Unchanged.

What do you think?

[jjrodger]

There are a number of factors to be considered:

Distance covered is only one of them.

Time is another.

Climate, type of use, and conditions of use all need to be considered.

Most manufacturers in my experience recommend an oil change after a year, regardless of mileage.

I don't know what the Malaysian climate is like, but if it extreme, then the oil is more likely to break down. If operating conditions are dusty, changes should be made more frequently. If your friend drives the car hard, changes should be made more frequently.

A lot of people obsess about low mileage. Yet under use can be worse for a car than over use.

On balance, I'd recommend an oil change.

[Kuan]

Is this the first ever oil change for the W202? I would change it today.

Kuan

The C200 is registering about 4500 km at the moment and was released in June last year. Stanley probably wasn't clear on that point luv. However, it wasn't really fair I think to make stan wait at the workshop when he has had an appointment- bad service. This car is very underused jjrodger. Stanley has to juggle between four cars with my brother and sis away. He's a very disciplined driver though and would never hard-drive the car. It's just YM and I who would give this baby an Italian tune-up once in a while. But YM, has the highest regards for the MB and any car in his care receives impeccable attention.