Well I've managed to put my 190e 2.3 back together again after doing the head gasket...and to my surprise it runs! No more oil floating in the coolant. It was very obvious that the leak was happening around the #4 cylinder.

Soooo, now that it's getting cold in New Hampshire it's time to change from my summer oil (Mobil 1 15-50) to something a might bit thinner!

The car has 108,000 miles on it...not burning any oil, in fact the bores were flawless, and the valves just had a nice light tan coating. But I wonder if going to a Mobil 1 5w-40 was wise on a car with over 100K miles. Would I be better off with Syntek 10-40???

Opinions welcome!

Steve

Here in Atlanta I use 0W-30 or 5W-30 synthetic.

__________________
MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

So even at 100K you see no problem going to the 0-30 or 5-30? Cool, I'll give it a shot. The 15-50 is pretty thick looking at 20 degrees!!

While I'm under there doing fluids I'll probably do the transmission fluid as well...think of going to Mobil 1 synthetic there as well...anyone have any problems with that change?

Thanks!

Steve

I use Mobile 1 0W40 in my 94 E320 and I don't have any problems - I'm sure the m102/103 would be fine with this oil as well.

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Daily Driver: 02 E430 4MATIC
In the family: '03 E500 // '04 ML500 // 64 220SE

I'm in Maine, and run Mobil-1 10-30 year round in my 102 engine (same as yours). I have 197K miles on mine... runs like a top.

I use regular (non-synthetic) ATF. When you change it, also change the filter, and drain the torque converter.

jp

__________________
Jeff Pierce

Current Vehicles:
'92 Mercedes 190E/2.3 (247K miles/my daily driver)
'93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon (263K miles/a family truckster with spunk)
'99 Kawasaki Concours
Gravely 8120
Previous Vehicles:
'85 Jeep CJ-7 w/ Fisher plow (226K miles)'93 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon
'53 Willys-Overland Pickup
'85 Honda 750F Interceptor
'93 Nissan Quest
'89 Toyota Camry Wagon
'89 Dodge Raider
'81 Honda CB 750F Super Sport
'88 Toyota Celica
'95 Toyota Tacoma
'74 Honda CB 550F

I use mobil one in the tranny...and whatever oil is on sale for the engine...appropriate weight of course... your call synthetic or dino..

here pep boys now has synthetic oil on sale for 2 dollars a quart after rebate... dino 1.59 a quart..

of course mobil one tranny fluid is never on sale..but it stays in there for 30k miles... a bargain..

__________________
1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

I am using Lubro Moly 5W40 all around year in Vancouver, BC on my 190E 2.3

I'm not sure Larry Bible is around here anymore...so i'll do the honors.


"Change it hot, change it often."

cheers,
dan r.

I believe 0 W 20 oil was introduced to meet Ford ( and maybe Honda ) specifications.

__________________
2007 C 230 Sport.

Great suggestions. I'll see what my local PepBoys has in stock for Mobil 1. I ask because my Porsche 944 is VERY finicky about winter oil weights. Going too thin can cause the "world reknown" front seals to leak. So just to be sure I thought I'd ask!

I already have the Transmission Filter kit, so the 190e will get all new synFluids this week, now that my hands have recovered (mostly) from the head gasket job!!

Had one scare this weekend when the car dumped a half gallon of coolant in the driveway!! I didn't relish doing another head gasket!! Well, DOH, in my rush to finish the work (at 2 AM) I swapped the two small hoses connected to the expansion tank!! Yea, so expansion goes out the wrong hose. Dumb, dumb, dumb.

-Steve

Number 4 did NOT look healthy:

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