I change the oil on my cars every 3000 miles....I know it's stupid but they do re-cycle motor oil so I don't feel guilty. And I have never had an engine breakdown due to oil related issues. I personally only use (and have for the past years) Castrol GTX, yet, interestly, FRAM filters work great! I use 10-40 in the winter and 20-50 in the summer. And heck, it only costs like $40 anyway right? Best of luck

I believe the important number to look at in order to answer this question is the TBN. If you went to Blackstone then he should have provided a "summary" of the results with an opinion of the miles left based on the TBN. That is how I remember it anyway. Doesn't the TBN test cost extra?

I saw a study recently that concluded that oil hasn't even reached it's maximum efficiency at 3k miles.

How about changing the oil per the manufacturer's recommendation and putting the $40 in an envelope to be used for real needed repairs. I know this won't solve your psychological need to "work" on your car, but maybe you can just reach under the hood and get some grease under your finger nails, and maybe rub some in your hair for that real "I worked on my car" feeling.

I've never had a engine breakdown due to oil related issues either, and you don't want to hear about my oil change interval.

Using one brand of oil over another is another load of horse poop, encouraged by gigantic marketing budgets. As long as it meets the SAE rating your car needs, you're good to go.

All IMHO, of course.

:)

I got the sample through MBCA member George Murphy. the TBN did cost $6 extra. He said that fleet managers replace their oil when the TBN reaches 1/2 its original value. In the case of Mobil one that would be 11.3/2 or 5.6 since I have about 9k on this oil I'm losing TBN at a rate of 4.3/9k or about 0.5 TBN per 1K that would say I have about 3K more miles on the oil. That works out to 12K. Maybe the guys at Mercedes know what they are doing after all. Having said that George Murphy the MBCA tech guru recommends 6.5k oil changes. I spend my life doing engineering calculations and it is hard for me to go against the data and follow his recommendation, though the 2009 10k oil change posted above gives me pause.

MBlovr - What are your driving habits? That impacts the issue greatly.

I drive 110 highway miles a day and no short trips inbetween. FSS lets my Diesel go 15-16k miles before it trips. Its set for the 10k mile interval. I'm at 250k miles; sent my first oil test off last week just for giggles since I'd never done it before.

Someone only driving short city trips would expirience VERy different results using FSS.

Those driving 80's era vehicles and using dino oil should ignore all extended interval threads. Its not applicable to their engine.

I think that this is a key issue. I am very light on the throttle and drive about 35% in town and 65% highway and get OBC mpg of 23 which is testament to my light throttle. I think that this helps me extend the oils life.

Is that physically possible...240Joe....suggesting somebody change their oil? :confused:

9 months of "vacation" must have cleared your head. ;)

Nope 19K miles--translated it for you.

Perhaps they don't like Mobil 1 Formula M ESP 5W-40 as well as they liked Mobil 1 European Formula 0W-40.

I bet they can't change the car electronics to convert the 13K cars to 10K warning messages.

No, 1km=0.62miles.

11,806miles.

The FSS in these cars monitors the engine oil's condition, driving conditions, running time between changes and all factors which dictate the interval between services. That is what it is there for.

Use the recommended synthetic oil, and follow the FSS and you will be fine. Ignore the dealer's recommendation for more frequent services, that is just their way of maximizing profits, period, and I'd bet they'd never recommend this if the zone manager from M-B was in earshot.

The SL600 and G500 both get their oils changed around 10k miles.... They run Mobil 0W-40, and at the end of the 10k miles, the oil still looks new. Our indie recommends 8-10k on synthetic, so we go by that for the SL. The G has the FSS, and it usually goes about 10k miles between services.




As for driving cycles, the G does about 60% city 40% freeway. The SL does about 80% freeway 20% city. The SL goes about 10k miles a year, so its yearly oil change on that, and the G goes about 15k miles a year, so it goes about 9 months between changes.


The C220 is fairly new to us, and we have had its oil changed to synthetic. Its got 5k on the oil, and we will change it in about 5k more.


The other stuff is older, so no FSS. Just oil changes 5-10k miles.

I am certainly no expert, but my very trusted independent mechanic (who is retired, picky on whose cars he will work on, often gives me advice for free, and helps me troubleshoot over the phone to save me money) recommends changes every 5,000 miles (dino) for two reasons:
1) it is easy to remember and good for the engine
2) it gives he and I an opportunity to go over the car on a regular basis and check overall condition. I do some of my own oil changes, and "getting under the hood" is a good thing.

He admits it may be overkill, but claims that if I maintain this schedule these engines will last a long time.

My 560sec which has been maintained this way for the last 100,000 miles now has 165,000 miles and the camshaft lobes look new.
My '93 turbo with 145,000 miles has been maintained this way for the last 75,000 miles and also runs like new.

It may be too often, and once and a while I slip a bit, but I have two very strong running cars that I cherish and would like to keep for another 100,000 miles!
John

John

Another good oil thread, with technical information included.