My dealer says that they don't like the 13000 mile recommended interval for my E350's oil change. The previous owner changed it per their 6500 mile recommendation. I am at that point with the car now. From what I have read the science based on oil analysis supports the longer interval. Furthermore the car needs 2 quarts to top it up which tends to extend the life of the oil. My thinking was a compromise that being top is up with the two quarts and replace the filter at that time. This is based on an article I found on the web where they monitored the oil every 1000 miles. http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/mobil1.html

Any data based guidance? I hate to break the previous owners tradition of changing it every 6500 but from what I can tell its not worth the extra consumption of resources both mine and the earths.

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MBlovr
'59 180 Dad's original
'59 180 Dad's 2nd one
'67 250SE Dad's last one
'59 220 SE My first one
'62 220SE Coupe second one
'89 190E 2.6 5spd third one
'06 E350 4matic (sold)
'10 E350 4matic

Without oil sample testing on the specific vehicle involved.
[Remember,Manufacturers lengthen intervals to make maintenance costs SEEM
lower...just as they RECOMMEND lower viscosity oils to try and meet MPG goals]
What kind of oil are y'all using synthetic OR DINO?
Without the sample testing you will never know the ongoing effects.

Who is your dealer? Always nice to know the Ethical Service Centers.

The other concern is that Mobil has started using group 3 base-stocks.

(We are running a Ford six cylinder 24 valve on Mobil1 5W30 at 5K oil+filter changes
['ran the first 5,000miles on the Ford initial fill product].At 105,000 miles presently.
It's using 16 ounces of oil per 5,000 miles just like clockwork.)

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

Heaven forbid I should respond to an oil thread... but I will say just a couple of things:

1) That article was written in 2002. I believe M1 has changed their formula since then and is no longer "100% PAO". I could be mistaken and if so I am sure we will have 50 people saying so momentarily.

2) They seem to mention that they changed the filter somewhere along the way before 13,000.

3) The only way to really answer this question is to get your oil tested by a lab such as www.blackstone-labs.com.

4) Miles are not necessarily a good way to measure engine "running duration". Hours of operation and how many cold starts are more relavent. If you have a short commute and it takes you a year to do 13,000 then it might be too long. If you have a long commute you might get away with it. The only way to know is send in a sample at 8,000 or 10,000 (or both) and see what the lab says. I did it once out of curiousity.

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

The car has been serviced by Mercedes-Benz of West Chester Ohio I'm assuming that it has the recommended 0W-40 Mobil 1 in it

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MBlovr
'59 180 Dad's original
'59 180 Dad's 2nd one
'67 250SE Dad's last one
'59 220 SE My first one
'62 220SE Coupe second one
'89 190E 2.6 5spd third one
'06 E350 4matic (sold)
'10 E350 4matic

If you are going to buy a filter and 2 quarts, what is it going to hurt to buy another 5 or 6 quarts (assuming the capacity is 8 qts)? Cheap insurance for longevity.
I treat my cars with the assumption that I will be keeping them for a loooong time. Based on that, 6500 miles on the same oil, is too many for my concience.

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

Well To try to answer the question as to whether I should change my oil more frequently than the factory 13K I had my oil sampled at 8725 miles since it was last changed. I had topped it up once with a quart.

The results are as follows
Iron 8
Alum 1
Copper 3
Chrome 0
Lead 7
Tin 0
Sodium 11
Dirt 5
Engine Soot Light
Fuel ---
Water neg
Solids none
Glycol neg
Visc 76
TBN 7

As best I can tell it is ok to continue to run with this oil but informed expert interpretations are invited.

__________________
MBlovr
'59 180 Dad's original
'59 180 Dad's 2nd one
'67 250SE Dad's last one
'59 220 SE My first one
'62 220SE Coupe second one
'89 190E 2.6 5spd third one
'06 E350 4matic (sold)
'10 E350 4matic

What do you guys think is the best brand and viscosity to run in a 2001 M120 V12?

Always open to opinions. Thicker, thinner? What do you all think?

Your dealer wants to make more money and is unethical.

The recommended oil change interval is 13K miles in the USA because there are so many geniuses here like your dealer.

These are the same geniuses that convinced MBUSA to approve dino oil for the first FSS cars.

The interval in Europe is 19K.

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

I would use the same product and viscosity that came in it from the factory and would only deviate from that if I lived in Death Valley, CA or Fairbanks, AK.

In '01 it probably came with Mobil 0W/40 European Blend.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

Just for INFO!!

MB for 2009 has AGAIN changed their oil change "stragety"....Now every 10,000. (period)

Also every 40,000 miles for the auto trans!

Has the oil quality gotten WORSE, or all this time they were "WRONG".??

__________________
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

I think they're having some difficulty figuring which is the most profitable plan for them - there's a lot of factors at play.

lol....

__________________
1999 C280

whatever happened to the oil change every 3,000? Or was the just for the ol school mb stuff?

__________________
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Check here for compatibility, diagnostics, and availability!

(4/11/2020: Hi Everyone! I am still taking orders and replying to emails/PMs/etc, I appreciate your patience in these crazy times. Stay safe and healthy!)


82 300SD 145k
89 420SEL 210k
89 560SEL 118k
90 300SE 262k RIP 5/25/2010
90 560SEL 154k
91 300D 2.5 Turbo. 241k
93 190E 3.0 235k
93 300E 195k

Of course that would be 19K Kilometres - 11.8K miles - synthetic oil only.

What is wrong with following the FSS system, which the car is set up for +/- 10,000 or one year, unless you are using it in taxi service.