13000 Mile Oil Change Interval
 

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.

I'd be uncomfortable
 

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.)

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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".??

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....

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

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.