I'm taking delivery of a 1982 300TD with 153k on it. I'm curious as to what engine oils are recommended for it. I live in Mexico right over the border from south Texas. tempratures during the ummer months often reach 114 and in the short months of winter, maybe 30 degrees max low. Also, I;m partial to synthetics. Thanks for the help

I believe that oil companies make oil specifically for diesels because ot the amount of particulates that contaminates the oil. So instead of using a 15W-50 Mobil 1 oil that would work great in that heat with a gasoline engine, you need to find a 15W-40 true synthetic that is designed for diesels. AMSOIL and Redline are two companies that make it but both are very expensive.

An alternative would be to use 15W-40 Shell Rotella oil designed for diesels. I think you can get it at Walmarts in the US.

I personally used 15W-50 Mobl 1 in my 190D diesel for the 17 years that I owned it and it never used a drop of oil. I use the same oil in my 300E in Arizona's triple digit heat.

Do a search. We don't need another oil thread. Whatever you use change it hot and change it often. Personally, I run Delo 400.

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Jim

Thanks guys and don't get you drawers in a wad Jim. Just signed on to the board and I did a search with no results for oil. Perhaps I should have done a boolean search. Matter of fact, I'm intimately familar with the oils mentioned as I own a small trucking company. However, synthetics in a big truck is prohibitively expensive despite what the oil companies claim. I'll probably use Delvac Synthetic by Mobil as I've ad extremely good luck with it in the Cummins engines. Look for more dumb questions as I get more into theses MB's. I have three coming in to me.

Look for more dumb questions as I get more into theses MB's. I have three coming in to me.

If you only have three more dumb questions, that's way ahead of the rest of us!

(Still trying to get a straight answer on oil for my 300E, by the way.)

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1992 300E Sedan (Sold)
1999 E320 Wagon (Sold)
1995 E320 Sedan
1995 E320 Wagon

I'm assuming a diesel is a diesel as i've been around them for 30 years. Delvac 15W40 works good in the trucks, has excellent soot dispersion properties. I've got one unit I run 50,000 miles between oil changes and the oil analysis comes back good. I'll feel safe with delvac Sythetic. Just have to play it by ear.! BTW, three cars coming in, a million dumb questions~

Being close to Texas (unofficial home of Walmart ... LOTS of them), I would look for "the deal" on Rotella Synthetic. I have found a few gallons marked at $12.88 ... at this price it is probably the cheapest CH-4 you can find.

I have used Delvac 1 and M1 15-50, but am gonna switch based on price.

Everyone says they don't like these oil threads, but, c'mon, there aren't many topics in the world of mechanic'ing that one can be convincing about based solely on one's opinion!

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George Stephenson
1991 350 SDL (200K and she ain't bent, yet)
former 2002 E320 4Matic Wagon - good car
former 1985 300 CD - great car
former 1981 300 TD - good car
former 1972 280 SEL - not so good car
a couple of those diesel Rabbits ...40-45 mpg

I know that my ears will be burning when people read this, but I have used Amsoil all my car driving adult years. Currently in my 97 C280 I'm using the Amsoil 15w-40 Heavy Duty Diesel and Marine Oil and use it in Moms 91 Audi. I am the second owner of the C280 and I can't believe the MB Dealer actually used Kendall 10w-30 in the motor.

If you look at the specs for the Amsoil 15w-40 vs. a Kendall, Valvoline, Pennzoil, etc, etc, it beats all of them on each and every spec. I live in MN and concerned with pour points during the winter months. In the summer months, I'm concerning the High Temp Shear and the 15w-40 is fabulous.

It's my opinion that everyone should be using at least a x-40 weight oil in their motors. Whether it be a 0w-40 for the newest motors to a 10 or 15-40 for the 80s to 90s motors.

No, I am not an Amsoil dealer, but believe in putting a superior lubricant into a superior engine (eventhough the 104 in my view is not a superior motor)

Hope this helps!

My opinion, as long as you regularly change your oil and filter not much diference what oil you use.

I have a few cars with mega-miles and use cheapest 10W-30 I can find (walmart now). Not sure about diesels though.


Thanks,
Joel