Is there anything to be gained by changing the oil, but NOT the filter for those “in-between“Oil changes?
It would be much simpler and cheaper for us mechanically disinclined to just put some new oil in at say 5k Miles and let the MB dealer do regular maintenance at the recommended 10k.


------------------
1999 E-300TD

It might seem cheaper now, but in the long run I'd think that it could prove quite costly. A mechanic once told me that changing oil but not the filter is like turning your underware inside out and then reusing it. It might seem like the right thing to do at the time, but is it a viable solution?

Nothing at all to be gained. The cost of a filter is nearly inconsequential, so why not just change it too? Even the high priced oil filters top out at only about $10.00.

You mentioned that you're "mechanically disinclined," but changing the filter is not that much more challenging than changing the oil.

In europe & with Amsoil many people change the filter & run the oil longer(high cost of oil). I think this isn't a bad idea.

I used the Amsoil system for many years. The oil didn't need to be changed but once a year, if you remembered! There was a huge by-pass filter that looked like a large toilet paper roll. Many oil analysis demonstrated the oil to be clean and in good condition even after a year of use. Guess that huge filter and the synthetic oil worked as promissed. Engine still runs like new(according to a compression test) after 17 years and 170K miles.

Oil filter position in a Mercedes is particularly easy to reach. Why not change it with every oil change?

Also, when oil filters are not changed at regular intervals, their inner-cartrige may come apart and send bits and pieces of itself into the engine. Not good! So for the $6 you have to spend, you're buying insurance for your engine. I don't know about synthetic, but I have always trusted Castrol GTX 10W-40 in each of my cars.

------------------
Rgds,
Aaron Greenberg
MB technician
'67 250SE Cabriolet
'77 450SL
'79 6.9
'79 6.9
'80 300SD
'81 240D
'85 380SE
'89 420SEL
'93 300E 2.8