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  #1  
Old 07-17-2003, 03:08 AM
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400E doesnt like synthetic oil =(

Ok, I change my oil every 3-5 K with castrol GTX 20-50 and runs like a charm. This time I thought Id splurge and bout fully synthetic mobil one 15-50. After it ran for about 3 minutes, it started clacking and loud lifter noise would come and go. I drove it for a little bit and it improved a little but it still sounds like it has VERY think lubrication in there. It idles alot louder, doesnt seem as tight, and the valve train is alot clackier than normal.

Does anyone know why its doing this? Should I drain it and put my regular oil back in?

I thought this stuff was supposed to be the best.

Regards,

-Andy

car has 126K.

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  #2  
Old 07-17-2003, 03:25 AM
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What filter did you use?

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83 300SD
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  #3  
Old 07-17-2003, 03:27 AM
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I use genuine german filters that I get from my MB mechanic. I think this one was a 'Knect'.

-Andy
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  #4  
Old 07-17-2003, 07:43 AM
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Hmm...

I run mobile 1 and we pretty much have the same engine. No problems like yours.

Could it be the weight? Everyone seems to be calliing for 10w30 this time of year.

You may want to also post your message here.... the oil gurus.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

Please let us know what you find out.
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  #5  
Old 07-17-2003, 10:09 AM
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Mobil 1 15W-50

I use it in both mine with no problems.
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  #6  
Old 07-17-2003, 11:35 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by wjm
Could it be the weight? Everyone seems to be calliing for 10w30 this time of year.
From what I've read, no -30 oil is on the MB approved lubricants list for these engines except in the coldest winters. -40s and -50s only. Mobil 1 0W-40 is at the top of the list.

I'm curious, who is 'everybody?'

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  #7  
Old 07-17-2003, 11:51 AM
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Hee Hee... I had a feeling someone would call me on this! :-) I sort of used it loosly.

My mechanic (which I may have to dump now) and some other oil guys. I don't believe anyone, so I tried looking in my owner's manual for appropriate weights. Could not find it.

Can you tell me where I can find the MB approved lubricants list ?

Thanks!
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  #8  
Old 07-17-2003, 11:59 AM
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This link is floating around - http://www.whnet.com/4x4/oil.html The URL doesn't look very official.

And my apologies, there is a -30 oil in the higher 229.3 section.

Sixto
95 S420
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  #9  
Old 07-17-2003, 12:56 PM
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Hey Andy,

I'll pipe in to agree with you on a couple of things. First of all, I'm a lifelong fan of Castrol Oil products and believe the final formulation of their oils to be superior to Mobil's. I have testimony from many professional techs and fellow afficionados who've experienced the same results using Castrol.

My question to you is why didn't you use Syntec? I've noticed the same noiser valve train sound at idle after the dealer performs the scheduled maintenance. Since I do my own services every 4K miles, I switch back to Syntec 20-50(S.Cali) and the Mobil-1 "effect" goes away.

But in your case, there is another factor; it's pretty well documented that cars with your mileage sometimes develop abnormal symptoms when switching to synthetic oil late in life.
I've read about minor leaks, some burning...etc. I buy synthetic because it is better formulated oil than Dino, but I also believe that I would be fine using Castrol GTX and changing it every 3K miles....

jmho, Ed
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85 300D Turbo "The Diesel"

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85 190E

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to
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  #10  
Old 07-17-2003, 01:41 PM
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As it's summer, I have Mobil-1 15W50 in my 400E now, no problem at all, in Canadian winter, I run Mobil-1 10W30/5W30.

I get much higher oil pressure with 15W50 than with 10W30, 1.5 bar vs 0.3 bar.
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  #11  
Old 07-17-2003, 01:54 PM
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carman850.

Thanks for the info... I guess that makes sense. Since I'm currently doing an engine clean with Auto-RX (www.auto-rx.com), so I'll be changing my oil in about 1000 miles. I'll make sure to change to 40 or 50 weight. That explains the slight drop in oil pressure I've seen lately.

Thanks
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  #12  
Old 07-17-2003, 03:42 PM
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Ed,

I should of stuck with the tried and true Castrol GTX. The only reason I didnt use syntec was because many people had said to me that it really isnt a pure synthetic and the Mobile one is.

Do you think I should dump it and refill with run of the mill GTX? I too have heard of not putting isyntetic t in cars with higher mileage. But I didnt think it would cause any harm in mine.

I am gonna continue to drive it for a nother few days or so and see what happens. I just dont understand why it would cause this? Decreased flow? Too thick? Ya got me. All I know is that I dont like it.

And just to clear up any misconceptions, my car calls for (as well as almost all gas models) 20-50 weight oil for over 32 degrees F.

Thanks for all the responses.

Im sposed to be taking a 800 mile trip tomorrow. Think it will be alright ?

-Andy
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  #13  
Old 07-18-2003, 02:06 PM
roas
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I went through the same thing last summer, I put Mobil 1 synthetic in and the engine was noticably noisier.

I couldn't take the difference and soon switched back dino oil.

I had to ask myself, if I hear more noise, what is causing it? Parts moving around and having greater tolerances with the sythetic?

I felt much better going back to dino, after all, that is what the factory intended for this engine.

BTW, you might read up here on Chevron Delco (?), it will keep the insides nice and clean while providing great overall performance, all the Diesel guys love it but it can be run in ANY Mercedes engine. As a plus, Costco stocks it.
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  #14  
Old 07-18-2003, 02:10 PM
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Chevron Delo 400. FWIW, I used to run Delo 400 in the SDL. Changed to Mobil 1 and the noisy lifters are much quieter now. Go figure.

This in an interesting thread because the S420 is due for it's first oil change under my care and I was thinking of going with Mobil 1.

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  #15  
Old 07-18-2003, 02:18 PM
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Ross, I think you mean the Chevron Delo-400. It is CH rated and a great buy at Costco warehouses. That's what I run in my diesel!

Andy, personally I wouldn't change it right away. I'm not saying M-1 is bad oil, it's very good oil and will not harm your engine in any way. If the noise is valve related, well slightly loose valves are better than tight ones and only annoy and embarrass.
If you've developed the slight leak problem, well going back to Dino will not immediately eliminate that. (don't don't place any stopleak garbage in your engine).

Take your trip with confidence, of course check everything you normally would before taking a long trip. Wait until you've gotten some use out of the M-1 and then switch back to Castrol.
You won't go wrong there!

Rgds, Ed

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Ed "Don't Benz's just feel better..."

Current wives...
2000 ML430 Skyview "The Mel"
2000 CLK430 Cab "The Cab"
85 300D Turbo "The Diesel"

Past wives...
92 300E
85 190E

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to
avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond
this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to
interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways."
Bertrand Russell
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