I recently bought an '82 300D. Just took it to the lube-place for an oil change... Since I left there it runs fine (sonds GREAT) but is smoking, a lot!

Questions:

1. they used Castrol 10 W40 --is that ok? (I don't know if it's diesel rated).
2. Receipt says they put 9 quarts of oil in.. could that be my whole problem? is that much too much? is the car just burning off the excess?

3. What should I do now?
a. Get another oil change right away? (if so, what should I use?)
b. Have some oil taken back out?
c. Drive the car and don't worry about it?

Advice is appreciated.

many thanks.

Joe A
82 300D (151K)

I'm no expert but 9 qts sounds like way too much. what does your owner's manual say to use? I use that oil in my motorcycle, and it works very well, 10W40 is a higher quality oil than I normally put in my car but ok (its more expensive than 10w 30). Didn't know diesels took a different type. Check the oil dipstick, do you know how to do that? see where it is.

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2002suzukiGSF600S
1985 190e 2.3

I would drive it to get it hot, park it on a level surface and check it. If it is high get a Mighty Vac and remove enough to put the level indication on the dipstick between the hi and lo marks. Use a diesel rated oil the next time you change it too.

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Jim

you can get a case of delvac 1300 (diesel rated) for cheap at costco. that's a 15w-40 oil. also, diesels will get oil dirty real quick so it's important that you have the right type of oil in there...

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joE
1993 300e-2.8 - gone now <sigh>
"Do not adjust your mind, it's reality that's malfunctioning"
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I don't know the oil capacity of a 300D, but have you checked the dipstick?

Diesel engines require an oil with an American Petroleum Institute rating of CI-4. It's right on the label in plain view. The commonly available national brands are Chevron Delo, Mobil Delvac, and Shell Rotella, and the common multi-vis grade is 15W-40.

Brand name isn't important. The important issue is to us an API CI-4 oil. Gasoline engines use API rating SL.

If you don't have an owner's manual, you should try to locate one. A Mercedes Dealer is probably a good starting point.

It won't hurt to let run the SL oil for 3000 miles, but make sure you get a CI-4 at the next oil change, and make sure the next place that changes your oil has a suitable CI-4 oil and you tell them the proper capacity.

Duke

thanks for all the good advice. I will have some taken out and make sure to use the right stuff and the right amount next time. Regarding smoking, would it be the excess that is causing that or the kind of oil?

With filter change, '82 300 D requires 8 qts of oil.

Castrol 10W-40 is not the optimal choice of oil for this motor.

The 15@40's as indicated by Duke are all good choices. These are called "Universal Grade" and are ESPECIALLY formulated for diesel use. They have much more detergents which are able to disperse and deal with the soot found in diesel engines. Any one of them will serve you well.

I'm sure that it should take no more than 8 quarts.

Good luck,

I strongly recommend the 15w-40 type diesel oils. Many of these engines ran fine on Castrol GTX 20w-50 years ago but that was before the additive chemistry was changed and the Cx diesel rating dropped.

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Brian Toscano

I strongly recommend the 15w-40 type diesel oils. Many of these engines ran fine on Castrol GTX 20w-50 years ago but that was before the additive chemistry was changed and the Cx diesel rating dropped. Having too much oil (9 quarts is TOO MUCH) is worse than the 10w-40 oil they put in. Chevron makes one of the best followed by Mobil Devac and then Shell. They are usually price at $5-6.50/gal at Wal Mart.

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Brian Toscano

CI-4 is more than enough for a 80's era diesel, the CI-4 spec is for MY 2002 and newer heavy-duty diesels with EGR, like found on newer(2001-on) buses and trucks, but using a diesel engine oil in that 300D is a much better idea than running Castrol in that engine.

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1984 380SL-driving and service privileges.

To make it clear, the smoking problem you have presently is most likely due to adding too much oil. That should be checked by following engatwork's advice, and adjusted as necessary. Too much oil results in the crankshaft beating liquid into a foamy froth, which changes the oil's lubricating and other characteristics. Not good. I would get the excess out sooner rather than later, and if you do not have a Mity-Vac I would even consider draining it all out and putting the correct amount of the right stuff back in. Which will not be 8 quarts unless you change the filter again at the same time. Good luck, Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Moral to the story: Never take your Benz to a quick-lube joint.

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'86 420SE Euro
904 Midnight Blue, Gray Velour
Dad bought it new, now I own it.

"A Mercedes-Benz is like a fine wine, it only gets better with age."

thank you all, very, very much.

Joe

Castrol 10w 40 is light for the summer in a diesel, we used 20w50. If you live in the cold climates 10w40 is good for the winter. Both meet the mercedes Diesel requirements for the 80's models. I would however recommend 20w50 for summer. ( quarts seems high. I believe jgl1 is correct about it being an 8 quart fill.

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Martin Ingram
Colorado Springs
2005 320 CDI
2006.5 VW Jetta TDI
1991 560SEL (179000 Sold)
1972 280SEL 4.5 ('The Lead Sled' 320000 miles when sold.)
1972 220D (225000 when sold)