What's up....

Today was the first time I put synthetic in my 240D. I even went to Wal-Mart on a mission to find all the synthetic oils. I first put 8 quarts of MOBIL 1 with red cap in the shopping cart and then as I was walking through the isle I noticed Rotella Synthetic at 12.99 per gallon. Wow is that a bargain for an oil brand that I have been using all the time. For the last 20,000 miles only Rotella regular went into the car. The grade of the oil is 5W-40 so it is perfect for those cold winter starts... If I have been changing the oil on my car religiously at 3,000 mile intervals what would be a good schedule since I have gone to synthetic ?

As I was reading the one trillion oil threads here I noticed that most will use MOBIL or DELVAC as opposed to ROTELLA. Is there something with ROTELLA that many are staying away from it ?

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Audi TT

Rotella is not a full synthetic like the Mobil, and that's why it is more expensive than the regular "dino" oil but cheaper than the Mobil 1. Nothing wrong with the Rotella- I did use that stuff first and then changed to Mobil 1.

Some of us have started using Rotella synthetic, including Dave and myself, because it was attractively priced. However, if you look into the details of the oil, and I won't go into it here, the Rotella is a Group III synthetic that is not up to the performance level of the Mobil 1 which is a group IV synthetic.

Now, whether you really need a group IV synthetic is a different story altogether. The group IV oils will typically allow you to go further between oil changes. However, with your engine, this may not be possible in any case due to the amount of soot that it produces.

I will probably continue to use the Rotella in the 617 because I will definitely change it every 5K. Now, the 603 can probably go longer than 5K, and, it has lifter noise, so I will likely switch it to the more costly Mobil 1.

About a year ago I also switched to synthetic oils. Differential and engine at least. A couple months ago I changed autotransmission fluid and filter and went with the Mobil 1 there also. All seems good and for whatever reason I feel more confident. Though I haven't put enough miles on in the one year period, I am going to change engine oil & filter again before the winter hits.

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Steve
'87 300TD - 132K - Soon 4-Sale
'84 300D Turbo - 122K - Driving
'77 VW Type II - 77K - Restored
'08 250EX Ninja
English Bulldog (Brier) - My best friend. Passed away 12/02/04 while in my arms.

I do all highway miles at the rate of about 500 miles a week. So I'm kind of thinking like you guys at going to 5,000 miles between changes.


oh yeh....can I get mobil 1 with the red cap in a big jug ? I only seen the 10w-30 and 5-w30 in the big jugs but could not find the 15w-50.... what's up with that ?

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Audi TT

Kamil,

Try another wal-mart; although you really want DELVAC 1 5W40 (at w-mart)
packaged in quarts as "Mobil 1 Truck+Suv". ( you will not like the price,but
the quality and LONG term performance/protection are without equal )

Go all the way , Walmart isn't to bad on price I think I paid $4.62 a quart, for the Delvac.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Funny you should mention it, I just changed over to synthetic last night. I went with Amsoil 15W40. I have always been a Delvac 1 guy for diesels, but I have read good comments on the Amsoil. The price helped as well - I paid $18 gal vs. $22 gal for the Delvac 1. I will continue with Delvac for my Jetta since it only takes 1 gal and that is what it has always had. Also, I saw the yellow cap Delvac 1 at Wally World as mentioned in earlier threads. It says it is Truck & SUV Mobil 1, but has all the diesel ratings. It was $4.75 qt or something like that. Actually cheaper than buying a gallon of Delvac 1. Interesting. Do I dare trust that it is Delvac 1 and use that on the jetta next time??

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'85 300D - 206K (sold)
'81 240D - 149K (sold)
'03 Jetta TDI - (sold)
'79 300D - (sold)

The Truck & SUV oil is the same exact oil as Delvac1 and uses the same MSDS sheet, I am on the second oil change using it in the '02 Jetta, and have put it in the MB and plan on doing an oil sample test at about 4500 to 5000 mile mark to see how soot and everything else is doing. Also these EGR equipted early MB's do not put as much soot into the engine I am told by several mechanic's, because they were not designed to recirc as much gases and probably most are not even working unless they have been kept up with.

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

next time i'll go mobil 1 or delvac 1

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Audi TT

I ran this in my last interval, for ~4,000 miles from March to August in SoCal-

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=26;t=000129

Wear was OK. Only gripe was that the oil thickened to a low 50 weight fairly quickly. Personally I didn't think this oil was worth $13/gal- it doesn't offer any advantage over conventional oil for my use. Soot will get you regardless of group II, III, IV oil. I'm now running Delvac 1300S (which carries MB's 228.3 approval), at $6 a gallon.

They were both group 3 oils and Mobil 1300 has less soot capabilities then the Delvac 1/Truck & SUV oil. Next time for a better and more detailed oil sample go to AVLube

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

This is what I got from that website about MOBIL 1 DELVAC 5w-40 and I'm confused as to wheather it can hit 100,000 miles.

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Audi TT

At 100,000 miles, your 616 will have turned that oil into paste due to the soot contamination.

You guys who don't know about oils and big rigs.

Serious now, here is what they are talking about. In the over the
road trucks with the by-pass oil filters that filter down to less then 5 microns, and most paper element oil filter are in the 20 micron range that are used in auto's. Believe me that Cat or Cummins big block diesels will put out more soot then our little auto diesel's ever will.

The newer diesel oils like Delvac 1 and even none synthetic oils like Delvac 1300 that was designed with soot retention in the oil so as to be filtered out really works.

The oil sample's from Delvac 1 at 10,000 miles is always so good in the Dodge Cummins powered PU down to our little 1.9 VW & 3 liter cars as to be able to often go 20,000 with out oil change. Most will just do a filter change at 10,000 miles. Also remember these are cars & trucks that are getting all their miles running down the highway, not stop & go city driving.

I've done 2 oil sample test at 10,000 miles on two different VW diesels and both came back with far better reports then the two test above, and were said good to go till next check in another 10,000 miles and the car's were 50/50 city & highway.

I plan on doing a sample of the MB's oil at about 4000 miles and will only change the oil if required by the sample, I will change the filter though at the very least.

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.