Rookie MB turbo diesel owner. Oil viscosity Q.

[Frankie]

Hello gents and ladies, mind if I join you? I am a new owner of a 1984 300 SD turbo diesel MB! 182K.
Clap, clap, clap!
I am not a grease monkey so this is why I am here to ask of the experienced MB enthusiasts. The previous owner had fair record keeping and happens to be a mechanic which is why I was surprised to find that he did the last oil change with 10W-30 oil. The previous 3 oil changes were with 20-50. Why did he change the last time to an oil that is too thin? Please confirm or correct me. I want to learn!!
I need to change the oil again soon (every 3,000-4,000) and was reading other MB chats online. I want to try Mobil 1 diesel synthetic oil but don't know if 15w-40 or 15w-50 is the correct oil for my 22 year old car?
It is in good shape for "her" age except the broken seat frame and spongy old front seats which need to be replaced, ouch my back! I am excited/commited to continue taking good care of her. I bought her for the slightly better fuel econo and to join the Biodiesel revolution. I want to stick it to the man! . . . but failed to realize that the older MBs take 8 quarts of oil every 3-4,000! So I guess I'm NOT sticking to the man afterall!

I had her inspected by a MB mech the same day that I bought. Clean bill of health except needs a new radiator soon d/t leaking.
Which type of oil should I use and anyone can point me in the direction HOW-TO-ChANGE- THE-OIL/ Do it yourself articles for MB diesel engine? I'm on a budget and this is the only thing that I feel comfortable doing myself, I've done this before on my other cars without problems. I already know which OEM MB filter to buy and where to buy them online etc.
Cheeeers,
Frankie
2004 Subaru Turbo Forester
1993 Acura Integra
1991 Jeep Wrangler

[Hatterasguy]

Go and purchase a diesel rated 15w40 oil. Delo 400, Delvac 1300, Shell Rotella, Pennzoil HD are just a few brands that are out there. But every autopart store should have at least one.

[P.E.Haiges]

Frankie,

Since the crankcase holds 8 quarts of oil, it should last twice as long as an engine that holds 4 quarts of oil. So I change the oil in my 300SDs every 10,000 miles using either Mobil, Castrol, or Rotell synthetic oil. That way even though I add twice as much oil when I change it, using it twice as long makes the cost the same.

I use 15W50 oil in the car I use only in warm weather and 5W50 in the winter/summer car. No problems in 15+years of service.

P E H

[kerry]

Before you replace your seats, do a search on this site for 'pool noodles'.
I use Shell Rotella sythetic.

Originally Posted by P.E.Haiges

Frankie,

Since the crankcase holds 8 quarts of oil, it should last twice as long as an engine that holds 4 quarts of oil. So I change the oil in my 300SDs every 10,000 miles using either Mobil, Castrol, or Rotell synthetic oil. That way even though I add twice as much oil when I change it, using it twice as long makes the cost the same.

I use 15W50 oil in the car I use only in warm weather and 5W50 in the winter/summer car. No problems in 15+years of service.

P E H

Frankie, if you search a little you will see that this is a minority opinion, with regard to both the oil weight and the change interval.

[BenzDieselTuner]

i use Amsoil Series 3000 100% Synthetic Heavy Duty Diesel Oil in my C123......

Delo 400 is the best, hands down

[mbzkid]

Originally Posted by 123c

Delo 400 is the best, hands down

What do you use in the winter? I use Delo, year round, but I'm thinking of using Rotella "synthetic" this winter because I won't be able to plug it in.

[Gurkha]

I will just echo others, Delo 400 and Delvac Super best value, Delo 400 has good winter pour point as well, use Delvac-I if u have lots of money and expect extreme conditions for your vehicle.

[Frankie]

Read a little about the pool noodles, very interesting idea indeed. Any crunching noises from pool noodles?
A couple of votes for Shell Rotella and Delo and Amsol. Must see which is readily available in my area. I live in the San Fran Peninsula where weather is mild all year round so I might go with 15W-40.
My next "issue" needing advice is I left the car at the MB mech Tues-Wed. b/c he said that slow oil leakage from valve cover and the fuel inj seal area. He said that valve adjustment was overdue anyways, that evident that seller did not do this with the last major service, which I was already aware of. New valve cover/gasket would be placed and oil leak was supposed to be fixed. Alright. and Oh BTW, I need a new radiator, "See? it's leaking too, from the top.There's a small flourescent puddle on the ground." (Remember, I left it there overnight so they could work on the oil problem.) OK, let's wait a minute here (at least till I can save up the $500 you've just #@!!# quoted me for the radiator, water pump and labor). The first night the car was at my place with a cardboard underneath and I did not see a drop of flourescent coolant!)
Yesterday, I put a fresh cardboard under the engine out of natural curiousity, OK just wanted to know if the mech. really found/fixed the oil leak. Nope, 5 drops of black oil on the cardboard. I do know that oil leaks are sometimes hard to find where the leak is coming from but how do I go back, with a cool head and tell them to fix the leak? They were supposed to diagnose and treat, not just replace parts. How would you mechs want to be approached about this? I don't want to burn bridges, these guys also run the only biodiesel co-op in my city!
Found the pictorial on changing my own oil through the diesel engine on this website, thanks Russel!
Frankie

[Frankie]

Read a little about the pool noodles, very interesting idea indeed. Any crunching noises from pool noodles?
A couple of votes for Shell Rotella and Delo and Amsol. Must see which is readily available in my area. I live in the San Fran Peninsula where weather is mild all year round so I might go with 15W-40.
My next "issue" needing advice is I left the car at the MB mech Tues-Wed. b/c he said that slow oil leakage from valve cover and the fuel inj seal area. He said that valve adjustment was overdue anyways, that evident that seller did not do this with the last major service, which I was already aware of. New valve cover/gasket would be placed and oil leak was supposed to be fixed. Alright. and Oh BTW, I need a new radiator, "See? it's leaking too, from the top.There's a small flourescent puddle on the ground." (Remember, I left it there overnight so they could work on the oil problem.) OK, let's wait a minute here (at least till I can save up the $500 you've just #@!!# quoted me for the radiator, water pump and labor). The first night the car was at my place with a cardboard underneath and I did not see a drop of flourescent coolant!)
Yesterday, I put a fresh cardboard under the engine out of natural curiousity, OK just wanted to know if the mech. really found/fixed the oil leak. Nope, 5 drops of black oil on the cardboard. Coolant level fine today and not a drop of coolant on the cardboard, hmmmmm. Temp did reach 100F while slowly climbing a SF hill at dinnertime but otherwise stayed at 90F. Will watch carefully and recheck level often.
I do know that oil leaks are sometimes hard to find where the leak is coming from but how do I go back, with a cool head and tell them to fix the leak? They were supposed to diagnose and treat, not just replace parts. How would you mechs want to be approached about this? I don't want to burn bridges, these guys also run the only biodiesel co-op in my city!
Found the pictorial on changing my own oil through the diesel engine on this website, thanks Russel!
Frankie

[Frankie]

Thanks Gurkha-
A. Don't have lots of money and B. I don't know if Delvac-I is readily available in the States, probably is ,but refer to "A."
I'm bracing for how expensive this 22 year old MB will cost to maintain and my experiment.
See, I will see how many MPG this car gets on petrodiesel for 3 months then do the same with biodiesel B50 for 3 months, then see if there is difference, improved MPG on SVO for 3 months. I want to research more on the SVO before trying it though. It involves a pricey conversion kit, installation, filtering, etc.
Any alternative fuel trailblazing going on in India?
Frankie

[vstech]

Originally Posted by Frankie

Thanks Gurkha-
A. Don't have lots of money and B. I don't know if Delvac-I is readily available in the States, probably is ,but refer to "A."
I'm bracing for how expensive this 22 year old MB will cost to maintain and my experiment.
See, I will see how many MPG this car gets on petrodiesel for 3 months then do the same with biodiesel B50 for 3 months, then see if there is difference, improved MPG on SVO for 3 months. I want to research more on the SVO before trying it though. It involves a pricey conversion kit, installation, filtering, etc.
Any alternative fuel trailblazing going on in India?
Frankie

you have a pretty mild climate. try a test bottle of svo under the hood and see how it runs in your area with out heating.
use the method DG does for using DieselPurge www.dieselgiant.com there are also electric GP fuel heaters that can be used.
John

[INNOUTFAN]

Bought Mobil 1 Delvac at my local MB Dealer for $2.65/qt. Can't beat that.

[P.E.Haiges]

INN,

They made a mistake, probably thought they were selling dino Mobil oil.

P E H