Any opinions on running synthetic oil in a diesel? I was told it would be better and make a noticable improvement. I plan on doing an oil change soon as I just go this lovely 300D up and running after 2 years sitting.
Thanks

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I would'nt say I've been missing work...

1982 300D Turbo Diesel

You shouldn't have any trouble as long as your oil is "C" rated. I've heard that synthetic oils will tend to leak more through worn gaskets, but I've never encountered this. Go for the highest C rating you can get, like CH/4 or better.

If you know nothing about the engine, i would start with some good diesel rated dino oil. like rotella.

If it is a heavy user, the dino probably is a better choice.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Yes, use dino for a few an oil change or two so you can figure out how much oil it consumes and if it's worth investing in synthetic.

Check out BITOG UOA in HDEO Dino like Delo 400 and Delvac, then feel if you need or is the high cost of synthetic diesel oil justified, for extreme conditions though like an expedition in desert or glacier region in extended drain conditions, I would tip for the synthetic, for day to day use, I would go for premium HDEO like Delo 400 or Delvac Super.

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99 Gurkha with OM616 IDI turbo

2015 Gurkha with OM616 DI turbo

2014 Rexton W with OM612 VGT

im running the rotella synthetic in mine but i think i remember hearing that stuff is not a true synthetic... can anyone confirm this?

Check the label, if it says group III, it aint synth, OTOH, if its group IV, its synth all the way.

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99 Gurkha with OM616 IDI turbo

2015 Gurkha with OM616 DI turbo

2014 Rexton W with OM612 VGT

Rotella syn is a pseudo-syn (as are most syn oils sold in NAmerica) and a very good oil for the old diesels. Good price, too.

A good choice for our motors is Mobil 1 Tubo Diesel Truck (I think it's 5w-40?). I've finally starting to see this packaged in 4 quart jugs at Wal-Mart. Definately makes it cheaper than buying by the quart at a parts store.

No down side to running synthetic - I 've been running it from 182K miles to now (236K mi). I change mine every 3K miles with an OEM oil filter, but I'm sure you can go much longer (I'm an over-maintainer!).

Enjoy!

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~shell
As of 2/2010:
2001 CLK55 0o\=*=/o0
13.6 @ 106mph
10K mi
1984 300SD
260K mi and going and going...
97 S600
46K miles
1991 Sentra SE-R (extremely dorked with)
www.se-r.net

Advance Auto Parts has Mobil 1 Tubo Diesel Truck 5w-40 on sale thru month end @ $4.98/qt....this is less expensive than Wallymart's gallons. This oil carries the CI-4+ rating.

Personally, I'd stick with the Rotella ($16/gallon at Wally) 'til I determined my leaking status. These non-petro oils can do a lot of cleaning!

Yep, Wally world had it reduced to $20.00 a jug yesterday. I got 4 thinking I'll start running synth for 8-10 thousand and avoid winter oil maintainence. So far (40mi) my valves seem to be louder I get no valve noise when I run Castrol Tection or Delo non synths.

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1999 E300DT (131,800) 154,000 Black on Black SOLD

2006 CLK 500 coupe Capri Blue on Grey (zoom,zoom)
47,000mi

04 VW TDI Passat 80,000mi
(Techno)

How to eliminate oil dependency through market-driven approaches.
“We could cut oil use in half by 2025, and by 2040, oil use could be zero,”
The Sound of Diesel Speed
Ode to MB

I started using 5W-40 synthetic in the winters a number of years ago. The starts were so much better. Now I run it year around.

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Ron Schroeder
'85 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
'83 300 Turbo Diesel 2 tank WVO
Some former WVO vehicles since ~1980:
'83 Mercedes 240D
'80 Audi 4000D
'83 ISUZU Pup
'70 SAAB 99 with Kubota diesel
'76 Honda Civic with Kubota diesel
'86 Golf
Several diesel generators
All with 2 tank WVO conversion
LI NY

I run a 50/50 mix of synth and dino oil. In a diesel its important to change the oil just to get the soot out. I change mine at 5000 or less. Since the change interval is short IMHO it doesn't pay off to go 100% synthetic. By using a 50/50 mix I get almost all the protection of a synthetic at a lower cost.

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green 85 300SD 200K miles "Das Schlepper Frog" With a OM603 TBO360 turbo ( To be intercooled someday )( Kalifornistani emissons )
white 79 300SD 200K'ish miles "Farfegnugen" (RIP - cracked crank)
desert storm primer 63 T-bird "The Undead" (long term hibernation)

http://ecomodder.com/forum/fe-graphs/sig692a.png

Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 is rated CI-4, CH-4, CG-4, CF-4. States meets API CI-4 Plus.

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1996 E300 D
1992 300D
1990 Ford E-350 7.3 Diesel AKA "the Deep Fryer"