Supertech oil = crap - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Cervan · #1 08-16-2008, 05:08 AM

Recently ive been changing the oil in my 240d with supertech 15w40 oil. Since then ive been noticing that in the mornings when its cold, its taking more time for the oil pressure gauge to reach a full 3 bars, sometimes over 12 seconds. I also noticed that my engine started using oil, the entire drive from california to washington over 1000 miles, this engine never burnt one drop when i was using delvac and suddenly its acting wierd and burning oil.

So today i put some synthetic 15w40 in there with a touch of atf fluid to try and clean everything up, and then i drove about 300miles down to portland and back. About halfway down there, the oil pressure gauge became very responsive where as before it used to lag behind the engine rpm's, now its very accurate. The engine also didnt use any oil the entire trip.. Im never going to use that oil again its not worth the .50 cent savings at all.

johnathan1 · #2 08-16-2008, 05:30 AM

Took 12 seconds to see pressure??? I doubt the oil is at fault...even cold molasses in the sump would start to build pressure after that long...

Cervan · #3 08-16-2008, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnathan1

Took 12 seconds to see pressure??? I doubt the oil is at fault...even cold molasses in the sump would start to build pressure after that long...

I think that the oil was starting to gel because after i put synthetic in there the oil pressure now shoots up to the 3 bar mark, as soon as i turn the key.

#4 08-16-2008, 06:14 AM

I agree with johnathan1, 12 seconds likely means something other than the oil. Clogged filter, bad stem rings, blockage of the pickup screen, etc.

Cervan · #5 08-16-2008, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

I agree with johnathan1, 12 seconds likely means something other than the oil. Clogged filter, bad stem rings, blockage of the pickup screen, etc.

Thats the thing, it started hapening after the second oil change with this new crappy oil, after i filled it with rotella synthetic the issue's went away so either there was something blocking the pickup screen, or the oil was coagulating in the oil pan. the stem o-rings are only six months old. i put a brand new wix filter in there every time i do the oil change. I was starting to get worried about the oil pump until i changed the oil.

pawoSD · #6 08-16-2008, 08:48 AM

Soooo.....the real question here is why did you abuse your 240d and put in such low grade oil?

I tried that stuff in the wife's Rav4.....it burned 1.5 quarts in less than 1000 miles

It really is low grade stuff. I put in Mobil 1 0w30 "high efficiency" full synthetic.....almost 1000 miles later the level hasn't changed, AND it is getting an extra 2-3 mpg!

777funk · #7 08-16-2008, 08:51 AM

I wonder who makes Wal-Mart's "Super-Tech" branded oil. I'm betting their oil filters are WIX. I don't know this... but I do see that they're USA made. They claim 2-3x the filtration of the two major leading brands (Fram and ???). I buy their oil filters for my GMC Diesel Suburban. Actually come to think of it I used S.T. oil in both the Burb and the MB the last time. Seems to be working fine so far.

On another note... I worked with a guy who drove an early 90's Ford Escort to 400k miles. I asked him what oil he's using and I'm pretty sure if my memory is good... that he said... WAL-MART!!!

pawoSD · #8 08-16-2008, 08:53 AM

I could never put walmart oil in a MB....

Only the best for the best.

777funk · #9 08-16-2008, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

I could never put walmart oil in a MB....

Only the best for the best.

You're true about the best for the best... But...

Like anything at Wal-Mart that's Wal-Branded... It's not "Wal-Mart" anything. They don't even make applesauce I'm sure. Probably Motts.

That said, my next door neighbor is a manager at Kingsford MFG (Charcoal). Kingsford will not sell to Wal-Mart as rebranded Great Value or Sam's Choice or whatever. So the next big charcoal MFG got that gig. I think it's Royal Oak if I recall what he told me. And of course Kingsford Lights Faster and Burns Longer (if he said otherwise he'd loose his job

).

So... who knows what oil Wal-Mart is buying from who. But I'd bet good money that it's a major brand. I'd guess it's from Valvoline or Shell. Who knows though. Probably not Penz Oil or Quaker since they don't sell much 15W40. Probably not Mobil since it's expensive.

pawoSD · #10 08-16-2008, 09:13 AM

That oil has got to be one of the lower brands though....it burned horribly in the rav4.....and its gotta be cheap to sell a gallon of the stuff for $7 and still turn a profit. Thats only a little more than a gallon of actual fuel costs!

777funk · #11 08-16-2008, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

That oil has got to be one of the lower brands though....it burned horribly in the rav4.....and its gotta be cheap to sell a gallon of the stuff for $7 and still turn a profit. Thats only a little more than a gallon of actual fuel costs!

My college car was a Ford Tempo and it seemed louder than usual with Super-Tech. My MB and GM Diesel are already a good bit louder than the gasser I once owned but I don't hear any extra noise in either of those.

In the oil debates that happen here all the time (kind of funny on some of them-especially when we had good ole 240Joe's no oil change garbage)... but someone said if it's slippery and clean, it'll work. I kind of wonder myself. That said, you do get what you pay for. Be nice to do a test comparing things like compression and metal in oil after say 100k in two identical new engines comparing cheap oils vs. Mobil 1 Synthetic changed every 3000 miles (or equivalent in hours).

MTUpower · #12 08-16-2008, 11:55 AM

is this a oil thread?....

Marty600 · #13 08-16-2008, 12:39 PM

Yea, i bought some walmart oil---it was the 2 stroke version, for mixing in gasoline for the chainsaw! Now for a diesel Benz, I think we want a little more quality, no?

tangofox007 · #14 08-16-2008, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

I agree with johnathan1, 12 seconds likely means something other than the oil. Clogged filter, bad stem rings, blockage of the pickup screen, etc.

Considering that oil pressure is measured "upstream" from the filter element, it doesn't seem likely that a clogged filter could be the culprit. A poor filter seal, however, could be allowing the filter housing to empty while the engine is not running, resulting in a delayed oil pressure indication.

In summer weather conditions, a delay in oil pressure cannot reasonably be the fault of the oil. You could fill the oil sump with water and get good pressure a lot faster than 12 seconds, assuming no other factors were involved.