i'm going to switch over my benz to synthetic oil... I have wqeighted in on the options and think its better for the old girl. I want to know, am i better off going with shell rotella syn, or mobil one syn. What else should i know about this process. Should i do it now when she is only being driven once a week or wait for the spring when she is taken out for good and driven daily?

Food Fiiight!!!


there is so much written on this in this forum. Most of what I've read involves leaks due to the internal cleansing of the engine.

If its time for an oil change.. do it now. Starting may be facilitated. But dont cut your oil life short just to change over.

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Oh dear. Well...as you will soon find out

Mobil 1 is a "true" synthetic, whereas Rotella is a "fake" synthetic.

When I got my car, I used the Rotella for the first change, and just recently on my second change, switched over to M1. M1 seems better, but the difference is pretty negligable, if you ask me. I do have peace of mind knowing that it is a better oil, though.
This cold weather doesn't really give good opportunites to make a fair comparison.

You'll be fine with either. Recent threads have noted, though, that the rise in price of Rotella kind of offsets any financial benefit from not choosing M1. I'd go for the M1.

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Dan
2005 E320 CDI - 246k
1987 300SDL TD05-16g, Herlevi pump, Elbe manifold, 2.47 LSD - 213k
Past: 1987 300D - 264k

Currently I use synthetic Rotella in my Benz and Mobil1 TDT in my TDI. I could only find M1 in quart bottles and they were $2 more per quart than the gallon jugs of Rotella. The performance difference between a mostly group 3 oil like Rotella and a group 4/5 like M1 is supposedly minor and to an older diesel I don't think it makes any difference at all.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

X2.

I've used the Rotella exclusively for the past five years and it's more readily available than the M1.

If you change oil every 5-6K, there really isn't a compelling argument to spend the extra $10. for M1..........but, it is a better oil.

Forced would have a different take, but since he is banned...

I switched from Rotella 15w-40 to the Rotella 5w-40. It really helps with cold weather starts. I found Rotella Syn for 19.99, and M1 for $26.99 per gallon. By using Rotella, I can get the oil filter and oil for just the price of M1.

I'm quite tired of seeing the "Shortage due to Hurricane Ike" for the M1. I think they should have recovered by now...

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

I hope you are out of warranty on your TDI, that would certainly void it. Other then that, it is a good oil to use on a PD.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

Rotella 5-40 is fine for MKIV TDI but I am not so sure about PD's

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

People have run both oils in a PD and they work just fine. My warranty is out, never used it, and the TDT is giving me very good wear numbers.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL