Recommended engine oil for my E300D? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

bhehmann · #1 08-17-2009, 07:35 PM

Hi all.

What is the recommended engine oil for my 1995 E300D? I live in South Florida, very hot conditions, if that's a factor to consider.

Thanks in advance,

Bjoern

tarheel75 · #2 08-17-2009, 07:57 PM

I at one time owned an 83 300CD Turbo and always used Castrol GTX20-50. I live in Eastern NC and this oil always held up well under our weather conditions. I usually changed it every 3,000 miles because the MB diesels at that time required shorter intervals between changes.

tarheel75

#3 08-17-2009, 08:09 PM

Regular motor oils even with a diesel rating written on the can are NOT what is needed for a diesel engine. For a diesel engine, you need an oil SPECIFICALLY formulated for a diesel engine. The best examples of this are; Chevron Delo 400 (my personal favorite,) Mobil Delvac or Shell Rotella T.

These oils have additives necessary for soot dispersal as well as zinc additive. I would strongly recommend that you use one of these type oils in this engine, NOT a regular gas engine oil, even the best of gas engine oils.

79Mercy · #4 08-17-2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarheel75

I at one time owned an 83 300CD Turbo and always used Castrol GTX20-50. I live in Eastern NC and this oil always held up well under our weather conditions. I usually changed it every 3,000 miles because the MB diesels at that time required shorter intervals between changes.

tarheel75

Castrol GTX is not approved for diesel engines, DO NOT USE IT.

Only use motor oil approved for diesel engines. Such as Mobil Delvac, Rotella T, Chevron Delo. I use Mobil Delvac in my 76 300D.

babymog · #5 08-17-2009, 11:04 PM

My personal preference is Mobil Turbo Diesel & Truck synthetic, which I'm told is also sold as Mobil Delvac 1 synthetic (for the heavy-duty crowd, different bottle).

bhehmann · #6 08-17-2009, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79Mercy

Castrol GTX is not approved for diesel engines, DO NOT USE IT.

Only use motor oil approved for diesel engines. Such as Mobil Delvac, Rotella T, Chevron Delo. I use Mobil Delvac in my 76 300D.

Thanks 79Mercy.

I had been using Rotella T for my previous 300D, I still wasn't sure if I should be using regular or synthetic oils. Neither you or LarryBible mentioned anything about the heat in Florida, if that's of any consequence?

bhehmann · #7 08-17-2009, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79Mercy

Castrol GTX is not approved for diesel engines, DO NOT USE IT.

Only use motor oil approved for diesel engines. Such as Mobil Delvac, Rotella T, Chevron Delo. I use Mobil Delvac in my 76 300D.

Thanks Larry.

I had been using Rotella T for my previous 300D, I still wasn't sure if I should be using regular or synthetic oils. Neither you or 79Mercy mentioned anything about the heat in Florida, if that's of any consequence?

#8 08-18-2009, 08:39 AM

The most common weight for the diesel formulated oils is 15W40. It will work fine in the heat. The truckers use it from the equator to Alaska.

cessna5354 · #9 08-18-2009, 08:58 AM

In my '99 E300D da manual specifies synthetic, with intervals of 15,000 miles. I only use Mobil 1 and change at 10,000. Not sure when MB started to deliver cars with synthetic?

I am not hung up on Mobil 1, as I use Rotella straight 40wt. in my larger diesel with great test results.

Oldwolf · #10 08-18-2009, 09:32 AM

I am using Delvac 1300 15w40 in my MB. Delo 400 would be a good choice too.

compu_85 · #11 08-18-2009, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babymog

My personal preference is Mobil Turbo Diesel & Truck synthetic, which I'm told is also sold as Mobil Delvac 1 synthetic (for the heavy-duty crowd, different bottle).

This is possibly the best oil you can use in your engine for the price.

-J

Jeremy5848 · #12 08-18-2009, 10:19 AM

My '96, which has the same engine as your '95, is quite happy on Mobil-1 synthetic 5W-40, the "turbodiesel truck" or "Delvac" mentioned above. The 3 POs ran it on dino oil for 250,000 miles and it seemed to like that too. The important thing is to use a true diesel-rated oil, whatever brand you like.

As for the heat in Florida, I would keep an eye on my car's cooling and a/c systems but the few degrees difference between Florida summer temps and any one else's summer temps won't make any difference compared to the normal operating temperature of the oil in the engine.

Oldwolf · #13 08-18-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

The 3 POs ran it on dino oil for 250,000 miles and it seemed to like that too.

It's statements like this that make me wonder if synthetic oil is worth the significant cost increase.

vstech · #14 08-18-2009, 11:11 AM

I just wonder how often the oil was changed on those "250K on dino" supporters... with frequent filter changes, quality synthetic can go 15Kmiles between changes. I'm fond of 3K filter swaps and oil every 5th filter change. and still have a squeaky clean motor...

bhehmann · #15 08-18-2009, 11:21 AM

Thanks for all the replies. I will look out for one of the brands you guys mentioned above.