Is 15W40 light enough for single digit temperatures?

That's what I run, and mine have never had problems at single digits without the block heater.

Yep, but you'll notice it during cold starts (won't crank as quickly). I know some of our colder climated members go a shade thinner in winter to help with cold starts.

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

YAY! OIL THREAD


Haven't read about anyone switching to synthetic that wasn't happier with the start speed. I have been through two winters with 15w40 and if it got below say, 20 degrees, and I didn't plug the block heater in, I had difficulty starting.

BUT!

I had electrical problems leading to low battery most of the time. Couldn't handle it.

I bet now, with all those electrical problems gone, it would start fine on 15w40.

I don't know though, cuz I switched to synthetic, its the same price if you add in the extended drain interval.

__________________

77' 300D, "Cartman" SOLD @ 150K (didn't know what I had)
83' 300SD, "The Superdon" 325k+ @ 28mpg
95 E320 wagon, "Millennium Falcon" 231k+ @ 24 Mpg
95 E300D, "Sherley" 308k @ 33.69 Mpg, currently anticipating a head
99 Suzuki Intruder "Trudy" @ 45 mpg

15W-40 is good down to 5 degrees. Information was pulled from the factory owners manual.

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1985 300TD Turbo Euro-wagon
1979 280CE 225,200 miles
1985 300D Turbo 264,000 miles
1976 240D 190,000 miles
1979 300TD 220,000

GONE but not forgotten
1976 300D 195,300 miles
1983 300D Turbo 175,000 miles

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...e485-1-2-1.jpg

I run 5-40 mobile 1 in mine. It started today at 2F sitting outside and not plugged in.

Of course the drifting snow wouldn't let me out, but it did start.

Jon J
240D

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Jon J.
81 240D

"light enough" depends on how much you are trying to pick up!!

But just to confirm, what kind of engine(s) and single digit Fahrenheit, right? When in doubt, I defer to the directions. Rest assured, the Germans did NOT put any guesswork into things like that. I use 5-40 synthetic for the the benefit of quieter lifters, the slightly extended drain interval and easier starting (3 bad glow plugs and started at 35 degrees) are a good side effect.

__________________
1987 300D (230,000 mi on a #14 head-watching the temp gauge and keeping the ghost in the machine)
Raleigh NC - Home of deep fried sushi!

Hey Joe,
When all else fails, read the instructions!

For others that may not understand;

Thats the little book that should be in the glove box.

Attached is the relevant page.

You may notice that 15w40 is good down to +23F
10w is good for -4F

Given that every car had an owners book when new, I often wonder where they have all gone.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

Thanks for the responses. I apologize for bothering you as I should have done some research on my own. I was kind of looking for personal experience with modern oils as opposed to information that was written almost 30 years ago.

I will read the instructions next time as opposed to bothering you fine folks with a dumb question.

They are for sale on ebay - probably never to be sold!

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

I don't think it is a dumb question - you will find similar threads on this topic on this forum. Recently there was a thread (or a post was it? - I forget sorry) urging people to use synthetic oil.

You can also find loads of information on manufacturers' web sites - probably too much information!

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Joe,
There is no such thing as a dumb question.

Modern oils are still graded the same as they were 30 years ago for viscosity.
While we have advanced a little from the specifications of many years ago, moving from CC to CJ or better, each change tends to be just an additional requirement, not a new specification. It is a myth that in moving to a "more modern oil" one should change the viscosity of the oil. The viscosity requirement is part of the design requirements of the lubrication system as well as component design such as bearings. Small changes are unlikely to have a catastrophic effect as lube system design is normally substantial over design.
My posting the page was to make sure that people know what MB required. It definitely was not aimed at you! Unfortunately many never read instruction books. Just watch kids opening presents. I am sure you are not a kid though!! The last thing they look at is the instructions. They normally get thrown out with the wrapping.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

There you go Army, I would like to get my hands on an owners book (not shop manual), hard copy, for a 1987 250 TD .
Let me know if you find one.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

I guess you want it in English? German would probably be an easy find! I'll see what I can do...

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Although an automotive purist, I wish I'd of kept the pricelist window stickers AND owners manuals from all the cars I've owned. Especially the window pricelist sticker from my '83 300SD and it's owners manual. The worthless, ungrateful doofus that bought the car from me when I bought a new MB diesel 12 years ago, could not have cared less about how he was going to treat the SD after acquiring it from me.