I have been trying to figure out what kind of engine oil I should use in my 1983 300D.

I understand that the old CI-4 and CI-4+ formulations contained higher levels of anti-wear, oxidation inhibitor, and detergent/dispersent levels than the new (current) CJ-4 designation. Particular attention has been focused on total base number (TBN), zinc, and phosporus levels in CI vs CJ oils.

A review written by Martin and Patton in the TurdoDiesel Register grouped 22 oils into "best, good, satisfactory, and ho-hum" (below). The authors advised against using the low-end-performance CJ-4 oils unless your engine was newer (2007) and equipped with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) .

I would like to hear comments on this, and how you went about finding the correct oil for your old car.

Welcome to the forum. Your best bet is to search the forum for answers to your oil questions as this topic has been discussed ENDLESSLY. Then, if you have particular questions that remain unanswered after your research, ask them.

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14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

I have not found that the data from Martin & Patton's TurboDiesel Register work has been discussed on this forum.

I am hoping that a qualified oil chemist or engineer will weigh in with information, specifically as regards CI-4 and CJ-4, and how a CJ-4 can be said to meet CI-4 standards, yet be 30% lower in some components.

I am not interested in "My daddy used X, and I use X."

I say just use something that has an MB-Approval, that should do the trick.


My 230E agrees

People scrutinize add packs all day long, but there are a few things to it. First is to realize that the spectroscopic techniques used do not necessarily see all of the active additives that are present.

TBN is important, but TBN retention is more so.

CJ-4 oils have been proven very well over millions or billions of miles now. They perform well.

And, for the power density of the MB engines, it really is a moot point anyway, as some of the complaints of zinc and other adds have more to do with specifics of certain engine designs, which do not relate here.

Use a quality oil from one of the majors (I like rotella T6 synthetic 5w-40) and run with it.

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

That chart from 2007 is obsolete. The additive packs change from time to time without and without regard for service designation change.

However, none of this really matters. What does matter is end result.

Go to Bob Is The Oil Guy - Forums powered by UBB.threads™ where you can read for hours about everthing oil.

More importantly, start looking through the used oil analysis (UOA) threads to see how the different oils stand up. There are plenty of MBZ diesel UOA results there.

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1982 240D auto 152k
1984 380SL 113k
2015 Ram 2500 6.7 Cummins
Previous:
1985 300DT
1984 190D 5sp Euro

The bottom line is that it hardly matters. Oil deteriorates over time and you can use any oil you wish if you change it on a regular basis. A diesel engine accumulates soot in the oil which is cumulative depending on hours of use. This soot is what drives the oil change well before the oil deteriorates to the point of necessitating change.

A group IV synthetic oil will protect the engine for 15K miles. However, the accumulated soot will demand that it be replaced much sooner than this mileage interval.

Accordingly, what specific diesel rated oil you select is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

i don't disagree with brian......

i use rotella 15w40 in regular or synthetic in all my diesels.

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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.

I don't recall my daddy ever changing the oil in his car. I use... well... never mind.

How long will CI-4/+ be available? I haven't seen Delo 400 (non LE) in years.

Sixto
87 300D^2

Amsoil 15/40W Marine synthetic in all my rigs.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

I'm not joining in! I'm not! I'm not! (well not here anyway - I answered your BW thread with the same title)

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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 fell for it, didn't I?

Wish I could find the valvoline blue stuff locally.

I've been switching most of our cars to Rotella T6...

420SEL and 300SD both are on Rotella T6 15W40.
The 190 has a batch of Mobil1 Synthetic 0w40...

The new 300D is going to get an oil analysis before I move to a different oil. The previous owner gave me two gallons of Pilot's 15W40 which is on this chart and in an acceptable category! So I'll run that and switch to something higher grade after I hear back from the boys at Blackstone.

I would encourage all to give oil analysis a shot. Its only $25.

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Cruise Control not working? Send me PM or email (jamesdean59@gmail.com). I might be able to help out.
Check here for compatibility, diagnostics, and availability!

(4/11/2020: Hi Everyone! I am still taking orders and replying to emails/PMs/etc, I appreciate your patience in these crazy times. Stay safe and healthy!)


82 300SD 145k
89 420SEL 210k
89 560SEL 118k
90 300SE 262k RIP 5/25/2010
90 560SEL 154k
91 300D 2.5 Turbo. 241k
93 190E 3.0 235k
93 300E 195k

isn't T6 the blue bottle 5w40 synthetic?

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!