Gentlemen, I have access to the used Chevron 15w 40 which came out of the Caterpiller diesel generator at work. Oil has about 9 hours on it and is 1 year old. Still clear but not as clear as new oil. Generator takes 110 gallons of oil per change. I was thinking of using the oil in my beloved 1985 300SD with 160,000 miles. What is your opinion?? It seems like a real waste to let the recyclers have it when it looks and smells almost like new oil.

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Orland Park, IL
1985 300SD 215,000 miles

Just because the oil has only 9hrs run time and a year of sit time on it doesn't mean it's not contaminated, why do you think they are servicing the generator, moisture, acids, and other contaminates can be present in the oil, why would you put that into your "beloved" Mercedes just to save a couple bucks every few months, I wouldn't do it

RSH is right on IMHO! In addition to what he said, there are additives in oil that are "used up" over time. The oil may look fine, but the additives can be gone.

I have said for years, even when I was driving something with an engine that could be rebuilt for a few hundred dollars, that oil is cheap. I was speaking relatively.

Well, your Benz diesel is probably as expensive to rebuild as almost any passenger car engine on the road, excepting of course the exotic cars. Relatively speaking, this makes oil even cheaper.

You can go to Wal Mart and buy a gallon of Chevron Delo 15W40 multigrade for $6. Or you can go and buy a rebuilt MB diesel engine for $3,000 or more. Take your pick.

My $0.02,
Change oil hot and change oil often!

Why don't you have an anaysis done on the oil? That way you would have better idea if the oil is OK to use.

P E H

you could get one of those stoves designed to burn used oil and heat your shop with it lots of small independent shops in the past did that. (probably laws agin it now)........
William Rogers.......

Right on there, if you want to use old oil, you need to analyze it. That will probably cost you as much as one oil change at least, and you will have to send the sample in and wait several days for the results unless you have access to a lab tech who will perform the tests for you right away.

With all that effort, it does not seem worth it to me for the small money saved. But, since you use probably 2 gallons per change, I guess if you had it in a sealed container and the analysis came back good, you would have probably many years worth of oil for the cost of one analysis per year.