Oil gurus - advice please - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 11-30-2002, 10:29 PM

Most of the time oil change intervals are based on mileage, more than time.

Question - if one only drives a diesel 1,000 to 2,000 miles per year, what should one use - 6 months, 12 months, etc.? When driven, it is driven a sufficient distance to heat up the oil. Want to be eco minded, but do not want to ruin engine.

Any thoughts appreciated- Ron

#2 11-30-2002, 10:41 PM

I would still change the oil every 3-6 months.

CHAPP · #3 12-01-2002, 07:06 AM

I would change it every 6 months....but loan it to a relative, or take a road trip...these cars like run. I would do something to get a few more miles on it

Holson Adi · #4 12-01-2002, 09:30 AM

I did 2441 mi. between my first two oil changes.
The first one I did in Feb right after I bought the car, when it was still freezing cold. Didn't do much good to the engine I guess the PO changed his oil often.

I finally did 2441 mi. in August. 6 months after...
The car started acting weird. It took more than a crank to start it even if the engine was hot and you know that it's around 95+F in August.

The oil change gave me back those instantaneous starts..

From now on I'll just do it every 4 months or so even if I don't use it much.
I haven't even put 1000 mi. after August.

It is true that these cars love to run. Mine ran better when I drove it everyday in summer. It was powerful, and idled very smoothly.

I am anticipating a Boston -> NYC trip this December that should be a good test for this old diesel.

johngray · #5 12-01-2002, 10:33 AM

I would think it would depend on how you are putting those miles on. Short trip of one or two miles will wear oil out fairly fast in terms of mileage, especially in cold weather. If however you are driving at least ten highway miles every time you start it up you can get pretty much normal mileage intervals out of your oil. Modern lubricants are really pretty good and can go longer now on average.

md21722 · #6 12-01-2002, 03:57 PM

Fresh oil every 6 months if you drive 5 miles or 5000.

If you are only driving the car 1000-2000 miles a year, the diesel is not a good choice. The engines are meant to be driven. Your miles are VERY hard on the car as it sounds like it never reaches operating temperature or if it does, not for long! Engines don't run very efficiently until this regime - gas or diesel. Diesels love to be driven, and drive HARD. "Babying" that engine with a light throttle, and no long trips is the WORST combination.

rickjordan · #7 12-02-2002, 01:14 AM

Well, there's the old saying, "...every 3 months or 3K"

Stevo · #8 12-02-2002, 12:23 PM

Wow

I know people who never use torque wrenches too and their cars are still running, just because professional people have spent allot of time and energy trying to figure out what makes cars last longer, does not mean that we must follow their advice. Torque wrenches, changing your oil, and seat belts are most likely just a scam .