Dave

FYI, Joe's Sports (used to be GI Joe's) seems to carry a full line of Amsoil as well as redline and Mobil1, at least here in Portland. I think they have a fairly new location in your area. I haven't compared the prices, but they seem to be competitive.

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1987 300TD 231,000
#22, afterglow, plastic fan, euro lights, alternator upgrade, cluster housing update

Thanks for the tip - I'll see if I can find a local store here in Bow-eyes.

After this thread, next time I change the ATF this is what I will use.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I probably should just start using Amsoil 5w40 as well. If Walmart drops Delvac 1 like they have in the past, then its pretty expensive to get from the dealer. So I'll probably just order a case of Amsoil engine oil.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I purchased a case of amsoil 15w40 and my mechanic said i cant use 15w for my 98 e300 and to only use 0w40 mobil 1. He said 15w is to thick and it will lead to engine failure.

I have 153000 mile and got the car used. I also have a 18 one quart bottles of amsoil 15w40 can it be used in my car and what is the milage of anybodys car if using 15w40.

And how many miles have you used non OEM tranny fluid...

Your mechanic is wrong. The 15W-40 oil is fine. I'd almost guarantee that the chart in your owner's manual will verify this. The 0W-40 is recommended strictly for fuel economy reasons, not for protection or longevity. There have been enough reports of problems with 0W-40 that I will NOT use it in my cars. If it makes you both feel better, you could use 5W-40 (either M-1 or Amsoil) instead.

Tranny fluid - that car has the 722.6 tranny, and I would highly recommend sticking with the OE/dealer trans fluid. I would change it at least every 30kmi, along with the filter, and make sure you drain the converter too (otherwise you only get about 1/3 the fluid out). I usually change before 30k though.

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I just got spooked when he said that. But next time i change the oil i will use the amsoil with 10k mile intervals

gsxr, what sort of problems are you talking about? My local dealer here in Richmond, VA just told me that 0W-40 was the new recommendation for just about everything that is not AMG or Diesel.

I just loaded my '97 S320 with 7.4 quarts of M1 0W-40 and now I'm worried!

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"It's not about how fast you can go, but how well you can go fast."

Bob in Richmond

'97 S320 (LWB), Ruby Red Metallic, 73k miles
'97 S420V, Smoke Silver Metallic, 155k miles

Bob,

There won't be any catastrophic failures, so don't lose too much sleep. The main things I've heard (repeatedly) are that hydraulic lifters suddenly start making ticking noises after the switch to 0W-40, and increased wear metals appear in spectral oil analysis. On the engines which displayed these symptoms, the symptoms typically went away after switching back to either Mobil-1 or Amsoil in 5W-40, 15W-40, or 15W-50 viscosities.

Click here for a recent post from someone who just had this problem. Note that the lifter noise has been on diesel engines... haven't heard any stories about gassers yet. I would just switch back to something a tad thicker at your next oil change in the S320...

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I'm using the AMSOil 15w-40 Heavy Duty Diesel & Marine oil, and mine runs just fine. I'm over 202k. Mobil 1 0w-40 is like water....Whatever oil you use, make sure it's diesel rater.

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'97 E300
'99 E300

Be happy you don't own a BMW. I just purchased a '96 750iL with V12 that has "sealed" transmission(not really, but no dipstick) that uses Esso LT 71141 synthetic oil at $40 a liter. Use anything else and you run the risk of total tranny failure.

Thats why people lease those!

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200