Your dealer wants to make more money and is unethical.

The recommended oil change interval is 13K miles in the USA because there are so many geniuses here like your dealer.

These are the same geniuses that convinced MBUSA to approve dino oil for the first FSS cars.

The interval in Europe is 19K.

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

Of course that would be 19K Kilometres - 11.8K miles - synthetic oil only.

What is wrong with following the FSS system, which the car is set up for +/- 10,000 or one year, unless you are using it in taxi service.

I change the oil on my cars every 3000 miles....I know it's stupid but they do re-cycle motor oil so I don't feel guilty. And I have never had an engine breakdown due to oil related issues. I personally only use (and have for the past years) Castrol GTX, yet, interestly, FRAM filters work great! I use 10-40 in the winter and 20-50 in the summer. And heck, it only costs like $40 anyway right? Best of luck

I saw a study recently that concluded that oil hasn't even reached it's maximum efficiency at 3k miles.

How about changing the oil per the manufacturer's recommendation and putting the $40 in an envelope to be used for real needed repairs. I know this won't solve your psychological need to "work" on your car, but maybe you can just reach under the hood and get some grease under your finger nails, and maybe rub some in your hair for that real "I worked on my car" feeling.

I've never had a engine breakdown due to oil related issues either, and you don't want to hear about my oil change interval.

Using one brand of oil over another is another load of horse poop, encouraged by gigantic marketing budgets. As long as it meets the SAE rating your car needs, you're good to go.

All IMHO, of course.

Is that physically possible...240Joe....suggesting somebody change their oil?

9 months of "vacation" must have cleared your head.

I am certainly no expert, but my very trusted independent mechanic (who is retired, picky on whose cars he will work on, often gives me advice for free, and helps me troubleshoot over the phone to save me money) recommends changes every 5,000 miles (dino) for two reasons:
1) it is easy to remember and good for the engine
2) it gives he and I an opportunity to go over the car on a regular basis and check overall condition. I do some of my own oil changes, and "getting under the hood" is a good thing.

He admits it may be overkill, but claims that if I maintain this schedule these engines will last a long time.

My 560sec which has been maintained this way for the last 100,000 miles now has 165,000 miles and the camshaft lobes look new.
My '93 turbo with 145,000 miles has been maintained this way for the last 75,000 miles and also runs like new.

It may be too often, and once and a while I slip a bit, but I have two very strong running cars that I cherish and would like to keep for another 100,000 miles!
John

John

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John Gillespie
1988 560sec - 192k miles
2006 CLK500 - 40K miles
1995 E300 - 202k miles

Nope 19K miles--translated it for you.

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

No, 1km=0.62miles.

11,806miles.

The FSS in these cars monitors the engine oil's condition, driving conditions, running time between changes and all factors which dictate the interval between services. That is what it is there for.

Use the recommended synthetic oil, and follow the FSS and you will be fine. Ignore the dealer's recommendation for more frequent services, that is just their way of maximizing profits, period, and I'd bet they'd never recommend this if the zone manager from M-B was in earshot.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

The SL600 and G500 both get their oils changed around 10k miles.... They run Mobil 0W-40, and at the end of the 10k miles, the oil still looks new. Our indie recommends 8-10k on synthetic, so we go by that for the SL. The G has the FSS, and it usually goes about 10k miles between services.




As for driving cycles, the G does about 60% city 40% freeway. The SL does about 80% freeway 20% city. The SL goes about 10k miles a year, so its yearly oil change on that, and the G goes about 15k miles a year, so it goes about 9 months between changes.


The C220 is fairly new to us, and we have had its oil changed to synthetic. Its got 5k on the oil, and we will change it in about 5k more.


The other stuff is older, so no FSS. Just oil changes 5-10k miles.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.