I do Mobil 1 and less than 3000 miles on both my C43 AMG and my daughter's 420SEL.

I change the oil after every tankful of gas...guess I've got a pretty bad leak!:p (just kidding)

The previous owner of my 400 changed the oil every 3,000 kilometers (or about 1,900 miles)! I use Mobil 1 and change it at 4,000 mile intervals. Same as the ML…

David: You make a valid point about the effect of used oil on the environment. Larry B in part refutes that. Even so, in the broader issue, you are entirely correct. Used oil does have a negative impact on the environment. But so do the 300 + million vehicles in America, the billions of gallons of fuel burnt, and permitted to evaporate into the air, and everything else that goes to maintaining a culture, down to the methane created by organic waste of every type.

The sad but true fact is that even by the most diligent of individual efforts little difference will be made in any measurable way. Unless we as a culture decide to forego with a whole lot of “conveniences” that we consider to be “necessities” that a few more or less gallons of oil, or even a few million more or les gallons of oil will make little if any difference.

As example, someone that lives in a cold part of the planet, will use more fuel and waste more energy heating their house per winter than you and I and many of our best friends will ever use changing engine oil. Should those folks move because they are wasting energy? Sure. If they did, would it make a difference? Absolutely! Will they? Not a chance.

Right or wrong, in our culture, and most of the world over there is a thing called economic determinism: Generally that means, if you can afford it, you do it. Without remorse.

So while you are entirely correct that frequent oil changes are wasteful and hurtful for the ecology, it does not even amount to a drop in the proverbial bucket of the waste that takes place. Yes you should and have to start someplace to help our planet, but doing so in a half thought out way is nothing but functionally useless symbolism.

I wish it weren’t so. Sigh…..

I enjoyed this thread very much.

I shall now exit the thread before my inferior intelligence is brought even closer to everyone's attention.

Viya con dios,

Every 3K on all the cars. Even at that mileage, you can smell the build-up of fuel that has slipped past the rings. Not a strong gasoline smell, but there nonetheless.

This last oil change on the Suburban I opted to go with the Castrol Syntec Blend. We'll see how the semi-syn oil does on the 7.4L at 120K miles. Had no leaks before the switch, and at almost 1K since, no leaks showing. In a few changes I might opt for fully synthetic.

Well, I've got a couple of 71 250C's and a 1986 560SEL w/215k and it and the others get the TLC oil change from me every 2.5k miles and none of them (nor my 220D) burn any oil but I use Castrol.Now that I'm hearing all of you guys, I'm damn near ready to switch to Mobil 1...what's the deal with Mobil 1 and exactly what blend is it? Synthetic or what?;) Guess we're ALL fanatics but we won't be fanatic about having to buy another engine!

Every 3000 Miles
 

On both my 300D and Nissan Van. On the 300D, this means once a month and I do so joyfully.

Andy Day,

What does a quart of oil go for in the UAE

I change my oil every 2500km which is about 1500 miles. This works out to about 6 times a year.

I change my filter at every oil change, and I change the oil (in the C280) at just about 3,000 miles if I'm using Dino oil. But if I'm using synthetic, I will go to about 4,500-5,200 miles (roughly) before a change.

I changed over to synthetic at about 100,000 miles and I didn't have any leaks. But my last oil change they used Dino because I took it in... What do you guys think of going back and forth?
(I'm sure it's totally fine.)

DJNEWK2,

Mobil 1 is a full synthetic oil and is "endorsed" by MB. I use Mobil 1 in my Chevy van and Mercedes. I still use dyno oil in the Honda. All of my engines run like new. I have noticed that the engines which use Mobil 1 seem to run smoother. I havn't checked myself, but I have heard that synthetic oil can improve your gas milage.


David C Klasse,

The synthetic oils that I have seen state that they are fully compatable with non-synthetic oil. You shouldn't have any problems going back and forth as long as you change it often.

Here's something wierd I do. I change the oil every 3333.33 miles. Then I don't have to compute when my next/last oil change is/was. Whenever the odometer reads xx3333 or xx6666 or xx9999 I know it's time to change.

Intruder

oil changes....
 

Every 6-6,5000 miles with a filter change in the middle. With the quality of todays motor oil - especically synthetics as Mobil 1, keeping the oil clean is a much greater concern than thermal breakdown imho. I think Mobil even says something like 10kmi+ change intervals are fine for light-service engines. Now, I'm not quite that brave yet :eek: , but with the ammount of R&D that Mobil puts into testing, I'm sure they're right.

I think the taxi-test 400E cited says alot. This is just an area where each individual's comfort level is the greater determining factor of oil-change intervals than is actual research findings/scientific study. And why shouldn't it be? If it makes you happy - your car probably won't complain either!

- Ryan
'77 300D 218kmi
Mobil 1

Oh - and great idea intruder! Don't know why I never thought of that before - duh!

I've seen my dealer take out the oil with the vacuum also. What's the best method to getting the most used oil out? Draining or Vacuuming? And will elevating only the front end of the car while draining leave a lot of old oil? Or should I bring the car down level as it drains? Anal, yes. But it seems changing the oil is important but I would think removing as much of the old oil would be important in doing it right.

Some people have done the test and they concluded that vacuuming takes out more oil due to the design of the MB sump.

Here is how they did the test:

1. Vacuuming out the oil.

2. Pull the drain plug.

3. They did not see any oil coming out of the drain plug.

I vacuumed and then pulled the plug on my M119 engine and about half a quart still came out . . .
I may have a unique situation, but I choose to do both to get everything out.