I copied this post from the forum on the Mercedes Benz Club of America website.

Just thought it would be an interesting read for those who think Synthetic oil lasts forever:

"Earlier today, I saw a failed engine on a Jeep Grand Cherokee that is interesting to consider. All the engine bearings failed. The bearing inserts saw high heat. They and the connecting rod caps are black. The crankshaft is ruined. It looks like the fix is a new long block. The engine was using a synthetic oil which starts with the letter A and is distributed by independent distributors. The owner had the idea that this fabulous synthetic oil is good for many, many thousands of miles of around-town driving with filter changes every 6 to 7 thousand miles. The oil had 27,000 miles on it at time of engine failure. The tech believes that the engine failure is directly related to the owner's failure to change oil on a regular basis."

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".