190E (W201) 1982-1993: 190E 2.3, 190E 2.6, 190E 2.3-16, 190E 2.5-16, 190 D 2.2, 190 D 2.5, 190 D 2.5 TURBO, 190E 2.5-16 Evolution I, 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II

The right oil

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Old 04-11-2009, 09:31 PM
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'95 c280 '93 190E '07 C230
The right oil

I have a '93 190E(175K) and a '95 C280(110K) that have been running with Valoline 20-50 and use no oil. A friend suggested synthetic and I said why with the milage on these engines? Any comments or suggestions?

Thank you
Old 04-12-2009, 05:26 PM
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1987 190E 2.3
Synthetic oil is thinner then regular oil so you might have some new oil leaks. That is all that happened to mine when I switched at 160K.
Old 04-13-2009, 05:33 PM
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'85 190E 2.3-16 '99 C280 '11 GLK350
I've "switched" several high mileage engines from dino to synth without issue. The "thick" viscosity argument regarding leaks is more myth than anything else.
Old 04-14-2009, 09:19 PM
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1987 190E 2.3
Originally Posted by MTI
I've "switched" several high mileage engines from dino to synth without issue. The "thick" viscosity argument regarding leaks is more myth than anything else.
Not on my car
Old 04-17-2009, 02:56 PM
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1992 190E 2.6
The difference with a thin syntetic oil will be that it will clean out the gunk. Now some of that gunk on a high milage car will be 'fake' seals. when the gunk is gone, any problems with the gaskets will show up as leaks. This doesn't mean you will get leaks, just that it can happen.
Old 04-18-2009, 05:11 PM
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1987 190E 2.3
Originally Posted by tomnh
The difference with a thin syntetic oil will be that it will clean out the gunk. Now some of that gunk on a high milage car will be 'fake' seals. when the gunk is gone, any problems with the gaskets will show up as leaks. This doesn't mean you will get leaks, just that it can happen.
yup, that is correct.

Last edited by Gullwing; 04-18-2009 at 05:17 PM.
Old 04-23-2009, 03:03 PM
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1989 190e
Some people make the argument that these cars were engineered to have the extra minerals and whatnot that conventional oil offers. Putting in synthetic may or may not be a problem/benefit. I ran Castrol Syntech for a while and switched back to Castrol GTX High Milage 10-W30. Mainly because of the price difference.

Also I would like to note that in my case, there seemed to be zero benefit from running synthetic, aside from the claim that you can change your oil every 5000 miles instead of 3000. But I don't like the idea of that very much no matter what kind of oil I'm running
Old 04-23-2009, 09:11 PM
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1991 190E
Originally Posted by Wolfe190
Some people make the argument that these cars were engineered to have the extra minerals and whatnot that conventional oil offers. Putting in synthetic may or may not be a problem/benefit. I ran Castrol Syntech for a while and switched back to Castrol GTX High Milage 10-W30. Mainly because of the price difference.

Also I would like to note that in my case, there seemed to be zero benefit from running synthetic, aside from the claim that you can change your oil every 5000 miles instead of 3000. But I don't like the idea of that very much no matter what kind of oil I'm running
What's your mileage? I'm still not sure if I should use 10W-30 or 20W-50, or something in between.
Old 04-23-2009, 10:29 PM
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99' E320 4MATIC ESTATE / 92' 190E 2.6
I go about 3500-4500m between changes. My 92' 2.6l with 168000m usually gets about a quart low at 3000m. I add a quart of 10w-30 and drive her the difference, then change the oil. I have redone the head-gasket at 120000m (thanks to my brother-in-law who drove it for 20000 hard miles) prior to any damage or oil/coolant mixing and it just keeps on going. I always pass smog (maybe because of the 10 or so holes before and after the muffler) with ease but hey, It just keeps on going. I need new front struts in a bad way as I replaced the rear shocks to keep her saggy old behind from dragging but...it still looks good and until it leaves me stranded, I'm going to have to keep her!
Old 04-24-2009, 01:08 AM
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1989 190e
Originally Posted by relmonte
What's your mileage? I'm still not sure if I should use 10W-30 or 20W-50, or something in between.
I've got 149,xxx miles. Some guys like 10w-30. some like 10w-40, 15w-40, etc....

If I were going to change it would be 10W40, but honestly I don't understand how oil viscosity is measured, or which one is best to use.

Either way I wouldn't run 20W50 in these cars. It shouldn't hurt anything, but that is really heavy oil. There is a thread all about this in the W124 forum. I suggest you look at that, those guys are much more knowledgable than I am
Old 04-28-2009, 01:08 PM
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1991 190E
Originally Posted by Wolfe190
I've got 149,xxx miles. Some guys like 10w-30. some like 10w-40, 15w-40, etc....

If I were going to change it would be 10W40, but honestly I don't understand how oil viscosity is measured, or which one is best to use.

Either way I wouldn't run 20W50 in these cars. It shouldn't hurt anything, but that is really heavy oil. There is a thread all about this in the W124 forum. I suggest you look at that, those guys are much more knowledgable than I am
Thanks. In a thread on 190revolution I read to use 20W 50 in a high mileage FL car, so I think I'm going to call the local dealer and see what is recomemended.
Old 04-28-2009, 04:55 PM
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1989 190e
I've decided that for my next oil change I'll go with 10w-40... just in case anyone was wondering
Old 04-30-2009, 01:23 PM
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Mercedes 190E 2.6
Check Engine

I drive a 1990 190E 2.6. The machine drives smooth like silk. But i thought i need to change oil every 12,000 km. I reached 5,000 km & the CheckEngine red light came ON. After i changed the oil, the light went out. Did the red lightcome ON because i, maybe, used thin engine oil? I honestly dont know about viscousity of oils & which oil is best for my 150,000 mile machine, & after what distance. Pls help.
Old 04-30-2009, 07:16 PM
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99' E320 4MATIC ESTATE / 92' 190E 2.6
oil light on my 92' 2.6l is yellow. never seen it red though...
Old 05-06-2009, 01:34 AM
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1993 190E 2.6
I concur. My 93 190E 2.6 has a yellow oil light as well.

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