Oil Change
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From: Obama Land
K Car
Re: Oil Change
Originally posted by MBSJ
What are your thoughts on oil change? Should we stick with FSS or should we change the oil more often? Are you guys following the FSS?
What are your thoughts on oil change? Should we stick with FSS or should we change the oil more often? Are you guys following the FSS?
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: VA
14 ML350 4MATIC
I recently did my first A service @ 8600 miles. My service manager was so cool. He actually suggest me to do this, even my FSS indicating @12000miles. He said "If we doing this every 8000 miles or so, you can get at least 1 or 2 more free service." That is awsome. He also told me "If you bring your car @6000miles, we cannot do this free, but around 8000, it is OK".
well ~~~ I will keep change my oil every 8000 miles, then I can get 6 free service instead of 5(if you are lucky) during the warrany period.
well ~~~ I will keep change my oil every 8000 miles, then I can get 6 free service instead of 5(if you are lucky) during the warrany period.
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From: Ohio
2010 C300 4matic
That's fine as long as they are paying. I doubt that most dealers would do that though. You're usually supposed to get it when the car tells you it needs it and any other time is on you.
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From: MI
2003 C230K, 6 spd, Brilliant Silver, C-5, C-7, CD changer
Originally posted by Matt230K
That's fine as long as they are paying. I doubt that most dealers would do that though. You're usually supposed to get it when the car tells you it needs it and any other time is on you.
That's fine as long as they are paying. I doubt that most dealers would do that though. You're usually supposed to get it when the car tells you it needs it and any other time is on you.
This would allow for different climates/driving conditions (albeit not enough-should be 5k on the low end)
My bet would be the "car" only knows to tell you @ 10k and is not smart enough to figure out driving conditions/climate and such. :p
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C230, C2, C7, Leather
It seems that FSS is a bit smarter then just tell us it is time to change the oil at every 10K mile. The indicator on my car changes from 10k to 10.2K to 99.8K (actual miles on the car + what is left for next oil change indicated by FSS) depends how I drive. If I put in more highway miles it will go up to 10.2K however if I drive around the town more often then the overall indicator goes dow to less then 10K miles.
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From: San Diego, Ca
2003 Citron Green C230KMT
i know it may sound far fetched to some, but there is a lot of technology out there these days. planes can land themselves without pilot inputs, cars can detect wheel slippage and correct for it, airbags deploy depending the weight of the passenger, people can surf the web on their mobile phones, why cant a car detect oil quality, compare it to the way the car has been driven and come up with a calculation to suggest the next required service. i agree it wouldnt hurt to do it or free if you can while its under warranty, but all in all its not really science fiction.
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From: Ohio
2010 C300 4matic
If the car could accurately measure oil quality and it wasn't rigged by MB, it would probably want it replaced much sooner. MB could do it, but that would mean services more often. I changed my oil at 5000 and it was pretty black. I'm sure part of this was because of break-in, but I bet the next 5000 will get pretty black too.
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Originally posted by MBSJ
Lynn
What was your reason for changing oil at 2500 miles?
Lynn
What was your reason for changing oil at 2500 miles?
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From: MI
2003 C230K, 6 spd, Brilliant Silver, C-5, C-7, CD changer
Originally posted by Matt230K
If the car could accurately measure oil quality and it wasn't rigged by MB, it would probably want it replaced much sooner. MB could do it, but that would mean services more often. I changed my oil at 5000 and it was pretty black. I'm sure part of this was because of break-in, but I bet the next 5000 will get pretty black too.
If the car could accurately measure oil quality and it wasn't rigged by MB, it would probably want it replaced much sooner. MB could do it, but that would mean services more often. I changed my oil at 5000 and it was pretty black. I'm sure part of this was because of break-in, but I bet the next 5000 will get pretty black too.
Thus it should be changed every 5k to 7.5k
10k most certainly is MB on the cheap
which is dumb because the other car manufacturers are starting to offer the maint services and closing the gap. just my 2¢ worth :p
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From: MI
2003 C230K, 6 spd, Brilliant Silver, C-5, C-7, CD changer
Originally posted by Lynn
I didn't like the idea of the break in oil staying in the engine for 10,000 or more miles. It probably really didn't need to be changed, but I felt that it was a cheap price for my own peace of mind.
I didn't like the idea of the break in oil staying in the engine for 10,000 or more miles. It probably really didn't need to be changed, but I felt that it was a cheap price for my own peace of mind.
Cheap insurance in my book, even though MB installs synthetic from the factory. (it's not special break in oil)
I usually change it under 1000 miles for a new car and if I'm building a race engine I do it on the dyno after a run-in period of only an hour or so and a few hard pulls. That's when any small metal fragments will occur.
Changing the filter is important to get the big chunks out
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
Originally posted by DCXdynodog
synthetic oil does not breakdown, but it does get dirty.
Thus it should be changed every 5k to 7.5k
10k most certainly is MB on the cheap which is dumb because the other car manufacturers are starting to offer the maint services and closing the gap.
just my 2¢ worth :p
synthetic oil does not breakdown, but it does get dirty.
Thus it should be changed every 5k to 7.5k
10k most certainly is MB on the cheap
which is dumb because the other car manufacturers are starting to offer the maint services and closing the gap. just my 2¢ worth :p
1) Our MB's hold about 60% more oil volume than most other cars (8qts. vs. 5qts). I think this is a factor in being able to go about 10K miles -- the amount of "dirt" in the oil is less concentrated over 8qts.
2)MB's in other markets (ie., Canada) do not get free maintenance, and I don't think their oil change frequency is different. In my mind, the "free" A & B services during the warranty period aren't really free -- they're built in to the price of the car. Anyway, I don't think MB would extend service intervals to save a few bucks and run the risk of having high numbers of damaged engines in their vehicles, therefore ruining their image of a quality car builder.
These are only my opinions...
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From: Ohio
2010 C300 4matic
Originally posted by DCXdynodog
synthetic oil does not breakdown, but it does get dirty.
Thus it should be changed every 5k to 7.5k
synthetic oil does not breakdown, but it does get dirty.
Thus it should be changed every 5k to 7.5k
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From: Reno, NV
C240/6 Megma Red
It look like service A or B is depend on the mileage. What about if I change the wheel size to bigger or smaller? Is the FSS gonna detect that and change the mileage? I have service A at 10K and service B coming up in 9500 miles the car have 10500 miles.
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From: MI
2003 C230K, 6 spd, Brilliant Silver, C-5, C-7, CD changer
Originally posted by Matt230K
I was talking about the break in of the engine, not the breakdown of the oil. It may not have broken down, but it was pretty dirty.
I was talking about the break in of the engine, not the breakdown of the oil. It may not have broken down, but it was pretty dirty.
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From: San Diego, Ca
2003 Citron Green C230KMT
my VW had free maintenance. i got free oil changes, but that was only for 2yr/24k miles. 02 models started with a 4yr/48k or 50k mile warranty including scedyled maintanence. VW has it scheduled for every 5k miles. i can see how if people dont drive as hard, or depending on temperature, oil quality it can adjust. i know MB cuts corners but to me it seems like they are really striving to save the all mighty dollar by increasing the time frame for a free scheduled maint. VW, Audi, etc. do it at 5K, but if the car is really doing the work maybe its right. who knows. thats my $.02. i had free maint. with my VW, could get more free oil changes with an Audi, didnt want either and got the MB. oh well. maybe ill have to break down one of these days and get an extra oil change or 2.
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From: Obama Land
K Car
Originally posted by CitronC230K_03
my VW had free maintenance. i got free oil changes, but that was only for 2yr/24k miles. 02 models started with a 4yr/48k or 50k mile warranty including scedyled maintanence. VW has it scheduled for every 5k miles. i can see how if people dont drive as hard, or depending on temperature, oil quality it can adjust. i know MB cuts corners but to me it seems like they are really striving to save the all mighty dollar by increasing the time frame for a free scheduled maint. VW, Audi, etc. do it at 5K, but if the car is really doing the work maybe its right. who knows. thats my $.02. i had free maint. with my VW, could get more free oil changes with an Audi, didnt want either and got the MB. oh well. maybe ill have to break down one of these days and get an extra oil change or 2.
my VW had free maintenance. i got free oil changes, but that was only for 2yr/24k miles. 02 models started with a 4yr/48k or 50k mile warranty including scedyled maintanence. VW has it scheduled for every 5k miles. i can see how if people dont drive as hard, or depending on temperature, oil quality it can adjust. i know MB cuts corners but to me it seems like they are really striving to save the all mighty dollar by increasing the time frame for a free scheduled maint. VW, Audi, etc. do it at 5K, but if the car is really doing the work maybe its right. who knows. thats my $.02. i had free maint. with my VW, could get more free oil changes with an Audi, didnt want either and got the MB. oh well. maybe ill have to break down one of these days and get an extra oil change or 2.
I agree with others in that I don't think MB would sacrifice their reputation on quality (as we all know, they need to improve in this category) just to save a few dollars.
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From: Toronto, NYC
2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Coupe
Bringing this thread back from the dead.
Seems like the conclusion was to stick to the FSS for oil changes (every 15000km in Canada or 10000mi in the US).
10 years later, do we still agree with this considering we use Mobil 1 04-40 which is a synthetic oil as well? Or is the recommendation to change oil more frequently?
Seems like the conclusion was to stick to the FSS for oil changes (every 15000km in Canada or 10000mi in the US).
10 years later, do we still agree with this considering we use Mobil 1 04-40 which is a synthetic oil as well? Or is the recommendation to change oil more frequently?
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From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada, eh!
2003 C230 Sports Coupe, Paprika Metallic Red, Auto, Pano, Leather
I'll stick with the FSS, which is calculated based on your driving condition (ie: highway VS stop & go city driving).
BTW,... that's Mobil 1 0W40 now,.... used to be 5W40.
Changing the old Mobil 1 0W40 about every 15,000 km or whatever the FSS says even at 19,000km doesn't bother me. What worries me is that cheap paper based oil filter (yellow) that Mercedes switched to a few years back,... it should last 15,000km. But the original Mann + Hummel Mercedes Genuine fleece (white) should last 20,000km (now unavailable).
Thus, if your FSS says anything over 15,000km for your oil change,... and you have the Mercedes paper based oil filter (yellow) in there,.... its safer to change at 15,000km. If left in there too long,... the paper in that Mercedes paper based oil filter will fall apart,... literally!!!
BTW,... that's Mobil 1 0W40 now,.... used to be 5W40.
Changing the old Mobil 1 0W40 about every 15,000 km or whatever the FSS says even at 19,000km doesn't bother me. What worries me is that cheap paper based oil filter (yellow) that Mercedes switched to a few years back,... it should last 15,000km. But the original Mann + Hummel Mercedes Genuine fleece (white) should last 20,000km (now unavailable).
Thus, if your FSS says anything over 15,000km for your oil change,... and you have the Mercedes paper based oil filter (yellow) in there,.... its safer to change at 15,000km. If left in there too long,... the paper in that Mercedes paper based oil filter will fall apart,... literally!!!
