shivi1345

So what motor oil do you use?

Obviously 100% fully synthetic

but I was wondering Mobil 1 or Royal Purple


thanks

Moviela

Royal Purple does not meet Mercedes specifications for W203 cars. Most other synthetics including most Mobil 1 products do not meet the specification.

Unless you want to sludge up your engine, Mobil 1 0W-40 is the only readily available oil in North America that meets Mercedes Sheet 229.5. Check the bottle, it must say that it meets "Mercedes 229.5" or you should put it back.

Computers in auto parts stores say 10W-30 is the oil for Mercedes C class cars, but that information is wrong.

When changing the oil, you also need to replace the filter with a fleece (polyester) filter. Don't use a paper filter that is the same dimension.

Resist the urge to shimmy under the car and remove the sump plug. You will not get any more oil out than if you suck it out through the dipstick tube as directed by the factory. If you do remove the plug, you'll need a new plug and special copper sealing ring. You can always spot these people. They have spots on the pavement under their car because the old plug did not seal properly, and the tiny synthetic oil molecules sneak out.

shivi1345

thanks Moviela....I didn't know that

so why doesnt MBZ want me to use fully synthetic? I thought it was simply better than conventional

TemjinX2

yeah just use the factory specified oil. I'm sure glyn will chime in soon with exact details in why.

e1000

suggested oil IS full synthetic. What he's trying to say is not just any synthetic will do, it MUST meet 229.5 specs by MB to be used in your car.

Moviela

lMobil 1 0W-40 is a full synthetic. You don't need wax and varnish from conventional or blended oil in your crankcase.

What sets Sheet 229.5 oils apart from other full synthetics is that the additive package contains about 50% more material to allow the 13,000mi/1 yr change interval wiithout depleting the additives below useful levels.

shivi1345

ahhhhh

right right gottcha now

Mobil 1 0W-40 Fully Synthetic 229.5

it lasts 13k miles before it needs an oil change?...damnnn

Glyn M Ruck

Only use 229.5 approved products & only use Mann + Hummel Genuine MB fleece filter. Filter available in both Mann + Hummel packaging & Silver Benz packaging.

Great Mike! - I don't have the energy to repeat myself tonight. Anyone interested please read this thread. Probably some of my better input to this forum in the early days. If you have any questions after this I will gladly try and answer them

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...e-vs-time.html

alpinweiss

Yes, this is correct. The Mobil 1 0W-40 (European Formula) is the only readily available oil in the US that meets MB 229.5. It also meets the specifications for VW (gas engines), Porsche, and Audi.

Not all stores carry the 0W-40, and they will try to convince you that all Mobil 1 is equivalent. This is NOT correct. You may have to do a bit of searching.

Elf and Total also make oils that will meet MB 229.5. These are European oils, and are more difficult to find in the US.

I over-maintain my car, and change the oil and filter every 5000 miles.

alpinweiss

Oops sorry Glyn. I didn't see your post when I was typing my response.

Glyn M Ruck

Yep - Texaco Havoline Fully Synthetic - European formulation is fully approved but not the product available in America

Glyn M Ruck

Good heavens - no problem - our posts crossed - yours is just as valid

levelr123g

Moviela,
As to your comment of the oil sump requiring you to replace your plug, you are incorrect! I have changed my oil since day one, and have never replaced the plug! I have no oil leaks either. as for the crush washer, this is not "special" and available anywhere, even your neighborhood auto zone.

I have always used Amsoil synthetic lubricants which DO meet Mercedes specs on oil.

BlackLiquorish8

mobil 1 i just try to stick to OEM i'm sure theres other brands that are good

Moviela

Let's take a look at how wrong I am. Mercedes uses drain plugs that are "microencapsulated" and Mercedes publishes service information stating it cannot be reused because it might leak. Some cars have a divided sump that makes extraction impossible, but none of them are C class. The sealing washers are made to Mercedes specification to work properly with the torque specified for the plug.

You must be lucky, your Autozone stocks Mercedes parts! Wurth does supply OEM hardware to shops and stores, and no doubt some Autozone stores cater more to shops than the public in areas where they face little competition.

Now let's look at Amsoil. It is a good product, even if it is sold like Amway or Mary Kay Cosmetics. One of the guys in my locomotive operating club (we run real trains for fun) is an Amsoil seller. He came to me all out of breath one day about Amsoil "European" formula being approved for Mercedes-Benz cars.

http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/afl.aspx

Yup, there it is! Approved for MB Sheet 229.51. Neato. But wait, my car uses Sheet 229.5. because it uses gasoline. Sheet 229.51 is only for Diesel engines according to Mercedes. Darn it, lost my chance to pay double per quart for repackaged Penzoil. (Amsoil is a tiny company in the oil patch, at 38 million in sales. They purchase their products by the carload from refiners.)

In review,

Drain plugs are microencapsulated and cannot be reused.

MB Sheet 229.5 for gasoline engines (all NAFTA C class cars) has no approved Amsoil.

MB Sheet 229.51 for diesel engines has approved Amsoil.

moonrkr23

i have a question i have an 07 c230 don t put but 7500 miles per year on it so i really don t have to do an oil change but every 1 1/2 times a year you reckon thats safe i know oil does nt expire so to say it takes mobil 1 full syn. just curious on any input. thnx. m

moonrkr23

train engineer here also moviela n/s n va

Moviela

Hi Moonrkr23,

New synthetic motor oil has a very long shelf life.

Once you put it in a crankcase and start the engine it mixes with the residual oil and the products of combustion. The products of combustion exposure starts the clock, and the depletion of the additives begins. The oil should be changed at the end of one year.

When new car are delivered from the factory the one year clock is started. If the car sits in new inventory for several months the first owner will get a service A message less than a year after purchase. The oil should be changed at that point.

Moviela

Very cool. You guys have a few of my favorite new loc to operate, GE ES44AC. 4400 horsepower. More fun than a C63! For me though nothing beats an oil burning narrow gauge forney on a sunny day.

moonrkr23

lol no doubt yes the GE wide bodies as we call them are nice

moonrkr23

thanks for the info on oil m

Untertürkheim

Valvoline 5w-40 is also 229.5

levelr123g

WHAT!
First off, microencapsulted has nothing to do with steel drain plugs, and Im sure that you cannot explain it!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-encapsulation

Second, the copper crush washer is nothing "special" for mercedes benz. You simply buy a washer that fits your plug size "PERIOD". Nothing more, nothing less. Its just like my Toyota, and my Saturn, and the Acura I used to have. Nothing different here!

As for Amsoil, I am also a dealer, and have been for 10 plus years. As for Amway, or Mary Kay, what are you talking about? You to can buy amsoil from their website. As for repackaged Penzoil, NOT. Do your homework prior to posting information which is not factual.

I would like to see a TSB which states that you cannot reuse your drain plug.

Mikegpr03

Also make sure that your flux capacitor is set at the right angle or you won't get to 88MPH on a mustang dyno nor the Iphone dyno aswell. LOL

I use Royal Purple too. Both Oils are great RP mobil1 and Amsoil

Moviela

I am sure I can explain it, here is the Sesame Street version:

To make cars lighter many aluminum components are used. Aluminum is resistent to corrosion by its nature, however, galvanic action between the aluminum and steel or galvanized parts can lead to severe corrosion.

There are any number of chemical solutions to provide an effective barrier between the dissimilar metals and microencapsulation is the technique used to carry a plastic sealing material to the point of use in Mercedes cars. This is used on the oil drain plug, on brake caliper bolts, and suspension fasteners. The process places the sealant inside wee tiny little ***** (microscopic in nature.) The wee tiny ***** protect the sealant from contamination until use. When the fastener is installed, the wee tiny ***** are crushed releasing the sealant. The torque specification must be carefully measured to ensure the wee tiny ***** are properly crushed to release the sealant.

Microencapsulation has many uses, from the International Space Station to Scratch-N-Sniff perfume advertisments in magazines.



With several hundred copper alloys available and numerous washer type specifications available from ANSI and DIN, "anything that fits" is hardly the road one should take when maintaining machinery.

Dude, I did my homework.....Amway and Mary Kay use the same marketing style of using dealers in a people to people direct marketing arrangement. Nothing wrong with that, except it balances significant costs of distribution and sales on the dealers. Have you ever been to the Amsoil plant in Wisconsin? You will notice that railroad cars come to a siding behind the packaging building. These cars are laden with raw materials from Shell Oil Products Co. (and other refiners.) The products are pumped into several large storage tanks from the railroad tankers. Amsoil then blends and bottles their products for sale to consumers. I made the comment because Pennzoil is a brand name owned by Shell.

I invite your attention to Star Bulletin P-B-01.45/15. Ask your dealer for a copy.