joepimms

Please help! Looking for info on aftermarket fluids. Need to winterize very soon

What type/brandnames of oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, transmission fluid is recommended for the 2002 C240?

Also need suggestions for good winter tires.(rear wheel) We live in Canada

Glyn M Ruck

Fluids that are approved my MB

ambit

Similar question here:
Looking for the best manual tranny fluid to drain/fill mine.
MB wanted $50/quart at the dealship and $35/qt for 85-90w rear diff fluid

I don't see any fluids at mymercedesparts.com

Utahkompressor

Try rmeuropean.com!

totita

Try RedLine MTL 70W80 GL-4 Gear Oil. I replaced the original manual transmission oil with redline at 100k. seems to shift smoother. also replaced the oil in the rear diff. The old one looked very dirty...

johnand

You beat me to it!

kmancoupe230

how about royal purple for the rear diff? i think its syncomax and do you think its too late to change the fluids in the trans after 155k?

Glyn M Ruck

Never too late to change fluids. Please use approved products. Royal Purple has no approvals.

91RS

This.

EV0LVE

I've been doing my own oil change for the last 115,000 miles using the MB approved Mobil 1 0W-40 and oem filter. Today when I bought the filter the parts guy offered me Mobil 1 5W-40, and said that it was the updated oil. Has anyone heard of this?

The 5w-40 he showed had an MB approval (229.5 i think, i forgot the exact number)

btw, its for 2005 c230, 1.8 Liter kompressor.

Thanks

mac911

See my thread in W204. The first used analysis I posted is of the oil I believe you are talking about. Glyn also posted a virgin analysis of Mobil 1 0w40 to compare it to.

The Mobil 1 0w40 is MUCH richer in additives. On paper, it looks like a MUCH better oil. I just somehow wonder if Mercedes thinks there are too many additives. Or, if this newer product saves costs for someday (dealers) by not exceeding Mercedes requirements by as much as M1 0w40 might. The M1 0w40 is the same formula around the world and has many builder approvals. I believe every Porsche leaves the factory with this oil.

I do still wonder why they even bothered making the Formula M 5w40 (non-diesel one).
Of course, M1 0w40 is approved, so I'm going to assume it is still the best unless I hear otherwise. On paper, it's just MUCH richer in additives, and will hold up better if you go to the 10-13k mile intervals.


Whatever you do, do NOT use the ESP version of 5w40. I posted a virgin analysis on it just tonight. You will see it is much weaker in additives. It should ONLY be used in diesel cars. 229.51 is diesel spec (you don't want the 1 on there). You want 229.5 only.

EV0LVE

Thanks very much for your insight. You may be right on the long run cost effectiveness to MB and dealers, the 5w-40 is cheaper by about $1 per quart, so perhaps the additive may also be true. That said, I will stick with the 0w-40, its worked for me for the last 115,000 miles. I thought the 5w-40 would be better because it's 'updated' but apparently not. thanks again.

Glyn M Ruck

Listen to Mac!