Oil change interval question?
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Joined: Aug 2007
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'08 C 300 Sport, '01 SL 500 & '08 Nissan Frontier SE Crew Cab 4WD
Oil change interval question?
Checked my oil today as I've got 10XXX miles on the car since new in August '07. At anyrate I tried to find the interval for oil changes or first one for that matter in the owners manual, swear I saw it in there when we first got the car said something like 12K or 13K does anyone know for sure what it is? The oil looked pretty black this morning and I'm worried. First car I've ever owned that required such a long oil change interval.
Thanks in advance
-Ryan
Thanks in advance
-Ryan
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From: SFV CA
2008 Black Out C350 Saks Edition / 87 VW GTI
Checked my oil today as I've got 10XXX miles on the car since new in August '07. At anyrate I tried to find the interval for oil changes or first one for that matter in the owners manual, swear I saw it in there when we first got the car said something like 12K or 13K does anyone know for sure what it is? The oil looked pretty black this morning and I'm worried. First car I've ever owned that required such a long oil change interval.
Thanks in advance
-Ryan
Thanks in advance
-Ryan
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From: Colorado
2008 C350 Sport, 2007 ML320 CDI
I leased my car, so I'm not too concerned about the interval. But for those who own their cars, do you plan on following this interval? Our ML320CDI is 10K, but we still change it at 5K - as the synthetic oil looks awful by that time.
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Checked my oil today as I've got 10XXX miles on the car since new in August '07. At anyrate I tried to find the interval for oil changes or first one for that matter in the owners manual, swear I saw it in there when we first got the car said something like 12K or 13K does anyone know for sure what it is? The oil looked pretty black this morning and I'm worried. First car I've ever owned that required such a long oil change interval.
Thanks in advance
-Ryan
Thanks in advance
-Ryan
EDIT: It's usual for synthetic oil to look black at oil changes
Last edited by tmehanna; Feb 21, 2008 at 12:12 PM.
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From: SFV CA
2008 Black Out C350 Saks Edition / 87 VW GTI
if you don't fallow your inteval service you could void the warranty regarless if you are leasing
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2008 Black Out C350 Saks Edition / 87 VW GTI
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From: SE Penna, USA
2008 C350, 2014 E350, 2015 BMW S1000RR
+1 synthetic looks black almost right after you change it. Despite all the literature to the contrary, I have a hard time going more than 5k between synthetic oil changes. Same is true of "lifetime fill" synthetic transmission fluid. I just don't believe it. What happens to all the worn clutch material suspended in the oil? I guess I'm just an old fogey.
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2011 E350 Sport 4matic
+1 synthetic looks black almost right after you change it. Despite all the literature to the contrary, I have a hard time going more than 5k between synthetic oil changes. Same is true of "lifetime fill" synthetic transmission fluid. I just don't believe it. What happens to all the worn clutch material suspended in the oil? I guess I'm just an old fogey.
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From: West Michigan
2007 E63
The color of the oil has absolutely NO relation to the quality or remaining "life" of the oil. If you really wanted to know how well the oil is holding up, send in a sample to get a used oil analysis (UOA).
FWIW, Mercedes has been doing 10,000 mile intervals since MY1998 when the FSS was introduced. I'm not sure what the intervals were before that. Changing the oil before the recommend interval is just throwing away money.
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Oil condition
<< Our ML320CDI is 10K, but we still change it at 5K - as the synthetic oil looks awful by that time.>>
Diesels turn the fresh oil black right away and this is not an indicator for an oil change. This your first diesel?
Diesels turn the fresh oil black right away and this is not an indicator for an oil change. This your first diesel?
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Lifetime?
<<........ Same is true of "lifetime fill" synthetic transmission fluid. I just don't believe it. What happens to all the worn clutch material suspended in the oil? >>
Mercedes dropped the "lifetime trans fluid" idea in 1995 and since then they say change it at 39K miles.
Mercedes dropped the "lifetime trans fluid" idea in 1995 and since then they say change it at 39K miles.
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Silver 2005 Acura TSX Navi
Out Of Control!!
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From: West Michigan
2007 E63
Dino oils can go up to 5,000 miles now, why can't/shouldn't synthetics be able to go longer with no issues? Techs can advise you on what they feel is appropriate for the general Mercedes "population". Only a UOA can tell you what is appropriate for your engine. If a UOA reveals that your engine can handle over 10,000 miles of synthetic oil use, you just wasted two times the amount of money you should have spent, and for no real added benefit. This could be hundreds or even thousands. Take it for what it's worth; there are plenty of analyses to refute what many techs have said.
Last edited by AsianML; Feb 21, 2008 at 08:11 PM.
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That may be true, but I don't mind it. 1 oil change per year is nothing for me.
I have a lift, and the parts guys give me filters for free. I also buy oil in bulk for my construction company, so it doesn't cost me much at all.
I like to get underneath the car once a year and check everything out.
I have a lift, and the parts guys give me filters for free. I also buy oil in bulk for my construction company, so it doesn't cost me much at all.
I like to get underneath the car once a year and check everything out.
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From: SFV CA
2008 Black Out C350 Saks Edition / 87 VW GTI
The "B" service is a must; if an engine internal failure happens to you car and MB will void your warranty for negligence or just for using the wrong oil, I tell you this because I see it every day.
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2011 E350 Sport 4matic
That may be true, but I don't mind it. 1 oil change per year is nothing for me.
I have a lift, and the parts guys give me filters for free. I also buy oil in bulk for my construction company, so it doesn't cost me much at all.
I like to get underneath the car once a year and check everything out.
I have a lift, and the parts guys give me filters for free. I also buy oil in bulk for my construction company, so it doesn't cost me much at all.
I like to get underneath the car once a year and check everything out.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,433
Likes: 5
From: SFV CA
2008 Black Out C350 Saks Edition / 87 VW GTI
That may be true, but I don't mind it. 1 oil change per year is nothing for me.
I have a lift, and the parts guys give me filters for free. I also buy oil in bulk for my construction company, so it doesn't cost me much at all.
I like to get underneath the car once a year and check everything out.
I have a lift, and the parts guys give me filters for free. I also buy oil in bulk for my construction company, so it doesn't cost me much at all.
I like to get underneath the car once a year and check everything out.
The technical advantages of synthetic motor oils include:
• Measurably better low and high temperature viscosity performance
• Better chemical & shear stability
• Decreased evaporative loss
• Resistance to oxidation, thermal breakdown and oil sludge problems
• Extended drain intervals with the environmental benefit of less wastes oil created
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