E300 engine oil question....
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Boston
1995 E320(daily driver), 2005 S4(summer toy)
E300 engine oil question....
Hey guys I recently purchased a 1995 E300 and will be in need of an oil change very soon. I am currently at 133k and I am not sure as to what brand of oil and what specific specs to go with especially for the New England cold winter months? It will be the first oil change I perform to this car and don't want to run into the problem of the car not starting in the winter months because of the wrong engine oil. Can anyone give me any guidance or help me? I tried doing some searching on google and the only thing that pops up are people who live in Florida or that have other different model Mercedes'. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 169
Likes: 2
300TE, 300CE
Diesel rated oil
Use 15W-40 Diesel rated motor oil, like Shell Rotella or Delo. Do not use just a standard gas engine oil. Change Oil & filter every 7500 miles (MB rec). I prefer every 5K miles.
My E300 starts fine with 15W-40 in below freezing temps, but using 10W-40 during the winter will not destroy the engine.
The car should have a Group 49 battery of whatever brand to start well in the winter. If one of the six glow plugs dies, the car will be hard to start.
You have a block heater installed on the right side of the engine block under the exhaust manifold standard from the factory. However, they did not include the power cord to it off the boat, and dealers did not install one for the original buyer unless presented with a card in the owner's information black leather pouch. Look for a black power cord with a covered prong near the right side of the radiator or tucked under the right headlight area.
My E300 starts fine with 15W-40 in below freezing temps, but using 10W-40 during the winter will not destroy the engine.
The car should have a Group 49 battery of whatever brand to start well in the winter. If one of the six glow plugs dies, the car will be hard to start.
You have a block heater installed on the right side of the engine block under the exhaust manifold standard from the factory. However, they did not include the power cord to it off the boat, and dealers did not install one for the original buyer unless presented with a card in the owner's information black leather pouch. Look for a black power cord with a covered prong near the right side of the radiator or tucked under the right headlight area.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Boston
1995 E320(daily driver), 2005 S4(summer toy)
Thanks for the detailed reply, I greatly appreciate it. The car does in fact have the wire with the plug to warm the block over night. I did go to Pep Boys the other day and saw that they have Shell and Rotella diesel engine oil and the main grade I saw was 15w40. I will start with that for an oil change and also see how the glow plugs are as the weather gets colder. Wouldn't be a bad idea to swap them to newer ones since I am not to sure as to when the previous owner replaced them. Thanks again, you have been extremely helpful.
Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 169
Likes: 2
300TE, 300CE
E300 "weakest links"
Our E300 cars have 3 or 4 known weak links:
1. biodegradeable engine wiring harness (and all other wiring) that cracks and breaks apart prematurely,
2. bimetal evaporator that will likely leak out refrigerant,
3. glow plugs that break off in head when being removed,
4. headgasket leak due to iron block with aluminum head.
When you have a moment, search "E300 glow plugs" or "606 engine glow plugs" here, and at benzworld dot com and peachparts dot com. You will read the horror stories of glow plugs breaking off, and of one owner who removes them every 50K miles just to prevent carbon build up sticking the plugs in. I've been lucky servicing two E300 cars, but the long 606 glow plug is just begging to break off:-(
Also search "glow plug light back on" or "glow plug light not on" to learn what it means when a glow plug burns out or the glow plug relay fuse burns out, to then understand how the indicator light behaves.
1. biodegradeable engine wiring harness (and all other wiring) that cracks and breaks apart prematurely,
2. bimetal evaporator that will likely leak out refrigerant,
3. glow plugs that break off in head when being removed,
4. headgasket leak due to iron block with aluminum head.
When you have a moment, search "E300 glow plugs" or "606 engine glow plugs" here, and at benzworld dot com and peachparts dot com. You will read the horror stories of glow plugs breaking off, and of one owner who removes them every 50K miles just to prevent carbon build up sticking the plugs in. I've been lucky servicing two E300 cars, but the long 606 glow plug is just begging to break off:-(
Also search "glow plug light back on" or "glow plug light not on" to learn what it means when a glow plug burns out or the glow plug relay fuse burns out, to then understand how the indicator light behaves.
