FSS Oil change interval too much???
11-24-2011, 08:09 PM
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1998 E320 4-Matic Wagon
FSS Oil change interval too much???
'98 E320 4Matic. I changed my oil 6500 miles and 5 months ago with Mobil 1 0W-40 (not Euro formula) and I used a filter that the parts store recommended. I don't know if it was a fleece filter or not. I don't even remember the brand. I reset my FSS and got the customary 10,000 oil change interval. Today my FSS tells me that I have 8000 miles to go before my next oil change. That seems way out of line to me. The way it is going, I will easily surpass 15,000 miles per oil change..... That can't be right. The oil does look really clean, however. BTW the car has 186,000 miles on it. Should I change the oil now or wait?
11-24-2011, 10:11 PM
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98 Brilliant Silver E320 Wagon
FSS calculates the oil service cycle based on oil quality, % miles driven when engine is fully heated and average miles/hr. 10K is a starting point and I believe the maximum is 22K. Most people get around 10K-14K based on posts on these sites.
However, to use FSS (without risk of sludge buildup) you need to ensure that you are using MB spec 229.3 or 229.5 oil and a fleece (polyester) media filter. Modern synthetic oils are much different that the strictly petroleum based oils our fathers used.
Some early W210's developed sludge buildup because some owners didn't understand/follow paragraph #2. The result was the engines had to be replaced. If your car is serviced at a dealer or indy whose is MB knowledgeable then you should have the right oil/filter. If it's anyone else I would make sure myself that the correct oil/filter was used. Or just ignore FSS and change every 7500 miles with a any good quality oil and filter.
However, to use FSS (without risk of sludge buildup) you need to ensure that you are using MB spec 229.3 or 229.5 oil and a fleece (polyester) media filter. Modern synthetic oils are much different that the strictly petroleum based oils our fathers used.
Some early W210's developed sludge buildup because some owners didn't understand/follow paragraph #2. The result was the engines had to be replaced. If your car is serviced at a dealer or indy whose is MB knowledgeable then you should have the right oil/filter. If it's anyone else I would make sure myself that the correct oil/filter was used. Or just ignore FSS and change every 7500 miles with a any good quality oil and filter.
11-24-2011, 10:24 PM
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1998 E320 4-Matic Wagon
Thanks for the advice Richard. From what I can tell, the previous owners gave the car good service. I know the guy I bought it from always used Mobil 1. The oil that came out when I changed it looked almost new. I need/want this car to last for as many miles as my 74 450 SEL which went 350,000+. I think the oil filter I used was a Fram but I am not positive.
11-29-2011, 09:12 AM
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1998 E320 4-Matic Wagon
I bought a new OEM filter yesterday. It was more money than any other filter but the oil change intervals are so long, it is no big deal. Thanks for the advice guys.
