Merc1

Hi,

Just wanted to get some feedback on oil consumption.

Mixed driving:

Used Mobil 1 Synthetic 0W30 Hot Climate driving Arizona.

Filled slightly above MAX line by 1/4 of quart.

I have 6500 miles on... since my oil change.

I notice oil level drop... Slightly above MIN mark.
When I filled it it was at MAX mark slightly above, now after 6500 miles of driving it is 20% above MIN mark (20% is between MIN MAX range on dipstick)

Please post your experience.

Thanks

1998 E320

paomien

99 E430 -

Running Petro-Canada Synthetic 5w30. Long Island and Canadian weather, fill to manufacturer's spec, change the oil between 5,000 and 5,500 and never experienced any sort of oil burning / lower oil level...

Whitey

Hey Merc 1, I suspect that Arizona weather or the fact that you'd fxcked around with the thermo's (or both) done some damage

E-Klasse

I have not noticed any drop in the oil level between changes. I have always used 10W-30 and replaced it at 3000 miles.

E55AMG99

Mobile 1 0w40. Hard driven E55 in sunny NorCal, filled to manufacturer's spec, with filter changes at 5,000 (oil added to make up for filter only) and oil and filter at 10,000. Little or no change in level.

Merc1

ok..so the way I see it it has consumed 1 3/4 quart at a driving of 6500 Miles.

I will change to 15 w 50 Mobil 1 Synt.

I will not fill to MAX, only between max and min level, I had tech tell me to to do this.

I will change oil at 5000 miles (Synt 15w 50)

This is what I got response from other boards..

"some are under the impression that an automobile engine should not consume any oil. This is absolutely false. Some oil has to slip down the valve guides and past the top ring to properly lubricate these moving parts."

"I would be using a thicker oil such as the 15W50 in such a hot climate.

The 95 E320 wagon doesn't use any oil, none and it has 98k

The 91 300E has 215k and uses about a quart every 2,500

The 190e has 213k and use 1 quart every 5k miles."

"First, I live in Arizona and would NEVER consider using 30 weight oil around here. These so-called economy oils make little or no difference in actual fuel mileage and sacrifice long term reliability. Major car companies (except the Germans) recommend these low viscosity oils so they can report a few tenths better mileage to the US government to help them with their Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) averages which permits them to avoid Gas Guzzler Tax.

Second, the oil you are using isn't on the the MB approval list. I suspect it's because of the rumor that Mobil 1 30 weight oils are not true synthetics, i.e. they are doing what Castrol did and that is using a petroleum base and calling it synthetic. 0W-40 and 15W-50 are true synthetics.

Third, the two Mobil 1 viscosities that should be used in Arizona are 0W-40 and 15W-50. Actually, 0W-40 could be used anywhere in the lower 48 all year round. In fact, I used 15W-50 Mobil 1 in Minnesota all year round because it has the pour point of a 10W-30 mineral based oil.

Go to Walmarts and buy 15W-50 Mobil 1 in 5 quart containers for the equivelant of $3.70 or so per quart."

"Follow this tip and I bet your oil consumption will drop: Do NOT fill to or above the Max mark. Only fill to about half way between the Min and Max marks.

And switch to M1 0W-40 or 15W-50 as Bud suggested. I've found higher consumption with M1 0W-30 (and it's not approved by MB)."

E-Klasse

I would never go as high as 50 weight oil and in Arizona, why care about going as low as 0W or even 5W. I always heard that the wider the range from the low to the high number the more polymers there are in the oil to give it that range. 10W-30 has a short range and is just fine for Arizona. Take a 30 weight oil and a 50 weight oil and heat them up to 195 deg. F. or engine operating temperature and see what weight pours better. Viscosity varies inversely with temperature. 50 weight would get a bit too thick at operating temperature for me.

Check this out...Click Here

Merc1

Hi E Klasse,

When I posted this I had you in mind, thanks for reply.

I know 0w30 is not for me here is AZ, When I saw reco, for 15w50, I remembered your other post about polymers.

Thanks, I will be changing my oil tomm.
You use regular motor oil and change at 3k.
I will be using SYNT since mine is 98 e320, i believe yours is diffent year and doesnt have FSS.

SO WHAT OIL DO I PUT IN?

rander

Running a 1997 E320 here just north of the Big Easy in Louisiana. Mileage at 149K (miles not kilos) using strictly Mobile 1 0W-40 or 15W-50. Oil changes every 5000 miles. Never have more than about a pint low at oil changes. Miles have been about 50-50 open road and city driving.

RussA

E-Klasse

Click Here

Mobil 1 10W-30 is available at Target or Walmart in the large jug for around $3 a quart. The above link has al of the specs on it and it shows that Daimler Chrysler approves it.

rander

Merc1:

You might want to check out the following link which lists the MB approved oils up to late 2000:

http://www.whnet.com/4x4/oil.html

Although not as hot as your part of Arizona, here in Louisiana the recommendation by dealers and good independents is to use 15W-50 or 0W-40. So far I haven't seen 0W-40 at retail outlets apparently it is primarily available through MB dealers.

RussA

johndoyle

I use 5W30 Castrol Syntec (marketed as BMW Synthetic), change oil and filter every 5K and use not a drop. Never had to add to this car regardless of type of driving. '96 E320 w/ 72K. I still think your consumption is well within normally acceptable limits and I wouldn't worry about it. If it were a new car and you brought it in for warranty service because of this level of consumption, they wouldn't do anything about it. Good luck.
John

E-Klasse

Castrol is still a hydrocarbon based oil that has been synthesized so that the oil molecules are about the same size instead of random sizes that are in conventional oil. They went to court to change the definition of the term synthetic to include synthasized oil. It might be better than conventional oil but that to me is deceptive.

fritza2tt

Did you look for oil spots below the engine where you park? What is your fuel consumption. This should tell you if everything is normal or not inside the cylinders and the engine oil seals.
I had not heard of anyone losing that much oil in such a short time. I have a '98 E320 and use synthetic oil as recommended, but I only put in 8 quts of oil with an oil filter change (the manual says 8.5 quarts, but that's nonsense and leads, as in your case, to over filling.) On your dip stick it takes 2.1 quts of oil to get from the low mark to the high mark. Why so much engine oil? Heck, 5 quarts should be plenty enough for normal driving conditions. You carry the extra oil for engine cooling and just to make plain sure that you never run out of oil. On some car even the oil pressure gage has been dropped! So, relax and enjoy your car. Take it easy and if everything is as it should be, the oil consumption will become less as the engine breaks in.

Merc1

Thanks All..

Finally upon close checkup I noticed I lost 1 1/2 Quart of oil.

My mileage seems to be good. Full tank = just over 510 miles (20 Gallons)

After talking to many people, I think if you fill up to the MAX line you will loose some oil ( I dont know whats the theory behind it)

I drove close to 7000 miles and lost 1 1/2 quart, I feel comfortable about it, since engine consume some oil. Also, using light oil 0w30

Anyway, I used 15w 50 now ( I Know E Klasse wont like it) but, I figured I will give it a try. I got the oil change at Walmart..Yes Walmart Guess what, they had 2 mechanics on the car and they babied the car, I was nervous.. 8.2 Quarts and my filter, MOBIL 1, I paid around $45 to walmart. I cant beat that even If wanted to change myself..heck the oil was $4.77 plus tax a quart x 9. If I were to just buy oil, it would be same price, it seems like I got the labor for free. By the way I brought my own filter, around $6 from the dealer.

Car runs very well, with this type of oil, I will be putting on 2000 miles within a week. I will report the oil consumption.

By the way, I noticed a minor leak around the neck of the oil filler cap, I changed the cap.

E-Klasse

If your engine is using oil then go ahead and try a thicker oil. My comments were based on engines that do not apear to use oil and all of the hype about the special blends being such magical oils.

You might want to check your valve guide seals if you are losing more oil than you expect. You can get a compression check on each cylinder to see if you have a possible ring problem. The lower half of the Mercedes engines are made solid so I would not suspect a ring problem.