phungpho

It's really an headache !
Mercedes now recommends Synthetic oil ... I've used Mobil 1 since 1985. Now, the question is what grade is the best for your engine. About Mobil 1, in US, there are 0-30, 5-30 and 15-50. I know in Europe there's 5-50, and AMG uses a special 0-40 ....
The 15-50 protects better when the engine is warm or runs at high RPMs. However, the 0-30 or 5-30 protects better at low temperature and especially at the 'start' time. So, there are pros and cons there. Of course, the perfect should be 0-40 or 5-50.

Currently, I use the 15-50 (for California) but I really like the 0-40 or the 5-50. Any suggestions ??? any idea where to buy the 0-40.
I asked the dealers couple times and i got different anwsers. One guy told me they use 10-40. No way, Mobil 1 doesn't have it (the synthetic one).

sosh

0-40 is what MB suggests and is what my dealer uses.

Wally

I in the last year started using Mobil 1, 10W-30 as I have been able to buy it at Costco for abut $18.00 or so for a case of six quarts. They don't carry any other Mobil 1. Previously used Castrol Syntec, 5W50 but Costco stopped carrying it. I would prefer the 5W40 but am unable to pick it up there. In talking to my service advisor at the dealership he said that the 10W30 was fine to use in So. Calif even though they use 0W40. However, if I were doing a lot of driving in the desert or other hot parts of the state I would be inclined to use something with a higher viscosity.
Wally
2000 E430

apb

I use 10w40 in Texas.

darkLCD

I use Castrol Syntec 5w-50 on my other cars and have had great results. I will soon switch to that on my Mercedes. Guess what, I caught a Mercedes dealership with crates of Castrol Syntec 5w-50 coming off a Semi at 7am....heheheh ....what happen to the partnership with Mobil???...I guess simple economics still dictates.

Randy B

The viscosity should be based on the climate you spend the most time in with your car. Here in Florida we use 5w-30 or 15w-50 depending where you are in the state. From here South, we rarely see more than three days below 30 degrees for more than four hours at a time, however we do quite commonly see 95 plus days for months at a time. I have been using Mobil 1 for about ten years now in everything we own that is gas powered, including the MB. Even have it in my John Deere Lawn Mower, and would not think about going to anything else.

phungpho

Thanks everyone for replying my email.
The oil grade should depend on couple things and not just on the weather:
- the weather. I think this one is not very critical !!!
- How you drive your Benz: 65 versus 100mph, city or free way, short distance (less than 10 miles), Low RPM versus high RPM, ....

Even if you live in Arizona or Texas, when summer can reach to 120F, that heat is nothing comparing to the ‘internal’ head produced by the engine when running at high RPMs. The temperature inside the engine block can reach 600 to 800 C.
So, the question here is how fast you ‘push’ your Benz and not what city you live in. If you drive 65 or even 75 MPH on the freeway then that’s fine with 10-30. However, if you drive over 100 MPH then it is much better to switch to the 0-40 or 15-50. In Europe, the weather is rarely reached 100F, however they recommend 5-50 for 2 reasons: the ‘5’ is good for ‘cold’ start and the ‘50’ is good for high speed (or high RPMs). Here, in the US, due to speed limit, the 10-30 grade is fine. But I guess none of us does 65 MPH on the freeway, especially with an E320, E430 or E55 that is capable doing 130 (limited)

Another simple example is: Honda recommends 5-20 for the new Honda Civic for all states in the US !!! It doesn't matter where you live in: Texas, Arizona or New York... I think the reason they use 5-20 because the oil is very ligth and fluid so it can reach the engine compartment easily and also save gaz.... Another thing is with the automatic transmission there's no way you can push hard on that car (high RPMs).

So, here’s my conclusion:
- If you use the 0-40 or 5-50 then it doesn’t matter where you live. Again, I guess the 0-40 is better then the 5-50 because it will protect the engine better at the cold start…
I have seen some analysis documents talking about different synthetic oil such as Mobil1, Castrol, Shell,.... some of them have some side effects ... again it's still in the testing phase so nobody has a final conclusion yet.

I guess the ‘Mobil 1’ 0-40 is the best because it is used in Formula 1 racing car and also for the space shuttle !!!
It also has a long history too. Experience makes difference !!!
Make your call.

ML320AMG

If you really need 0W-40 and you don't want to buy it from the dealer then you might want to try Motul 8100 0W-40. I just got a box from Motul. Yeah it's synthetic. Yeah they guy said it's approved by Mercedes too and he's sending me the approval letter.


peace out~

Jcapp3078

I used this oil in my Jetta 1.8t with an apr chip. I never had a problem with the oil. It is also recommended by MBZ as an alternative to the Mobil 1 0w-40 which can not be found in the US. As for the Valvoline, just go into Napa and have them order you part number 966. They usually get it the next day for me, and I only pay 24.99 for a six pack. I started using this in my C230 between FSS intervals. I was going to go with the Mobil 1 15w-50, but I felt the 15 weight was just to thick for good start up protection. I was also told by Mobil (the 1800 number) that the heavier weight would steal some ponies from me, and it would also reduce fuel efficiency. Furthermore, the rep told me that the 15w was approved because it was the only oil Mobil sells that meets the 40 weight requirment. He said they were having some problems with the German cars, (i.e., MBZ, Porsche, and BMW) and oil. They use oil which is available in Germany when they manufacture the cars, but they do not take into consideration what is available in the states. The rep further stated that Porsche was forced to approve the 15w-50 for the state shops because they did not have access to the 0w-40. This was when Porsche first started using that oil.
I recently checked the Mobil 1 website, and they now have the 0w-40 on the site. However, after emailing Mobil I was informed that it is still a dealer only oil. Even worse, look at some of the new American cars. They are using 0w-20. Try to find that. It almost seems as if they are trying to discourage people from changing their own oil. Some day, you will probably not even see 10w 30, 40 on the shelf at you local shop. In short, can you imange 0w-20. That must look like olive oil. With that weight, you could probably just use a 20 weight. Maybe we will see the return of those single weight oils. Fewer additives, after all what could be the difference between the flow rate of 0w and 20w oil. Seems to me, that they are focusing on cold weather and start up protection over high heat and high reving engines. I certaintly would not want a 20w oil in any car I would ever own. My four cents.

phungpho

Thanks everyone. Thanks for all your inputs.
It's really very good information.