Is Service Needed?
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I see, I guess the happy medium is 5000 miles I will stick with that, or try 3000 miles that forum member JettaRed suggested.
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From: DFW
SL63
I followed MB's 3k mile recommendation on my new 1977 300d.
At that time I was commuting between Clearwater and Bonita Springs 5 days a week (1,500 miles).
Oil was changed every other week. IIRC I put 500k miles on it.
I forgot to mention that other than routine maintenance the only other items were batteries, brakes, tires, wiper blades and a windshield.
(never get behind a gravel truck)
At that time I was commuting between Clearwater and Bonita Springs 5 days a week (1,500 miles).
Oil was changed every other week. IIRC I put 500k miles on it.
I forgot to mention that other than routine maintenance the only other items were batteries, brakes, tires, wiper blades and a windshield.
(never get behind a gravel truck)
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From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
I'm not sure oil goes bad in a year (I certainly hope NOT), but it does have a shelf life.
The video, however, talks about new, unused, unopened oil; not stuff in your engine.
The video, however, talks about new, unused, unopened oil; not stuff in your engine.
Last edited by JettaRed; Oct 29, 2024 at 08:51 PM.
MBWorld God!
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I'm not sure oil goes bad in a year (I certainly hope NOT), but it does have a shelf life.
The video, however, talks about new, unused, unopened oil; not stuff in your engine.
https://youtu.be/E1T4XFPgBeo?si=5WDt6YBtfxv2gn_8
The video, however, talks about new, unused, unopened oil; not stuff in your engine.
https://youtu.be/E1T4XFPgBeo?si=5WDt6YBtfxv2gn_8
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2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
I'm not sure oil goes bad in a year (I certainly hope NOT), but it does have a shelf life.
The video, however, talks about new, unused, unopened oil; not stuff in your engine.
https://youtu.be/E1T4XFPgBeo?si=5WDt6YBtfxv2gn_8
The video, however, talks about new, unused, unopened oil; not stuff in your engine.
https://youtu.be/E1T4XFPgBeo?si=5WDt6YBtfxv2gn_8
5 to8 years:
https://www.google.com/search?q=what...hrome&ie=UTF-8
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From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Mhmm what I mean was the engine oil already used and inside the engine. That said, there might be a reason that all manufacturers recommend a mileage interval and maximum once every year whichever comes first, I sure hope it wasn't because they want to increase service frequency.
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2019 E300
The shelf life of engine oil might be 5 to 8 years but once the oil is inside the engine, its life span will be much shorter due to atmospheric conditions, condensation and contaminates. With that said, I had 2.5 year old unused oil pulled from a garaged car and had it lab tested fine.
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Infiniti M35x
Some services are time-driven. Three most critical services are oil changes (6 months), transmission service (5 years), and brake fluid service (2 years).
So, even with only 1,376 miles since the last service, you should get your oil changed since it's going on 11 months. When was your brake fluid last done? Transmission service?
Ask the dealer what needs to be done.
So, even with only 1,376 miles since the last service, you should get your oil changed since it's going on 11 months. When was your brake fluid last done? Transmission service?
Ask the dealer what needs to be done.
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2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Infiniti may be different. I was referring to Mercedes 722.9 7G+.
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The shelf life of engine oil might be 5 to 8 years but once the oil is inside the engine, its life span will be much shorter due to atmospheric conditions, condensation and contaminates. With that said, I had 2.5 year old unused oil pulled from a garaged car and had it lab tested fine.
Joined: Nov 2016
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From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
The reason only short trips are bad is because the oil does not get hot enough to evaporate any water condensation, so the water mixes with the oil. It's not much, but it's still there. Arguably, the oil temp needs to reach 212°F (100°C) to "burn off" some of that water.
MBWorld God!
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The reason only short trips are bad is because the oil does not get hot enough to evaporate any water condensation, so the water mixes with the oil. It's not much, but it's still there. Arguably, the oil temp needs to reach 212°F (100°C) to "burn off" some of that water.
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From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
As we know, the oil temperature is a calculated/derived value and not a measured value. So, I'm going to assume normal operating temperature is sufficient. I hit the minimal operation temp of 176°F (80°C) within 4-5 miles or 6-8 minutes, depending on the ambient temp. That's pretty much the same for my turbo and non-turbo engines.
The point being that a lot of short duration trips don't allow for the elimination of contaminants as much as some longer trips. So, be sure to exercise your car often.
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I don't know. I too rarely hit 212°F, but am often at 207°F - 209°F.
As we know, the oil temperature is a calculated/derived value and not a measured value. So, I'm going to assume normal operating temperature is sufficient. I hit the minimal operation temp of 176°F (80°C) within 4-5 miles or 6-8 minutes, depending on the ambient temp. That's pretty much the same for my turbo and non-turbo engines.
The point being that a lot of short duration trips don't allow for the elimination of contaminants as much as some longer trips. So, be sure to exercise your car often.
As we know, the oil temperature is a calculated/derived value and not a measured value. So, I'm going to assume normal operating temperature is sufficient. I hit the minimal operation temp of 176°F (80°C) within 4-5 miles or 6-8 minutes, depending on the ambient temp. That's pretty much the same for my turbo and non-turbo engines.
The point being that a lot of short duration trips don't allow for the elimination of contaminants as much as some longer trips. So, be sure to exercise your car often.
Joined: Nov 2016
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From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
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That's interesting. Even my Operator's Manual agrees with you. Now you have me thinking I'm losing my mind. I will double-check the next time I go for a drive.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...6c2bdb48af.png
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...6c2bdb48af.png
I understand you like to simply cruise around and not intended to push the car most of the time, which I mean makes sense since it is an SL a very nice comfortable cruiser. In that case, it doesn't matter what is the normal operating temperature at.
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From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
I do push the car from time to time. I do have a Stage 2 tune and not for nuthin. However, in consideration of my main passenger, I tend to be gentle. (Happy wife, happy life.) But, when there's no passenger, then that is a different story.
The other deterrent is I never need to be pulled over. When you carry a certain instrument of self-defense, interactions with the police could get complicated. Therefore, I try to behave so that does not happen.
The other deterrent is I never need to be pulled over. When you carry a certain instrument of self-defense, interactions with the police could get complicated. Therefore, I try to behave so that does not happen.
Last edited by JettaRed; Oct 31, 2024 at 06:22 PM.
MBWorld God!
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I do push the car from time to time. I do have a Stage 2 tune and not for nuthin. However, in consideration of my main passenger, I tend to be gentile. (Happy wife, happy life.) But, when there's no passenger, then that is a different story.
The other deterrent is I never need to be pulled over. When you carry a certain instrument of self-defense, interactions with the police could get complicated. Therefore, I try to behave so that does not happen.
The other deterrent is I never need to be pulled over. When you carry a certain instrument of self-defense, interactions with the police could get complicated. Therefore, I try to behave so that does not happen.
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From: Australia
W213 e300 MY19 (Aus market)
The reason only short trips are bad is because the oil does not get hot enough to evaporate any water condensation, so the water mixes with the oil. It's not much, but it's still there. Arguably, the oil temp needs to reach 212°F (100°C) to "burn off" some of that water.
Last edited by aks_19_ak; Nov 1, 2024 at 03:42 AM.
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2019 E300
Couple schools of thought here; Water temp get up to temp in about 15 minutes of driving, another 10 minutes for the oil to warm up and then another 15 to 30 minutes to burn off the water in the oil. Some people seem to think the process is much quicker, water temp get up to temp, the engine is now hot, the oil splashing against the hot engine will evaporate the water, this would mean a total of about 30 minutes to burn off the water as opposed to about an hour of driving. I do mostly short distance driving post pandemic. My average trip is about 5 miles, and I change my oil every 12 months. The last lab test I did right before one of my oil change, the oil tested fine which leads me to believe the shorter cycle theory seem to be more valid. As much as I like to take my car out for an Italian tune up once a while, I just do not think the need is valid, at least not from a water in oil scenario.
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Are you located in a cold place? I checked my oil temps yesterday when I read this thread. After sitting overnight, it took less than 10 minutes of 30 mph driving to reach 220°F. As soon as I stopped at a traffic light the oil temperature settled on 205°F then increased when I started moving again. Ambient temperature was in the mid 80's.
