Jason B

If you don't put a lot of miles on your car and it takes full synthetic, how long is it acceptable to wait to change the oil? As of now I have about 8,000 since last oil change, but was having a discussion with a friend how long you can wait? Say you only do 5,000 miles a year for example. How long can you wait?

Thoughts?

dbldpr

Once a year or 12,000 miles I had about 2,500 for the 1st oil change after a year

steveb9771

You could easily go for a 18 months, but do this ONLY if you are not currently under any kind of warranty and it is NOT a leased vehicle. Leasing companies and warranty companies when making a claim may insist on records showing you have not exceeded the factory specified oil change interval.

ENV²

Wow, surprised you guys go that long. I go every 5k miles.

billiards101

I've asked this question to two different dealers. Both told me every 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first.

Mike5215

Don't you guys just follow the A/B/C service schedule and get it changed when prompted by the car that a service is due? I think on the 221 the interval for oil on Mobil 1 is 13k. I figure if the guys who were smart enough to design and build the engine they're probably smart enough to calculate oil life.

wilassasin

+1

konigstiger

MB requirement 1 year/10,000 miles whichever comes first.

KNBS550

I change the oil in my vehicle about once every 6000-7000 miles or about twice a year.

For W221 and other Mercedes owners who are outside of the warranty period, the other thing to consider is Mercedes Roadside Assistance. The rules changed a few years ago and my understanding is that you need to spend above a certain threshold annually with Mercedes to qualify for roadside assistance. Roadside assistance came in really handy when the starter battery died over a year ago. So paying the dealer $200 to change the oil, even if it is premature, helps to maintain the MB roadside coverage.

1bad540

I go every 5k if you own it.

2014CL600

The 2011 CL 550 in Borolo red I bought back in March for a friend of mine with a little over 10K miles had not had an oil change since new, as I just found out about a month ago. I sent the oil out for analysis to Titan Labs in Denver CO. and they said my oil was excellent. Actually less than normal trace elements from the engine were in the oil and the viscosity of the oil was still good and DID not need to be changed. I changed it only because I needed to get the sample but everyone that changes their oil because they think it is necessary is wasting their money. They did say, if a person lives in an extremely HOT environment then 10K miles is sufficient but every year is not necessary. They said please send another sample back in 7K miles for analysis but that wont be necessary, as the oil has now been changed. I know it was only a do it yourself $48.00 oil change (Mobile 1 0W-40 from Walmart and a factory filter from the dealer) but it is more the environment than the cost, where the waste is happening.

alx

Lol. Oil quality- related engine problems are largely non existent nowadays.

10k miles or 1 year is the standard. However I have been led to believe that mobil one can safely be extended to 2 years or 15k miles.

2014CL600

Not really, if there are any internal engine problems, the oil analysis will catch it. Each component of a particular engine uses different metals for different parts. Any excess of a particular, particulate will tell you if your having an issue and what is happening within the engine. 1 year 10K miles is what Mercedes wants ( as most European manufactures require) as they want the money for a yearly check oil change and many extras that might or might not possibly need to be done. I personally think from where I am from in the desert that 10K miles is far enough for oil to be used. Jaguar wants their engine oil to be changed at 13K miles. I personally feel 10K miles is long enough (that is just my opinion because oxidation starts to occur in or around 10K miles on full synthetic). Miles are my reference point not time. As everyone knows, full synthetic Mobil 1 is just a molecularly altered highly reined oil with no imperfections in the molecular structure. So, the filter will do what it needs to insure proper filtration. I have some oils in some of my cars that are Mobil 1 that have been in the crankcase for 8 years. They have only been driven from a range of 100-2,000 miles at most. I think I will send each one out for analysis, just to make sure. Time never destroys synthetic oils only miles and the condition of the engine.

Mike5215

Yeah, a lot of the fervor about how frequent oil needs to be changed is pulled right out of thin air. Or a Jiffylube brochure, the guys who pretty much invented the "need" for a 3500 mile interval. Of course there's no downside to frequent, albeit unnecessary oil changes aside from a little money and time. If it makes folks feel they're somehow appeasing the gods of sludge and wear by dumping good oil down the drain with most of its useful life remaining, no real harm done.

2014CL600

You are so right everyone should know, sludge is a thing of the past. Synthetic oils have done away with sludge, so those demons should be a myth at this point.

Nickthegreek

I go by the NICKTHEGREEK interval.... 5000 miles or every 6 months and do it myself to save $$$$

2014CL600

I think that is wonderful. But you waste more than just money when you change it so often. Oil analysis don't lie

Jason B

I've been talking about this with a few friends that own inspection stations, etc. and the consensus is it's the miles rather than the time. If it takes you 2 years to put on 10,000 miles, synthetic oil will be fine. It's non synth that should be changed earlier.

I might do an analysis for fun to see how the oil looks after 8,000 miles and 18 months, but I have a feel it's going to check out great.

2014CL600, what did that oil analysis cost?

2014CL600

24.00 and sent it to them in a special bottle for touch up paint and put it in a plastic bag and shipped it for 1.75 via US mail and they got it in 2 days and I had the result by the third day via email.




If you drive 8K miles in 18 months I would just go the full 10K miles even if its 24 months and I can bet you it will just be at the point it will need to finally be changed. Only Synthetic oils can work correctly. Regular oil over a years time will absorb moisture and contaminates plus I don't think any Mercedes uses non synthetic oil any longer. Remember the days back in the late 90's early 2000's when they were not using Synthetic and they were having engine sludge issues and rebuilding engines as fast as they could make cars. The use of Synthetic oils stopped all those issues.

As for the results it tell you EVERYTHING. All trace elements and what is normal and what is below normal and mine had virtually no trace elements from the engine metals. The only thing that showed slight traces was Aluminum and that is what the pistons are made of. That small trace amount was from the wrist pin from what I have been told, not the actual wear of the piston from ignition. There was NO chromium which is from the rings, no brass which is from the bearings, no titanium, no water, no unburned fuel, no anti-freeze. Its a LONG list of metals . It showed the oil has Zinc in it and it showed the oil has all different types of detergents. It was very interesting. I had to read what each element was and what it was used for. Worth every penny. Remember, the car came from Palm Spring and is here now, so it was driven in EXTREME heat for 4 years and the oil was still ok. Most people will never see this type of extreme heat, so their oil wont take this kind of abuse.

steponthegas

It depends on the model of your car. Most people do their oil change every 5,000 or 7,500 mile.

2014CL600

Full synthetic Mobil 1 can take 10K miles of extreme abuse without resulting in any engine damage. An older engine with miles might require more frequent oil changes ( or a high miles formula) but have your engine oil analyzed first. If your engine has been service well and you go 5-7K miles and see what the analysis tells you, when you find your oil is still good, you will stop that ridiculous changing of your oil as often. You will find conventional oils require those short intervals not full Synthetic.

WHPH28

I do mine every 8-10k.

2014CL600

Smart man, mileage is the key not time.

Jason B

This is a good thread

Now, when you gather the oil sample when draining the oil, do you do it as soon as the oil starts coming out, or at the end ?

Tito TW

Mobil 1 every 10K due this weekend