When will they ever learn?

[ohlord]

Oil is the life blood of your engine,Mercedes made a few errors in quality,cost cutting,etc.However they spent 10's of millions on the development of the FSS system and the base synthetic oil and fleece filter that goes with it.If you are doing the Fss recommended intervals and that is the correct thing to do,you really need to use the oil specs required.Anything else is at your own peril,Please do me a favor when it comes time to sell that Benz,post in the ad that it was not maintained with mb oil spec.I for one will stay clear of that hoopdie!
Vehicles with the Flexible Service System FSS from MY1998-2004 can use 229.5, 229.51 or 229.3 oils.

Mobil 1 SuperSyn European Car Formula 0W-40

Castrol Syntec 5W-40

Elf Excellium 5W-40

Elf Excellium 0W-30

Pennzoil Synthetic European Formula 5W-40

Quaker State Full Synthetic European Formula 5W-40

76 Pure Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-40

Kendall GT-1 Full Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-40

Thanking you in advance

"GOT CODES?"

[JOE55]

I just hope they are honest enough to tell which oil theyve been using

[ohlord]

be hard to tell,it will be the one with the bad cats,puffing smoke,and an owner that can't wait to get rid of the car "that has given them nothing but problems".I just don't want to have to inspect every car in person,before determining if it is worth even looking at.
Do right by your motor at least use the correct oil!!!!!!!!!!

"GOT CODES?"

[Kajtek1]

Not trying to be hard on you ohlord, but our original ML320 had 3, or 4 first services done by selling dealer with dino 10-40 oil. That was up to MB specification then, but is not now.
How do you suggest to procedure with such an instance?

Side question is your Subaru wagon. I am thinking about buying Baja as a "dog-mobile". Are you satisfy with your wagon?
Than reading your "life blood" again, I've been diluting my own blood with alcohol in big amounts and am judged as "looking much younger, than I really am".
Any conclusions?

[ohlord]

If not they ran the intervals with paper filters and shorter intervals.I suppose if you wanted to shorten up oil change intervals to 3000 miles you could use non spec oil,but the engine will suffer for it,mpg will drop,and 3.5 oil changes per 10k miles will run you more anyway,and at dealer prices i can only imagine what that charge would be!!!!!

AS to the Subaru,it's a Lwagon,auto,94,bought it for 2g about 5 years ago,new tires,changed the pads,oil as required.Used for rally car,before that as our dog trip car.It takes a lickin and keeps on tickin.Find one that has been cared for and a strong engine and you will be very pleased.


and that alcohol must be 229.5 spec or better!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kajtek1]

The mentioned ML320 was on FSS all the time. In first 40,000 miles had 3 oil changes ALL WITH DINO OIL.
Shall I say it is still one of the most trouble-free 9-years old Mercedes in USA?
Took only MAF over those years and it still has all original batteries. Had to replace pads and tires twice.
I know you can buy older Subaru very cheap, but those Bajas seems to be quite expensive. On the other hand they stricken the dog law so tight in CA, that leaving dogs in the car for 5 minutes might cost you a ticket and glass replacement.
Coming to 229.5 spec, I don't know about that, but when we drop "voltmeter" after we distillate the stuff, it was showing 70%

[ohlord]

is getting so restrictive,pretty soon you'll have to hang the poop bag off the dogs tail all the while making sure it's tied up to a leash,in the back of a pick up truck!Knowing Wa. state we will be next.Yikes!

[gregs210]

When will they ever learn?

You are sooooo cute when you're naive.