A friend of mine was posted overseas for about 6 months. Upon his return, he found that his wife had been bringing his E320 to the local Jiffy Lube type place for 3K oil changes with Pennzoil 5-30 (NOT SYNTHETIC!). Totally not spec!!
She did about 8K miles during his absence and 2 jiffy lube oil changes. Do you think there is any permanent damage to his engine.
I would assume that Mobil 1 0W-40 would be needed for the FSS 10K oil change interval. But Pennzoil 5-30 should do no real harm given the 3k intervals.
If it at least SJ - API certified then no problem, it should be OK for even 5000 mile interval. The 229.3-5 spec are for both FSS and gas saving of 1%.
Oil is oil, to me if it meet the current standard, any should be fine for shorter oil change interval.
Our ML320 (same engine) was running on dino oil with 13k intervals for about 40,000 miles before MBUSA changed the requirements to synthetics.
The truck is perfect 10 years later.
I would assume that Mobil 1 0W-40 would be needed for the FSS 10K oil change interval. But Pennzoil 5-30 should do no real harm given the 3k intervals.
Exactly. He's got nothing to worry about here. He's actually lucky to have a wife that will remember to get the oil changed at all. Mine wouldn't have.
Vehicle: 2001 E320 - Brilliant Silver/Ash: MBCA member
Location: The Mountain State
Posts: 6,381
Quote:
Originally Posted by yumling
...I would assume that Mobil 1 0W-40 would be needed for the FSS 10K oil change interval. But Pennzoil 5-30 should do no real harm given the 3k intervals.
Agreed, not the perfect scenario but I think he should be fine.
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Exactly. He's got nothing to worry about here. He's actually lucky to have a wife that will remember to get the oil changed at all. Mine wouldn't have.
Jiffy Lube? How many air filters and transmission services did they convince her she needed?
That said I agree that in that little mileage with those change intervals you should be fine, unless she did a couple of track days in there you didn't know about.
Take care and enjoy the ride,
Greg
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Location: No. Calif., San Francisco Bay Area, Orinda
Posts: 80
20w50 is what my independent recommended
when I took my car in for the "B" service. I got my '01 E430 last June with 104K and two weeks later the "B service needed" message came on so I asked my neighbor who has owned several Mercedes who to take it to. He recommended an independent shop in Walnut Creek so I took it there and they charged me $352 for the service. Not bad, I guess.
What worries me now is that the owner says he recommends 20W50 oil for these cars. I asked him if that was synthetic and he says no but he would put in synthetic for a few $$ extra. I forgot what brand he said he used but it wasn't Mobile 1 and he didn't put it on the receipt. This was just under 2000 miles ago.
Should I be worried? Should I take the car to the dealer and get the oil changed with Moblie 1?
when I took my car in for the "B" service. I got my '01 E430 last June with 104K and two weeks later the "B service needed" message came on so I asked my neighbor who has owned several Mercedes who to take it to. He recommended an independent shop in Walnut Creek so I took it there and they charged me $352 for the service. Not bad, I guess.
What worries me now is that the owner says he recommends 20W50 oil for these cars. I asked him if that was synthetic and he says no but he would put in synthetic for a few $$ extra. I forgot what brand he said he used but it wasn't Mobile 1 and he didn't put it on the receipt. This was just under 2000 miles ago.
Should I be worried? Should I take the car to the dealer and get the oil changed with Moblie 1?
Thanks,
Fred
Hi, Fred and congrats on the car.
I would say the first order of business is to locate a new indie if you are not a DIY type.
The oil he recommended is not MB spec, period. If he can't be trusted with something that basic...
I would simply wait until you are about 3,000 to 4,000 miles into the oil change and then have it changed to MB spec oil and the fleece filter...or of course DIY.
What worries me now is that the owner says he recommends 20W50 oil for these cars. I asked him if that was synthetic and he says no but he would put in synthetic for a few $$ extra. I forgot what brand he said he used but it wasn't Mobile 1 and he didn't put it on the receipt. This was just under 2000 miles ago.
I agree with Greg that you should probably find yourself a new indy. 20w50 is way too "thick" for the newer M112/M113 engines. You will be sacrificing cold start lubrication for sure, and there would also be a fuel economy penalty to pay. The mechanic you used is probably an old school MB guy and hasn't made the shift to how MB wants the car to be maintained today.
Use the proper spec synthetic oil - one that meets the MB 229.3 specification - and change it according to the FSS. Your car will be properly protected. As a nice bonus you're actually ahead of the game on $ because the less frequent oil changes overcome the additional cost of the synthetic *and* you're creating less waste oil which is better for the environment.
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