Mobil 1 - 10,000 miles?

Jkw · Apr 7, 2004

This question regards Oil & Lubricants and Engine Maintenance so I hope you excuses me for talking about a car.
I just purchased my first Mercedes, a C230 sedan, I plan on putting 20K miles a year on this car & keeping it for 8 years.

Mercedes-Benz has a Flexible Service System that tell you when to do have your vehicle serviced based on use and abuse, the first oil change is schedule from 10,000 to 12,000 miles depending on Driving. Even using Mobil 1 SuperSyn this seem like a long time between oil changes especially for a hot running 4 cylinder Kompressor engine.
I was planning on changing the oil after the first 3000 miles (Old School) just to be safe.
But was told by a Mercedes-Benz enthusiast that there is a (Special Break-in oil) that should be left in the vehicle for at least 5,000 miles.
First Question; I’ve never heard of a (Special Break-in oil) is that for real?
Second Question; Any Oil (Mobil 1, Break-in) gets dirty and worn out over time, can they really last 5 to 10,000miles?
Thanks Jkw

Junkman · Apr 7, 2004

( First Question; I’ve never heard of a (Special Break-in oil) is that for real?)

Yes.....

(
Second Question; Any Oil (Mobil 1, Break-in) gets dirty and worn out over time, can they really last 5 to 10,000miles?
thanks Jkw )

Yes.....

Times change, oils change, engine designs change, peoples attitudes and thinking usually don't! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I, like you, am from the old school of thought, but with some prodding, I came around to the new technology of doing things.

gsxr1100 · Apr 7, 2004

#1. My wifes ML-430 had the break in oil and I removed it when getting home (00018 miles). Been using another Synthic oil for over 50K miles.

The "special break in oil" is just thinner and makes rings seat. there really is nothing "special" about it.

I would rather put syntheic oil in from day one then deal with ring wear.

#2. I have gone over 12,000 miles on (1) drain in my old Powerstroke diesel, my toys and my wifes SUV. My toys and her car are once per year, along with the Bx22, my GSXR1100. The gsxr get the hottest and the oil is perfect.

ShaleniFarm · Apr 7, 2004

JKW:

Search here for all you want to know about FSS.

I believe the FSS in your car will test/check the oil for a number of factors. Why change the oil if it doesn't need it?

Have fun with your car,
Neil.
84 300D 328K miles retired
84 300SD 182K miles sold
94 S350D 122K miles
99 E300D 138K miles
83 500SEC ??? miles
79 U406 ??? miles

Charlie_in_TX · Apr 7, 2004

I remember when M1 first came out. The add showed them filling NYC cabs and welding the drainplug. 100,000 miles later the would disasmble the motor and measure the wear. As I recall a large number of the motor where still within OEM specs.

Oils have come a long way. So have the motors. Fuel contamination was a real problem with carbed motors. It is now almost a thing of the past with EFI. I knew DC recomended over 10kmls on the new motors/oils. GM recomends the same in the vetts. They recomend 15kmls in their 4.2l straight 6 in the envoy/trailblazer.

My truck is a 'o3 GMC 2500HD with the 6.0l v8. It has an engine monitoring system (doesn't actually measure like yours). This system, when reset, stores a certian number of engine revolutions (I think the number is 1,500,000). Under ideal conditions it subtracts 1 per rev from the stored number. Under less then ideal conditions (like cold start, heavy load, ect) more than 1 per rev is subtracted. I am currently near 4000 miles on my current oil change. The oil life monitor shows 36% life left.

That is all without synthetic oil. The owners manual only requires dino oil for the oil life monitor to be accurate. Synthetic throws in a safty margin.

JJT · Apr 7, 2004

I've switched to synthetic in all my engines and have extended the oil changes to 5000, following the severe service schedule. I keep the cost down by doing the work myself and buying the oil and filters on sale.

If you are really **** about this you could run it to 3000 and send out a sample for analysis. I'd say you are wasting your time and $ if you are changing your oil every 3000 miles when the mfg says go with an extended oil change. But I would be very reluctant to go with a 10000 mile oil change. Sure you may get away with it, but if you are keeping the car for a very long time, 5000 mile changes seem like cheap insurance.

Junkman · Apr 7, 2004

ShaleniFarm - Neil......

I would like to thank you for posting the link to that site. I want you to know that you single handedly ruined my day! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif After doing some reading, joining, making one post, I now realize that I am staring at spending $2500 - $3000 to repair my car. What I initially thought was a simple oil leak turns out to be an expensive head gasket repair and what I thought might be a simple repair such as a bad oxygen sensor replacement turns out that I need a replacement engine wiring harness. Both are indicative of the year and model of Benz that I own. I knew that I hated gas cars for a reason, I just wasn't certain what the reason was! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Guess that I will just sell the Kubota to fix the car and get a push mower with the change that is left over after the repairs. Once again, thanks for the link. Do you have one for Ford Explorers? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ROFLMAO /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif When it is repaired, I probably won't be able to afford Sapphire Motor Oil for it. Now how many of you even remember Sapphire Motor Oil?...

AMP762 · Apr 7, 2004

All oil and filters are cheap compared to engine parts, if I planned to keep it past the warr. I'd change it sooner.

$.02

ShaleniFarm · Apr 8, 2004

Junkman,
Sorry to ruin your evening. I don't think I've ever single-handly done anything! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

However, knowledge is power. Certainly you could (should?) get a second or third opinion. What model do you have? The new CDI's are coming......

Maybe you could scrape up a few things for eBay /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Sorry, I don't remember Sapphire Oil.

Good luck with your car,
Neil.

JimR · Apr 8, 2004

Just a little info on oil changes. Manufacturer specs on cars for quite a few years now has been 7500 miles. Changing it sooner under normal conditions is a complete waste of time and money. Here is a list of recent cars and trucks that we have owned nd the mileage when sold.
79 Ford F350 170K- sold
1988 S-10 4.3 137K Plowed with and towed a 4500 lb boat.- sold
1995 S-10 Plowed and towed a 4500 lb boat.- sold
1986 Honda Accord ix 175K- sold
1995 Honda Accord SE 121K- totalled
2000 S-10 plowed and tows 101k and still going strong
1999 Acura 3.2TL 84K and running strong.
None of the above vehicles ever had any motor work except for the 1995 S-10. I had to replace the bearings in it. The wife kept running it till it stalled after an oil line break for the remote oil filter. I change my oil and filter at 6.5-7.5K with whatever oil is on sale. I always run 10-40.