Oil Change -- Mobil 1? Motul?

[peabers]

I was at the shop the other day having my wife's car checked out. Chatted with the tech about wanting to change the oil on my W204. I asked if they have Mobil 1 and he said that MB uses the European formula (which is full synthetic) that they import specifically for their shops. So I can't just buy Mobil 1 from the shop and change my own oil (North American Mobil 1 is a synthetic blend that they then put in additives to meet the MB 229.5 spec). So, if I wanted to go with Mobil 1, I need to go to the MB dealership and buy the oil there. True or not? His recommendation is to go with Motul 8100 X-Max 5W30, which is a full synthetic and meets the MB 229.5 specs. Spec here. Thoughts?

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[schvamf]

I bought the Euro blend Mobil-1 at my local Pep Boys, I think it was $5.99/qt. It says it on the front of the bottles.

[whiteongrey]

I just bought Mobil 1 Euro Formula 0W40 at Canadian Tire.

[jo17jC230]

They sell Mobil 1 Euro blend everywhere

[Carsy]

I buy my Mobil Oil from the industrial depot in 20 litre drums ( 3 changes in a diesel) at trade price .

[peabers]

The tech was implying Motul is a better oil than Mobil 1 and meets the spec for MB 229.5.

Anyone have experience using Motul in their cars? (W204 or otherwise?)

[whiteongrey]

Since Mobil 1 Euro Formula is good enough for AMG it's simply a matter of brand preference.

Even if you were hammering that car at 240Kph daily on the autobahn Mobil 1 Euro Formula would be good enough.

[JoeVal]

There is a difference between SAE and European spec allowances as to what is considered a synthetic base oil arising from a law suit to Castrol Oil, for using a mineral oil base to manufacture "synthetic" oil. So, since then in the US the use of mineral base oil to manufacture a synthetic oil is permitted, while in Europe to bear a label of "100% Synthetic Oil" it ought to be made from a 100% lab made base oil.

Thus, only 100% Synthetic Motor Oils meet MB specification 229.5 as long as both statements appear on the label. All other claims should be disregarded.

As for the brands, though I prefer to follow what's used at the factory, your inquiry covers two very good and recognizable brands and, unless you need the 0W40 because of the viscosity due to the cold climate where you live, use whichever you like best: Mobil 1 0W40 or Motul (Made in France or the UK) 5W30. If it is a new car I'd go for the 5W30 so the engine works with a thinner oil at operating temperature, changing to a more viscous one (0W40) when the 30 becomes too thin for the cylinder-to-oil-ring clearance and the engine uses over 1 qt./750 miles. But if the engine is already using 40 for a while (say over 30,000 miles) I'd stick with this viscosity if the car runs at constant operating temperature without using oil significantly.

Cheers, JV

[Glyn M Ruck]

Hmm! - some bollocks there. Just use Mobil 1 Euro formulation 0W-40. Readily available in the US. Don't let anyone sell you oil meeting 229.51 - That's for diesel with Cat & particulate filters - max ash 0.8%- Don't listen to nonesense about viscometrics. It's all about HTHS (High Temperature High Shear)

[kevink2]

Originally Posted by Glyn M Ruck

Hmm! - some bollocks there. Just use Mobil 1 Euro formulation 0W-40. Readily available in the US. Don't let anyone sell you oil meeting 229.51 - That's for diesel with Cat & particulate filters - max ash 0.8%- Don't listen to nonesense about viscometrics. It's all about HTHS (High Temperature High Shear)

I'm considering xw30 oils, and found this dusty thread thread above.

Glyn, I think you looked at the wrong Motul 5w30, op's 2nd link is for an oil approved per MB 229.5, with adequate ACEA A3 HTHS.

Given the low typical temps in Toronto, and possibly a less testosterone driven driving style of the op's wife, an approved 5W30 would be a better choice, imho, as it would have lower viscosity during warm-up. These engines have 8-8.5 gallons of oil to warm up, vs the typical 5.5-6 for most V6's.

http://weather.msn.com/monthly_avera...ns=wc:CAXX0504 For those that experience cool/cold weather, and are "normal drivers", I think approved xw30's are a good option.

Note that about 1/2 of the oil brands in the MB long list that meet the 229.5 spec are 0w30 or 5w30, and the rest are 0w40 or 5w40.

For brutally cold winters like northern Minnesota, Castrol Euro 0w30 looks good.

http://www.cityrating.com/citytemper...lis+-+St.+Paul

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[whiteongrey]

Originally Posted by Glyn M Ruck

Hmm! - some bollocks there. Just use Mobil 1 Euro formulation 0W-40. Readily available in the US. Don't let anyone sell you oil meeting 229.51 - That's for diesel with Cat & particulate filters - max ash 0.8%- Don't listen to nonesense about viscometrics. It's all about HTHS (High Temperature High Shear)

+1

....and 0W-40 does have the widest operating range plus "Euro Formula" is available at Canadian Tire at good price.

[RLE]

Originally Posted by whiteongrey

+1

....and 0W-40 does have the widest operating range plus "Euro Formula" is available at Canadian Tire at good price.

And here in my area, a local firm sells M1 (not Walmart) on sale from time to time. I recently paid $5.60 US per quart for 0W40 Euro Formula (229.5) and picked up twenty quarts.