10w-30 Mobil One Synthetic.

[Ubergeist]

I did a search, and really found nothing I was looking for. My check oil level light was on, and it was a tad low. I did not want to mix different oils as I could not be certain what oil was in there. So I decided to get an oil change done. Noone had 0w-40 in stock, So I popped open the manual and there is a chart saying as long as it doesn't go below -20 degree by my next oil change I can use 10W-30. So I bought two cases of 10w-30. Finding a filter was a pita. Didn't want to use the generic. So I ended up going to the dealer. Got the filter and asked if they had 0w-40 .Don't have individual cases/quarts. It's in drums. They said make sure you use 0w-40 the parts people said. I said the factory approved service products manual states that it is okay for 10w-30. They replied i'd check with serivice. I have never heard of that. So I did, the service writer was with a technician, and he said 0w-40 or 10w-30 is fine. However, I changed it yesterday with 10w-30 and I'm paranoid maybe he was just blowing me off. Any input would be much appreciated.

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[MARTYMAR]

Originally Posted by Ubergeist

I did a search, and really found nothing I was looking for.

My check oil level light was on, and it was a tad low.

I did not want to mix different oils as I could not be certain what oil was in there. So I decided to get an oil change done.

Noone had 0w-40 in stock,
So I popped open the manual and there is a chart saying as long as it doesn't go below -20 degree by my next oil change I can use 10W-30.

So I bought two cases of 10w-30.

Finding a filter was a pita. Didn't want to use the generic. So I ended up going to the dealer. Got the filter and asked if they had 0w-40 .Don't have individual cases/quarts. It's in drums.

They said make sure you use 0w-40 the parts people said. I said the factory approved service products manual states that it is okay for 10w-30. They replied i'd check with serivice. I have never heard of that.

So I did, the service writer was with a technician, and he said 0w-40 or 10w-30 is fine.

However, I changed it yesterday with 10w-30 and I'm paranoid maybe he was just blowing me off.

Any input would be much appreciated.

I would never use any oil other than the recommended 0w 40 or 5w 40. AMG engines are very strong but 'sensitive' (for the lack of a better word). Using the 10w 30 just this once might not be so bad but I would strongly recommend that you find some 0w 40 and keep it stored away for times like this...the last thing you need is for your engine to start knocking etc...could cost a nice chunk of change to get it fixed. Just my 2 cents. Good luck and drive on

[Jons95c36amg]

Originally Posted by MARTYMAR

I would never use any oil other than the recommended 0w 40 or 5w 40. AMG engines are very strong but 'sensitive' (for the lack of a better word). Using the 10w 30 just this once might not be so bad but I would strongly recommend that you find some 0w 40 and keep it stored away for times like this...the last thing you need is for your engine to start knocking etc...could cost a nice chunk of change to get it fixed. Just my 2 cents. Good luck and drive on

Ive been using 10-30w Castrol Synthetic for the last 10k miles. Changed it every 5k. Never had a knock and car runs fine.

[Ubergeist]

I went and just swapped it out with 0-40w Mobil One. Should have just hunte d for the oil to begin with.

Only place that had it was autozone. Had only 9 quarts of it.

[fourml8r]

10W-30 is perfectly fine. both that oil and the "Recommended" 0W-40 will meet the same classifications. The difference is the "Weight" of the oil which in laymans term is its' abaility to flow in colder weather (Hence the -20 statement). Caveat is that you are using the recommended full synthetic.

As far as filters, you're wasting money by getting it at the dealer. You can find them online easily for much lower prices than the dealer. Check for Mann or Mahle filters, they are OEM suppliers to MB. Use the better "Fleece" filters rather than the cheaper paper filters.

For future info., mixing grades of oil is not a problem, you'll just end up with something inbetween the 2 weights of oil. And if you're only adding 1 qt. of a different weight to 7 qts. in the car already, the actual difference is low (Figure ~10% change). That will not impact you're car at all.

[Ubergeist]

Originally Posted by fourml8r

10W-30 is perfectly fine. both that oil and the "Recommended" 0W-40 will meet the same classifications. The difference is the "Weight" of the oil which in laymans term is its' abaility to flow in colder weather (Hence the -20 statement). Caveat is that you are using the recommended full synthetic.

As far as filters, you're wasting money by getting it at the dealer. You can find them online easily for much lower prices than the dealer. Check for Mann or Mahle filters, they are OEM suppliers to MB. Use the better "Fleece" filters rather than the cheaper paper filters.

For future info., mixing grades of oil is not a problem, you'll just end up with something inbetween the 2 weights of oil. And if you're only adding 1 qt. of a different weight to 7 qts. in the car already, the actual difference is low (Figure ~10% change). That will not impact you're car at all.

I only paid15.00 for the MB filter. FIgured this wasn't that bad.

Thanks for the advice though. Didn't want to chance it. So I blew 50 bucks in oil. At least I have peace of mind now. lol.

[Musikmann]

Does the 10W30 you bought have the MB spec 229.5 on the label? If not I would be hesitant to use it and I think you're wise to have gone to the certainly recommended 0W40. I think some other manufacturers (Castrol comes to mind) offer some different weights that have MB approval. On the other hand, one school of thought is practically any oil is OK to use as long as it's changed at the "proper" intervals and the filter is changed.

[JYO]

I've been buying the 10w30 from Costco (for my E320) for awhile now and no problems. i think it works out to about $6/qt I think. My locla MB mechanic said it's fine.

[MarcusF]

There’s a long winded technical answer, but I’ll try to be brief. Lubrication is dependant on flow. Viscosity, as it's measured in motor oil, is a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow, or it's "thickness". That "thickness" is quantified in centiStokes (cSt - Stokes Law for Friction). Motor oil thickness is temperature dependant. The normal operating temperature for motor oil is 100°C. Using the Mobil1 product data sheets available at the Exxon Mobil website, you can see the specs for Mobil1 0W-40. At 100°C, Mobil1 0W-40 is 14 cSt. I’m going to *guess* MB powertrain engineers built tolerances around that number. If the motor oil in every M113 was always in that range, there would be no wear, and they would outlive most of us. Unfortunately, when the engine is off, oil cools. At 40°C, Mobil1 0W-40 is 78.3 cSt. That’s a little thick for good lubrication, which is why people are told to stay off the gas with a cold engine. I wouldn’t use a motor oil that doesn’t meet MB spec because *I think* there’s a good chance that it’s either too thick when cold, or too thin when hot. Mobil1 5W-40 is an example of what I’m talking about. Mobil1 5W-40 is over 100 cSt at 40°C.

But hey, owners should use whatever they feel most comfortable with.

[Ubergeist]

Originally Posted by MarcusF

There’s a long winded technical answer, but I’ll try to be brief. Lubrication is dependant on flow. Viscosity, as it's measured in motor oil, is a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow, or it's "thickness". That "thickness" is quantified in centiStokes (cSt - Stokes Law for Friction). Motor oil thickness is temperature dependant. The normal operating temperature for motor oil is 100°C. Using the Mobil1 product data sheets available at the Exxon Mobil website, you can see the specs for Mobil1 0W-40. At 100°C, Mobil1 0W-40 is 14 cSt. I’m going to *guess* MB powertrain engineers built tolerances around that number. If the motor oil in every M113 was always in that range, there would be no wear, and they would outlive most of us. Unfortunately, when the engine is off, oil cools. At 40°C, Mobil1 0W-40 is 78.3 cSt. That’s a little thick for good lubrication, which is why people are told to stay off the gas with a cold engine. I wouldn’t use a motor oil that doesn’t meet MB spec because *I think* there’s a good chance that it’s either too thick when cold, or too thin when hot. Mobil1 5W-40 is an example of what I’m talking about. Mobil1 5W-40 is over 100 cSt at 40°C.

But hey, owners should use whatever they feel most comfortable with.

So you say use 5w-40 over 0-40?

Man I hate being a newbie. I spent too much time in the american V8 scene.

[MarcusF]

No, I use 0W-40. For an M113, I want the oil as close to 14 cSt as I can get it (and here's they key) - at all times. I know when cold, the oil will be quite a bit thicker than 14 cSt, but 78 cSt at 40°C (which is what 0W-40 is), is much better than 100+ cSt (which is what 5W-40 is) at the same temperature.

[MJ50]

use 0w-40

[iblaho]

Originally Posted by Ubergeist

I did a search, and really found nothing I was looking for.

My check oil level light was on, and it was a tad low.

I did not want to mix different oils as I could not be certain what oil was in there. So I decided to get an oil change done.

Noone had 0w-40 in stock,
So I popped open the manual and there is a chart saying as long as it doesn't go below -20 degree by my next oil change I can use 10W-30.

So I bought two cases of 10w-30.

Finding a filter was a pita. Didn't want to use the generic. So I ended up going to the dealer. Got the filter and asked if they had 0w-40 .Don't have individual cases/quarts. It's in drums.

They said make sure you use 0w-40 the parts people said. I said the factory approved service products manual states that it is okay for 10w-30. They replied i'd check with serivice. I have never heard of that.

So I did, the service writer was with a technician, and he said 0w-40 or 10w-30 is fine.

However, I changed it yesterday with 10w-30 and I'm paranoid maybe he was just blowing me off.

Any input would be much appreciated.

-----------------------

My dealership uses 5w40.
The work order says they put in a Bosch original paper filter for a 2006 model - I have a 2007. I'll bring it up next time, since I'm supposed to have a wooly filter.

Factoid: I looked online for an OE fleece filter, found it at Autozone, and it was paper. New and improved paper???

A private mechanic told me he'll get me a real fleece filter if I give advance notice.

Experience: I went to the Oil Changers in an expensive neighborhood and asked for Mobile 1 0w40. I caught the tech putting in 10w30. He said it was all the same. Maybe it is fine, but I didn't like being lied to. Won't go back.

Kragen and Walmart AND Autozone carry Mobile 1 0w40. Availability is the thing. Usually $6.99. The dealership charges $6.40/qt.

[M-bENZ]

0w-40 for me too.

Andy

[lkfoster]

Two out of the three dealers in Phoenix use 5w-40 normally. On my first service I went along with it but had noticeable valve noise for the first half mile or so when temps dropped below 60 deg F.

The second time around I insisted on 0w-40, but with lows in the high 80s I can't tell if it made any difference.

[Eurosport]

mobil 1 10w-30 is too thin for german cars...it is good for my generator though lol

[SoCalCLK]

Originally Posted by lkfoster

Two out of the three dealers in Phoenix use 5w-40 normally. On my first service I went along with it but had noticeable valve noise for the first half mile or so when temps dropped below 60 deg F.

The second time around I insisted on 0w-40, but with lows in the high 80s I can't tell if it made any difference.

Same here in Southern California. Around here 5w-40 Mobil 1 is what I have seen them use.

[iikillali]

i got tons of 0-40w selling~ if you in North Cal and wanna get some pm me~ i'm selling $45 a case 6qt per case