5W40 or 0W40 MOBIL 1

[StephenK]

5W40 or 0W40 MOBIL 1 I asked my dealer rep today about what oil to put in my 01 S500 and he said: 5W40 or 0W40 MOBIL 1 How do I decide which one, what is the difference? Any help is appreciated...

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[Untertürkheim]

http://www.mbworld.org/forums/3203930-post21.html

[DrJfrmLA]

The recommended oil for my '04 W220 is Mobil 1 0W40. You don't say what year or model you own, but I assume it's the same for all W220s. My indie recommended 5W30, but the owner's manual says 0W40 so that's what I use. Everybody thinks they are a petroleum engineer when oil weights are discussed. If the manufacturer was indifferent, I suppose there would be a range of viscosities recommended. Since there aren't, I'll use what the engineers in Stuttgart say. Synthetic oils have different lubricating properties than petroleum lubricants, so I'm not sure the viscosity numbers are precisely equivalent anyway.

[whoover]

0W40 was the only recommended weight until 2007, when a special 5W40 low-ash oil became mandatory for the Bluetec diesels with urea injection. In order to simplify stocking, MB updated the sheet to allow the 5W40 low-ash for gasoline engines as well. For a short while, dealers were using this in all engines. But some problems arose, and almost all dealers now stock both oils, using the 0W40 in gasoline engines and 5W40 low-ash in diesels.

I would stick with the 0W40 for all gasoline engines.

[StephenK]

Thanks for the feedback.

Originally Posted by whoover

0W40 was the only recommended weight until 2007, when a special 5W40 low-ash oil became mandatory for the Bluetec diesels with urea injection. In order to simplify stocking, MB updated the sheet to allow the 5W40 low-ash for gasoline engines as well. For a short while, dealers were using this in all engines. But some problems arose, and almost all dealers now stock both oils, using the 0W40 in gasoline engines and 5W40 low-ash in diesels.

I would stick with the 0W40 for all gasoline engines.

[StephenK]

I plan on looking up in my 01 S500 manual, but does anyone know how much oil is used in an oil change, I called my local dealer today which I never ever had good luck with, I normally drive 150 plus miles to Jacksonville where their service quantity is way above my local dealership, the local dealership told me an oil change would be around $150, I am not shy about paying for service, but have always left their with more issues than I came there with. One time I contacted MBUSA corporate, Paul Halata was president, he sent me a wire and said a regional rep would contact me, which he did and noticed the problem, first time I ever saw the local dealership service manager in a shirt and tie (well clip on tie ), the rep and a factory rep were on their way to a restaurant I set up for them and were in an accident smashed from behind on an interstate. the next day the rep called me I met them at the dealership and saw the car and was amazed, it was an e class, the factory rep had a bruised hand, but was so proud of the supplemental restraint systems, ever since then I could see first hand what we all pay for.

Getting back to my ?, how much oil is in my 01 S500???

[my06clk]

Originally Posted by StephenK

I plan on looking up in my 01 S500 manual, but does anyone know how much oil is used in an oil change, I called my local dealer today which I never ever had good luck with, I normally drive 150 plus miles to Jacksonville where their service quantity is way above my local dealership, the local dealership told me an oil change would be around $150, I am not shy about paying for service, but have always left their with more issues than I came there with. One time I contacted MBUSA corporate, Paul Halata was president, he sent me a wire and said a regional rep would contact me, which he did and noticed the problem, first time I ever saw the local dealership service manager in a shirt and tie (well clip on tie ), the rep and a factory rep were on their way to a restaurant I set up for them and were in an accident smashed from behind on an interstate. the next day the rep called me I met them at the dealership and saw the car and was amazed, it was an e class, the factory rep had a bruised hand, but was so proud of the supplemental restraint systems, ever since then I could see first hand what we all pay for.

Getting back to my ?, how much oil is in my 01 S500???

Should be 9.5 quarts

[ssonss1]

just looked at my latest service B from the dealer...it says they used 5w30

[newton22]

I haven't ran anything other than 0W-40 for the life of the car.

[M-bENZ]

dont know what u guys use but I just fill up another quart (0W-40) for my W209

[Oliverk]

I believe its 8.5 quarts.

I run German Castrol Syntec 0w-30. To me, it provides quieter running, a touch better gas mileage, and it has proven to provide excellent wear numbers on used oil analyses. It is approved for both MB 229.3 and 229.5

[Timeless]

Dunno about the SL600, but the E55 recommends 0w40 Mobile 1...and I have never seend 5w40 Mobile 1 anywhere...is not even on their site.

Since I live in a southern climate and personally like AMSoil better, I use the 5w40 European Formula AMSoil.

[my06clk]

Originally Posted by Oliverk

I believe its 8.5 quarts.

I run German Castrol Syntec 0w-30. To me, it provides quieter running, a touch better gas mileage, and it has proven to provide excellent wear numbers on used oil analyses. It is approved for both MB 229.3 and 229.5

I believe you are correct I mistyped... I always hated that extra .5 quart because I always have to buy 2 gallons and 1 quart.. the other benzs were the same.

Regarding the Castrol, I always used their brand when I don;t get the Mobile. I actually like it better for the same reason you stated. I do however use the 5w-30 as the other isn;t so easy to get. Plus I have noticed being from Cleveland that there is a behavior difference between cats and climates.
I noticed here in Tx where it's mad HOT most of the time dealers tend to stay with the 5w.. IF i were trying to tart my car today at home where is was -8 below this morning, I think I'd be a little more comfortable running 0w30 for those warm ups.
Either way the characteristics of Synthetic over "normal" oils leave it much more superior by comparison so I think wer're safe either way.

I do remember back in the day when I was going to A&P school I was taught that mixing synthetic oils has some very long term detriment.. but that was in the 80's when synthetic oil was fairly new to everyone at least in automotive and small aviation so I'm sure all of the developers have come a long way since then...

BUt I have Always liked Castrol products.. I liked them better before their oil got so dark.. it used to be much lighter in color when they first brought it to market.. I used to adore 20w50 for my cars when I was a youngster..

[Oliverk]

I generally don't care for Castrol GTX (good break in oil though).

That said, Castrol Syntec 5w-30 is not made in germany is not of the same caliber (its also not MB approved).

If you can't find Mobil 0w-40 or German Castrol Syntec 0w-30, I would look into Pennzoil Platinum or some other approved oils before I would go to another weight of Syntec (which hasn't ranked very well in oil tests).

[ssonss1]

is 5w30 the correct oil for my car?

[M-bENZ]

Originally Posted by ssonss1

is 5w30 the correct oil for my car?

http://www.whnet.com/4x4/oil.html

[whoover]

Originally Posted by ssonss1

is 5w30 the correct oil for my car?

Almost certainly not. What year and model?

[ssonss1]

Originally Posted by whoover

Almost certainly not. What year and model?

2001 S600. That is the oil Mercedes techs used for my last service B which was only 2 months ago.

[StephenK]

http://www.mobil1.com/USA-English/Mo....aspx?option=2

[my06clk]

Interesting POV's about 5w30 and what MB recommends...

I actually don't think there's a huge issue between these oils since thay are all Synthetic. That sheet is what the dealers must go by from the factory and can;t carry a lot of weight sine the use of certain iols are a revenue stream for them.

That said, all I would say is that with consistency of brand and regular oil changes, it's hard to go wrong with either. My first benz was a 1998 ML that I traded in 02 with 225K on the clock 180 of that belonged to me. I only let the dealer do my oil once, the rest of the time was DIY. I never had any issues with oil except overfilling ( duh ).. she ran great so I have been following the same trend with all of my other cars.. I'm due my 5th change on the S and have not had any issues either..

I will say again, there is a difference when your car has to endure months of 3 digit temps and cars that rarely see that...

I've seen somewhere an oil chart for these cars that was actually based on regions,, I think it was one of my manuals in the S or one of my older cars I'll have to check to see if it was this car.

[whoover]

As long as they used a 229.3, 229.5 or 229.51 oil you should be fine. The FSS, non-AMG engines take a pretty wide range of oils. As a post-FSS, AMG owner I forget that you guys have much more flexibility. In this area, where the dealer maintains a huge number of AMGs, they tend to simplify their oil stocking to Mobil1 0W-40.

2001 S600 can use any of these:
Mobil 1 SuperSyn European Car Formula 0W-40
Castrol Syntec European Formula 0W-30*
Pennzoil European Formula Ultra 5W-30*
Quaker State European Formula Ultra 5W-30*
ELF Excellium 229.5 5W-30*
Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5W-40

Mobil 1 SuperSyn European Car Formula 0W-40
Castrol Syntec 5W-40
ELF Excellium LDX 5W-40
ELF Excellium LDX 0W-30*
Quaker State Full Synthetic European Formula 5W-40
Pennzoil Synthetic European Formula 5W-40
76 Pure Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-40
Kendall GT-1 Full Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-40
Motul 8100 E-Tech 0W-40
Motul 8100 X-Cess 5W-40
Shell Helix Ultra 5W-30*
Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40
Valvoline SynPower MXL 0W-30*

The *s are oils that you can't use in AMG models.

The 2005 and later approved list is much shorter:
Mobil 1 SuperSyn European Car Formula 0W-40
Castrol Syntec European Formula 0W-30*
Pennzoil European Formula Ultra 5W-30*
Quaker State European Formula Ultra 5W-30*
ELF Excellium 229.5 5W-30*
Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5W-40 (mandatory for Bluetec with urea)
Valvoline SynPower MST 5W-30*

[my06clk]

Originally Posted by whoover

As long as they used a 229.3, 229.5 or 229.51 oil you should be fine. The FSS, non-AMG engines take a pretty wide range of oils. As a post-FSS, AMG owner I forget that you guys have much more flexibility. In this area, where the dealer maintains a huge number of AMGs, they tend to simplify their oil stocking to Mobil1 0W-40.

2001 S600 can use any of these:
Mobil 1 SuperSyn European Car Formula 0W-40
Castrol Syntec European Formula 0W-30*
Pennzoil European Formula Ultra 5W-30*
Quaker State European Formula Ultra 5W-30*
ELF Excellium 229.5 5W-30*
Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5W-40

Mobil 1 SuperSyn European Car Formula 0W-40
Castrol Syntec 5W-40
ELF Excellium LDX 5W-40
ELF Excellium LDX 0W-30*
Quaker State Full Synthetic European Formula 5W-40
Pennzoil Synthetic European Formula 5W-40
76 Pure Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-40
Kendall GT-1 Full Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-40
Motul 8100 E-Tech 0W-40
Motul 8100 X-Cess 5W-40
Shell Helix Ultra 5W-30*
Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40
Valvoline SynPower MXL 0W-30*

The *s are oils that you can't use in AMG models.

The 2005 and later approved list is much shorter:
Mobil 1 SuperSyn European Car Formula 0W-40
Castrol Syntec European Formula 0W-30*
Pennzoil European Formula Ultra 5W-30*
Quaker State European Formula Ultra 5W-30*
ELF Excellium 229.5 5W-30*
Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5W-40 (mandatory for Bluetec with urea)
Valvoline SynPower MST 5W-30*

++1

I found the little book in my car manuals that basically says the same thing as you wrote Here's the actual sheets from the book

[ssonss1]

thanks alot guys...so the 5w30 is fine....is there any benifit or reason to be running the 0w40 or something other than the 5w30?

[Untertürkheim]

Originally Posted by whoover

As long as they used a 229.3, 229.5 or 229.51 oil you should be fine. The FSS, non-AMG engines take a pretty wide range of oils. As a post-FSS, AMG owner I forget that you guys have much more flexibility. In this area, where the dealer maintains a huge number of AMGs, they tend to simplify their oil stocking to Mobil1 0W-40.

2001 S600 can use any of these:
Mobil 1 SuperSyn European Car Formula 0W-40
Castrol Syntec European Formula 0W-30*
Pennzoil European Formula Ultra 5W-30*
Quaker State European Formula Ultra 5W-30*
ELF Excellium 229.5 5W-30*
Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5W-40

Mobil 1 SuperSyn European Car Formula 0W-40
Castrol Syntec 5W-40
ELF Excellium LDX 5W-40
ELF Excellium LDX 0W-30*
Quaker State Full Synthetic European Formula 5W-40
Pennzoil Synthetic European Formula 5W-40
76 Pure Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-40
Kendall GT-1 Full Synthetic Motor Oil 5W-40
Motul 8100 E-Tech 0W-40
Motul 8100 X-Cess 5W-40
Shell Helix Ultra 5W-30*
Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40
Valvoline SynPower MXL 0W-30*

The *s are oils that you can't use in AMG models.

The 2005 and later approved list is much shorter:
Mobil 1 SuperSyn European Car Formula 0W-40
Castrol Syntec European Formula 0W-30*
Pennzoil European Formula Ultra 5W-30*
Quaker State European Formula Ultra 5W-30*
ELF Excellium 229.5 5W-30*
Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5W-40 (mandatory for Bluetec with urea)
Valvoline SynPower MST 5W-30*

Do not use 229.51 oils, they are for diesel models with DPF only. (only bluetec models in the US)

[my06clk]

Originally Posted by ssonss1

thanks alot guys...so the 5w30 is fine....is there any benifit or reason to be running the 0w40 or something other than the 5w30?

Looking at page 3 of the PDF, I'd say no.