engine oil advice

[R W]

What engine oil is recommended for the 2.9td or 300td. Are these engines happy to run on a 15/40 good quality mineral oil or do they require a synthetic oil. If the 15/40 is OK to use, what mileage would you recommend oil changes to be done at. What do other members use in these engines or what does MB recommend.
Regards
R W

 

[Parrot of Doom]

What year engine?

 

[R W]

Parrot.
Its a 1997 2.9td dont know the MB model No for this engine.

 

[FIBAMAN]

I have been running my 98 E300 TD on Havoline 5 - 40 fully synthetic for the last 12 months. Changing every 10,000 miles regardless of service indicator (usually says I have another 3000 or so to go). Currently buying oil from cash & carry for £12.50 / 5 ltrs. Absolutely no probs. You should read the spec approvals on the oil container before you choose.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

My oil change is about due, Mobil 1 is going in it.

 

[R W]

I am not really explaining very well what my question is.
I have this car in a former USSR country near the border of China. I have large quantities of good quality (as its imported direct to us from USA)Mobil15/40, for our industrial engines.
The Chinese import cheap copies of everything to here, mob phones, watches, anything you can think of they copy it.. The item will work for 3months & that’s the end of them, but they are hard to distinguish from the genuine product. For them to sell a cheap oil in a good original looking container would be very easy. I could go & buy what I think is a good quality fully synthetic oil & it may be absolute rubbish. I wouldn’t know the difference till I had engine failure. If the 15/40mineral oil is suitable for my engine I would use it even if it meant more frequent oil changes. But if mineral oil isn’t suitable I will try, maybe, to find a genuine synthetic or semi synthetic oil. Alternatively I don’t want to be carrying bottles of Mobil 1 back here in my luggage if 15/40 is OK to use. Maybe some of you guys with Sprinters could advise as this2.9td is the same engine I think.
Thanks for your replies so far.
R W

 

[Parrot of Doom]

I wouldn't use 15/40. Too thick when cold.

Order some Mobil 1 from somewhere like opieoil. Its well worth it, your engine will last much longer.

 

[R W]

I wouldn't use 15/40. Too thick when cold.

Order some Mobil 1 from somewhere like opieoil. Its well worth it, your engine will last much longer.

Thanks for the advice Parrot. I will try to find some genuine oil, as you say the 15/40 maybe to thick in cold winters like we have here.