free engine oil any good for w124 300td?

[94.300td]

I have a 94 300td, straight six non turbo multi-valve, the warehouse where I work have a fleet of brand new mercedes lorries and I can help myself to the engine oil which they use to service them, apparantly it is very expensive and it would be great if I could use it in my car... I don't know the exact spec of it though so what do you reckon, should I or shouldn't I ?

 

[Parrot of Doom]

If you don't know the spec of the oil, then I'd recommend leaving it alone tbh.

 

[landcruiser]

i would go for it as they would not use rubbish oil in new trucks.Just think of the price of the truck engine compared to your car engine.

 

[Bolide]

Free oil?

I think you need to know the viscosity of the oil for the trucks. Should be easy enough to find out - it'll be written on the side of each 50 gallon drum, or ask the delivery driver. Assuming it meets the spec for your car, use it

If the car is a multivalve it should be an E300 Diesel, not a 300TD. It's also probably the best W124 ever made


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[94.300td]

Thankyou forum

Thanks guys and bolide, it is a E300 diesel, I thought the TD meant it was a Diesel Estate, it's the best diesel I have ever owned, it took me months to find one, it goes like a train and is so quiet that some people don't even know it's a diesel, it sounds more like a petrol V6, I think everyone should have one.

Oh, I got the spec on the oil, fully synthetic 15-40.

 

[dogsbody]

free engine oil any good for w124 300TD

I would be very wary using fully synthetic on what is basically an "old" and therefore somewhat worn engine.
That said I have run my W124 250D on synthetic from new.
The problems is that the fully synthetic oils are "thinner" when hot and find their way past oil control rings and valve stem oil seals, which older semi synthetic and mineral oils dont.
If you do try, note any changes in the colour of exhaust emissions, and also keep an eye on oil levels, because if the engine does not like the viscosity, it will disappear very quickly.
I have no experience of the use on old Mercs, but I have on old Fords - in a word - disaster!

 

[Lacy]

With a viscosity of 15/40, this oil should be perfect for what you want. I understand it would be a problem if dropping down to a viscosity of 5 or 10 as many of the modern synthetics do but this stuff should be the same thickness as what you would be using in a mineral oil anyway

 

[Bolide]

Servicing

Two tips with those cars: change the fuel prefilter as well as the fuel filter at services and change the gearbox oil & filter every year or so. Gearbox oil tends to get left in too long and changing it does make a difference to shift quality and longevity of the box


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[eyelight]

If the car is a multivalve it should be an E300 Diesel, not a 300TD. It's also probably the best W124 ever made

A bit off topic here, but.... Given that the W210 is not up to the standards of the W124, but W124 diesel estates are hard to find, is an early W210 diesel estate a safe bet ?

 

[Bolide]

Topic hijack...

A bit off topic here, but.... Given that the W210 is not up to the standards of the W124, but W124 diesel estates are hard to find, is an early W210 diesel estate a safe bet ?

On that basis (safe), no

Buying a W210 might be one way of finding a diesel estate but the W210s I've looked at all look tired in comparison to the W124. I think late W124 values will harden as early W210s fall - but then I would say that, wouldn't I?

Good multivalve diesel W124 estates are out there. But I will admit that high-spec cars with aircon & leather are very thin on the ground. If your requirement is for a high-spec car then I'd say consider a W210, preferably a post-facelift model. If not I'd stick with a W124


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk