Oil changes?

[Parrot of Doom]

Hi there

Whats the best engine oil for a 1997 W240 E300 diesel?

Whats the best gearbox oil (auto, 5 speed)?



And what is this, that I found rolling around near the battery +ve terminal?

Anyone know? Looks like some kind of rubber to interface with the bonnet perhaps?

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Oh, and really this is a stupid question but I only got the car today - where can I find information about the engine? I'm only guessing that its a straight 6?

 

[guydewdney]

if it helps - its an M606.912 engine. yes, 6 cylinder.

no idea what the plastic dooberry is.

 

[clive williams]

Parrot,

MB invariably use Mobil 1 diesel - a very good oil in their engines but looking on the WIS manual last night the list of acceptable oils is vast and includes vintages from abroad. I was going to check again to see if Castrol RS performance fully synthetic was suitable - it appears so on the list. If so, I know a cheap supplier. I could not find any service info on the auto gearbox for the 210. Perhaps someone else knows if there is a service interval for the auto trans for replacement of the oil and filter and if the oil is standard TQD?

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[clive williams]

Parrot,

Oh, by the way the plasic bit is a Vidget.

Clive

 

[jberks]

officially the gearbox is sealed for life - however if its made 168k, I suspect someone ignored that and changed the oil anyway. I'd use proper MB gearbox oil which is a bit pricey but worth it compared to a rebuild and pop new filters in at the same time.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

oops yeah its a W210, not a W240 Keep getting mixed up with that

 

[996jimbo]

The rubber thing's a spare in case the other one falls off.

 

[maddog]

Parrot,

MB invariably use Mobil 1 diesel - a very good oil in their engines but looking on the WIS manual last night the list of acceptable oils is vast and includes vintages from abroad. I was going to check again to see if Castrol RS performance fully synthetic was suitable - it appears so on the list. If so, I know a cheap supplier. I could not find any service info on the auto gearbox for the 210. Perhaps someone else knows if there is a service interval for the auto trans for replacement of the oil and filter and if the oil is standard TQD?

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

My local dealer uses Shell Helix fully synth

 

[television]

The transmision fluid is not a service requirement. Cars that pull caravans change every 40k. If the fluid is dark in colour or smells burnt the fluid should be changed. To change it remove drain plug, if you have a cooler undo one union and drain the pipe.

Those of you who do not have dip sticks can buy one as an extra £15

I would change the fluid on a unknown car, you never know or understand how the last owner drove.

Re fluid Nothing wrong with castrol or other big name providing you use the type made for your box.

Re engine oil I change mine at half the normal interval as its the cheapest protection I can have

Malcolm

is not that black thing the short circuit protector that fits over + terminal

 

[tom7035]

Black gizmo.

The pic of the black gizmo isn't too clear to me, but study its composition, shape, any rubbing marks on etc. and where you found it - shouldn't be too hard to figure where it fits.
Please let us all know know when you find out anyway!

 

[Parrot of Doom]

I've been told by a specialist that I visited (to fix a glow plug problem) that under no circumstances am I to consider changing the gearbox fluid - he said NO NO NO. Apparently air bubbles can wreak havoc with the box, he said it was virtually sealed for life and didn't ever need touching.

 

[television]

I've been told by a specialist that I visited (to fix a glow plug problem) that under no circumstances am I to consider changing the gearbox fluid - he said NO NO NO. Apparently air bubbles can wreak havoc with the box, he said it was virtually sealed for life and didn't ever need touching.

That statement is completely untrue, there are the odd times when it has to be changed. Air bubles, rubbish, When you put new oil in you leave the car running for 5 mins before you can check the level. How does your dealer think that MB get the oil in.

There are no such warnings that I can find given out by MB or any other Maker, and I have never heard of it .

Malcolm

 

[dogsbody]

Oil changes

THe American Petrol Institute publish what are generally known as API rating for all oils.
Engine type oils differ vastly to gearbox and differential oils, and these again are completely different to autogearboxes, as opposed to manual.
The API grade their oils for engines witha substituant letter going for petrol a-n, and for diesels from a-k.
Basically the higher the letter (a lowest) the better the quality of the oil. Quality being a subjective term and includes lubricity, reistance to degrading with temperature, and ph control.
It is generally not appreciated that petrol oils and diesel oils are the same. The difference is that diesel is a "dirtier" fuel and produces more acid radicals, which cause corrosion and engine wear. Hence an oil which gets an N rating under a petrol engine, will get say a J rating for diesel engines, merely because it has to work harder to control the pH to prevent corrosion.
This is basically why petrol engined cars have higher "service intervals" = oil changes than diesels.
The conclusion therefore is to choose the oil with the highest API rating for the engine, and obviously the correct viscoscity which may vary as to how hot or cold it is likely to be weatherwise.
If a car is doing long runs and getting really hot, the oil will have less work to do than if for short runs or stop start, when the engine really does not get to full operating temperature, resulting in the Engine Management System making the fuel mixture richer than if at full operating temperature.
If in doubt an oil and filter change will cost less than say £40, which is a fraction of the £5000+ for a new engine.
Most true motor engineers, recommend that new engines are bedded down with semi synthetic oil for the first 5000 miles, and then switched to fully synthetic. ( I once saw a Toyota Corolla with 1,000,000 miles on the engine, and which has been run on fully synthetic oil. The head had never been off the block)

 

[SLinKyjoe]

it says in my service book that you should change the oil of the 5 and 7sp auto box once at 35000miles. service item 20.

whatever that lot means.

 

[turnipsock]

http://www.ew2.lubesinfo.com/frameset.asp?sid=204&bid=65&sc=1204&langid=1

 

[maddog]

This is basically why petrol engined cars have higher "service intervals" = oil changes than diesels.

I havent ever seen a petrol engine with longer service interval than a diesel , could you give an example???

I was told by a truck fitter that some tractor units only change their oil every 25000miles

My car often goes 15000 miles between oil changes and i service it BEFORE the comand tells me to to, i reckon the interval would be nearer 18000 miles between changes

 

[big x]

This is the exact opposite to what every other specialist says.
I changed the oil on my electronic box myself no problems.There is no reason for air bubbles to form as there is a breather vent.

adam

I've been told by a specialist that I visited (to fix a glow plug problem) that under no circumstances am I to consider changing the gearbox fluid - he said NO NO NO. Apparently air bubbles can wreak havoc with the box, he said it was virtually sealed for life and didn't ever need touching.

 

[dogsbody]

Oil changes

In reply to service intervals for diesel cars being shorter than petrol:
Try Peugoet
Ford
Citroen

If you look at say a PUG 206 petrol it has 10,000 mile service intervals for petrol and 6,000 for diesel versions

 

[maddog]

In reply to service intervals for diesel cars being shorter than petrol:
Try Peugoet
Ford
Citroen

If you look at say a PUG 206 petrol it has 10,000 mile service intervals for petrol and 6,000 for diesel versions

I'll take your word for it but what about MB??