Which Oil Suits my model best? - 89 230te 142,000

[Badshot1uk]

Hi Ive another question to cause a debate.
My 89 230te 142,000 miles gets a service every 6000 miles and an oil change every 3000.  I want to know whats the best oil I should be using for a car of this vintage?

I normally specify semi synthetic at the oil change as theres a choice between that and fully synthetic.
But I'm not sure if I should be using something for older cars i.e. Castrol Magnetec 10/40 or the like?
If so how could I get the local quickfit to use my oil instead of there own?
As I dont fancy getting under a 2 ton car and doing it myself. I was told by the last merc garage that serviced it that they only use fully synthetic, and that I could bring my own but they charge a bomb for the privelege.

Thanks to all, Without you lot I'd be lost.

 

[Geronimo]

Which Oil Suits my model best?

Hello,
Have a look at page three in the technical questions and click on "Which oil" also tap in oil on search(which I'm sure you knew). This is a well spun topic of conversation from what I have read but it seems to just come down to personal preference in the end. If your car was a newer model/higher performance the fully synthetic would be the path to choose, but when it comes to cars as old as ours(Mines88190E) then the costco option that was mentioned in "Which Oil" is probably our best option,due to the engine burning the oil through worn seals or spitting it out on the road due to worn seals/gaskets. But like I said there are a lot of disagreements and it seems to be personal preference.

 

[Barnie]

Which Oil Suits my model best?

Hi Badshot
(1) There is no logical reason why you should change your oil at 3000m intervals other than exteme conditions operation, normaly 6000m is quite for average use.
(2) always use an oil that has been produced by EXPERTS ie( CASTROL< DUCKHAMS) & not a petrol supplier.
(3) Every synthetic oil has the same adhesive quality as Magnetec. The "Magnet" is just a sales gimmick.
(4)Fully synth oils should only be used in high tech engines that run on very tight tolerences.
(5)If you want to be kind to your engine then" semi synth oil" will be more tha adequate. I have always used Castrol gtx or Duckhams hypergrade myself over 16000m, cant be bad!!

 

[Barnie]

Which Oil Suits my model best?

Hi
that should read 160,000m not 16000m
Regards Barnie

 

[Andy]

Which Oil Suits my model best?

Hi Barney

Sounds good to me!!!
These oil companies have done a great job on the ole sales gimick. And some of belive them.

Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

PS. Some of these independant oil companies are good to IE Morris oils.

 

[fuzzer]

Which Oil Suits my model best?

I wanted to put Mobil 1 0w40  fully synth in my car the next time .

Will it be ok in the c240 v6 engine ?

 

[Arnie]

Which Oil Suits my model best?

I'd generally agree with Barnie that a good quality mineral oil is quite suitable for older engines with 6,000 mile service intervals. However, with the newer engines on 10,000-15,000 mile service intervals then I'd go for a synthetic oil... And, although Mobil is an oil (petrol distributer) company, I have a lot of faith in Mobil-1 fully synthetic and their semi-synthetic, which is supposedly a true 50/50 mix rather than 10/90 mix of synthetic/mineral as some other brands market.

The definition of synthetic has also been the cause of much debate, with a tendancy to use it now for mineral-derrived oils (Castrol case). Much has been said about it on this forum as well as many others.

But anyway, most prestige car manufacturers now recommend only synthetic for their new engines.

 

[Barnie]

Which Oil Suits my model best?

I READ A VERY GOOD ARTICLE IN "TRANSPORT ENGINEER" A WHILE BACK ON THIS SAME SUBJECT, BASICALY IT STATED THAT SYNTHETICS ARE THE "IN"ENGINE OILS IN HEAVY TRANSPORT , GIVING GREAT SAVINGS IN ENGINE WEAR & DOWNTIME WHICH IN TURN HELPED TO BALANCE THE HIGH COST OF THE OIL.
THE YANKS ARE INTO IT IN BIG WAY , BOASTING 50,000M TWEEN CHANGES & IN ONE CASE 250,000M, THIS HOWEVER WAS BROUGHT ABOUT BY A AUTODRAIN SYSTEM WHICH ALLOWED A SET QUANTITY OF OIL TO DRAIN OFF THE SUMP & INTO THE FUEL TANK EVERY 1,000M WHICH WAS SUSQUENTLY BURNT OFF. THE OIL WAS REPLACED BY A SIMILARLY CALIBRATED SYSTEM FROM AN OIL TANK LOCATED IN THE VEHICLE CAB!!
I UNDERSTAND THE "INLAND REVENUE" ARE TRYING TO CHARGE FUEL TAX ON THE BURNT OFF ENGINE OIL.
INTERESTING?
BARNIE