Correct Engine Oil

[Tyro190]

I saw an advert for National Tyres and their oil service.

Basically my W202 1998 C250TD would cost £25.20 (incl online discount) for an oil and filter change. Their website recommended oil is Castrol Magnatec 10W40 Semi Synthetic. I called my local Nat Tyre depot to make a booking (website not working) and they said I should only put a Fully Synthetic oil in the car.

Basically, is Castrol Magnatec 10W40 Semi Synthetic a suitable oil?

I also think £25.20 is an amazing price for both oil and filter, what say you?

 

[Roger Jones]

Use an oil that meets the spec in the service book or owner's manual.

Magnatec is not a fully synthetic oil, and there are those who wouldn't regard it as a very good semi-synthetic, although my Capri doesn't seem to have suffered. But there you are: 1984 Capri vs 1998 MB.

 

[Tyro190]

Thanks, Roger.

So what oil do you use in your Mercedes?

 

[AANDYY]

Watch them doing it, I took mine to Kwik fit, left the car with them, and they didn't change the oil, or left alot of the old stuff in.

I drove 1 mile home and checked the oil and it was jet black, diesel engine oil does go black quick but as far as I know not within 1 mile, I couldn't bother to complain, how typicaly British.

 

[Rory]

diesel engine oil does go black quick but as far as I know not within 1 mile,

It goes black instantly in most diesel cars.

I agree with watching them though - make sure they put the undertray back on carefully and properly and that there are no leaks from the filter housing.

Regarding the type of oil - it's really not that critical unless you've got a newer car and are pushing the extended servicing to its limit. Some people are wary of using thin synth oil on older cars that haven't always used it as oil seeps could turn into leaks.

Tyro190 - Please let us know how you get on. These offers are usually just a way of getting the car in so they can generate other work. Mind no-one stabs the exhaust system etc.

 

[peapod]

Rory, Oil is the blood as you know. I had an 84 250TD with only 75k and no 3 rod cam though the block and the injector pump. Finished. I put a new american spec 250 turbo diesel in it without the turbo not very lively but another story. The failure I believe was a small end and poor oil quality - short journeys before I got it. I put mobil one in it, it was before mobil brought out a specific diesel fully synthetic, this may have dislodged sludge. I did not have tiem to do a full post mortem. The message is shcnge it often I do mine every 5k it makes easy to remember 5,10 etc. I now have a 98 300TD 175k and use comma turbo diesel (not the VW comma diesel). Comma make an oil with the same spec as mobil 1 diesel . I dont have the mb psec to hand but I called comma about it when I switched about two years ago and they confirmed it was a match. Comma is now owned by exxon mobil and maybe it is the same oil, anyway it seems to behave like it. It is about £30 for 5 litres, cheaper than mobil 1. Look at it this way how much money do you spend on diesel between oil changes and which cost poses the biggest impact risk long term on your pocket. Oil and frequent changes are cheap insurance. I always use MB filters and change with the oil. I do cheat and vaccum out the oil saves a lot of hassle I use a seeley pump siphon excellent takes me about 15mins to do the job.

 

[AANDYY]

It goes black instantly in most diesel cars.

QUOTE]


It didn't on my previous 2 oil changes and the one after the KF change.

 

[timk]

Think carefully before letting National Tyres loose on your car:-

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/favourites/80225-national-tyres-cheap-oil-filter.html

 

[Rory]

I put mobil one in it, it was before mobil brought out a specific diesel fully synthetic, this may have dislodged sludge.

Mobil doesn't have specific diesel version of Mobil 1 - it's the same oil in a different can, for marketing reasons.

Diesel oil generally has more detergent so if it was different then it would have been more likely to dislodge sludge then the petrol version. You're example is also one where it may not be a good idea to use a fully synth oil if the car hasn't been run on one so far.

I wasn't suggesting using poor oil, just that, at least in the UK amongst the well know brands, most oils would be good enough for everday use in an older Mercedes. In the handbook it even suggests that practically any available viscosity would be OK too.

 

[peapod]

Rory, I see your point about being an older car and I guess newer oil formulations are created for more arduous conditions in specific engines. I have always gone for higher spec oils. Your point about sludge - yes on my 250td I should have done a very thorough flush and a few changes before using mobil one being a diesel much higher risk than a petrol engine. It was very sad the new engine was new shrink wrapped but it had a turbo on it and the 124 jsut couldnt take the turbo result adjust timing an wrong comression ratio. It was just so smooth and so slow.