AutoRX and Mobil 1 0-40

[yummy88]

Have a Mercedes e320 which specifies M1 0W-40. Is this a group 3 or 4 oil?

How is this oil for the cleaning stage? Problem is that I just put in new oil and filter. This car has a 8 quart capacity so it is not cheap. Must I drain the oil and use mineral for the cleaning stage?

I will use mineral for the rinse but is it ok for the cleaning stage

Also is 1 bottle ok for 8 quart sump?

 

[PW01]

As I understand it, Mobil 1 0w-40 is group IV. I would suggest using a mineral oil for both phases. And yes, one bottle is enough.

 

[INDYMAC]

Are there any group III synthetics that meet MB spec for your car? That's what I would use for the clean and rinse phases.

 

[JHZR2]

just wait until youre due for an oil change, then run rotella synthetic 5w-40, which is a good robust oil in the right viscosity range.

Autorx doesnt have that long of a cycle in the crankcase compared to a fresh batch of 229.51 oil.

What is the rush to do it anyhow? Im sure its exciting to clean the engine, but chances are waiting a few tousand miles isnt a big deal...

JMH

 

[Frank]

Yummy88 You can use your existing oil for Auto-Rx clean phase ( I am assuming sludge not an issue) for rinse mode use any of the group 111 oils, than go back to your full synthetic. How many miles on this engine?

 

[ZZman]

Mobil will not say it is a Group III or IV. All they will say is: Mobil 1 with SuperSyn uses high-performance fluids, including polyalphaolefins (PAOs), along with a proprietary system of additives. (From Mobil website)

This suggests that it is a mixture of III and IV.

 

[sprintman]

My BMW is using Shell Helix Ultra 5W40 100% Group III for RX clean/rinse. Maybe you can find that?

 

[yummy88]

80K miles. For the rinse phase I will use dino oil.

But my concern is cleaning capability of AutoRX with M1 0W-40. As mentioned by some, M1 0W-40 has mixture of Grp 3 and 4.

This car has had oil changes done at the dealer and it has always had M1 0W-40.

BTW the car has an extremely long OCI of 10K miles per oil change and that was the schedule followed by the previous owner (the car was under MB free maintenance plan). Depending on driving condition the OCI could even stretch to 15K miles or more!! It does have an 8 quart sump which maybe why it can do 10K OCI.

 

[Craig in Canada]

Personally, I wouldn't sweat too hard about using MB-approved oils during ARX. The OCI is so short relative to the extended intervals their tests certify for.

If your weather is mild (California, right?) you could probably even run a dino HDEO 15W40 and know for sure that you have type II or III oil with no PAO. This was the approach I took with my BMW for both clean and rinse phases. I then returned to synthetic after the ARX was finished. The ARX instructions have been relaxed to allow groupIII for both phases and synthetics for clean phase, but the mileage has been lengthened. This says to me that it's less effective in these conditions. Why reduce effectiveness if you're going to all the trouble?

 

[Gary Allan]

I think it's more in terms of KISS. Basically the Auto-Rx treatment protocol has been reduced to:

Change your oil and add Auto-Rx
Drive (drive just about 3000 miles OR, in other words, the majority's idea of an oil change)
Change your oil and don't add Auto-Rx
Drive and be happy.
Repeat if you've got a stubborn issue.

 

[BrianWC]

M1 0W40 is one of the few M1 oils most are sure is still all group IV.