Whats a viable option for M1 0w40?

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
Originally Posted By: CATERHAM
Actually, there is an acceptable cheap option and that would be any 5w30 oil on sale. The Merc' particularly during the up coming winter doesn't need a 40wt oil.

I agree. For winter months I would use 7-7.5 quarts 5W30 synthetic that can be bought on sale. In spring I would add 1/2 quarts xW40 or xW50, then another 1/2 quarts in summer and do the oil change in fall.

HTSS_TR, aren't you still running a light 20wt oil in your Merc'?
Anyway your modification of my suggestion is fine but I'd make it nothing heavier than 5W-40 or 5W-50 (on sale) although running a typical HTHSV 3.1 dino (or cheap syn) through the summer would be fine for a conservatively driven car as most NA cars are.
My reasoning is that a cheaply sourced 5w30 is not that much lighter the 3.5cP that Mercedes spec's. Plenty of older Merc's and BMW's are running on a cheap NA 5w30 without issue since the oil temp's never get that high. Reason is these cars are simply not driven fast enough for long enough to bump up the oil temp's where a slightly heavier oil would be warranted.
Bottom line, is that the risk of the 5w30 being too light to actually result in bearing wiping is virtually nil.

 

[440Magnum]

It really amazes me... people will encourage experimentation in all sorts of engines, but when it comes to a Mercedes, its all "ooohhh, do what the factory says, I wouldn't try anything else in that car!!"

Really. Its lights its fires one cylinder at a time just like any other engine. In fact if its got roller followers, its not going to be AS demanding of its oil as an old American v8 with wickedly stiff valve springs.

Don't get me wrong, for a once/year oil change there's plenty of time to find M1 0w40 on sale, stash it, and use it so that's actually my advice too... I just don't see why everyone is so afraid of a Benz engine. Its just an engine, and if anything its built tougher than the ones from across the Pacific ocean are.

 

[45ACP]

Isnt this further proof that almost any motor oil will work in almost any car?

What is the normal oil temp for the Mercedes? That maybe can clarify things.

Why not just run a synthetic 0W-30? It will be a heavy 30, and have 0W at startup. GC comes to mind.

 

[Mark_Walk]

At least the OP is not doing what the guy with the BMW did....drove 60,000 miles with NO oil change at all!

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: CATERHAM

HTSS_TR, aren't you still running a light 20wt oil in your Merc'?
Anyway your modification of my suggestion is fine but I'd make it nothing heavier than 5W-40 or 5W-50 (on sale) although running a typical HTHSV 3.1 dino (or cheap syn) through the summer would be fine for a conservatively driven car as most NA cars are.
My reasoning is that a cheaply sourced 5w30 is not that much lighter the 3.5cP that Mercedes spec's. Plenty of older Merc's and BMW's are running on a cheap NA 5w30 without issue since the oil temp's never get that high. Reason is these cars are simply not driven fast enough for long enough to bump up the oil temp's where a slightly heavier oil would be warranted.
Bottom line, is that the risk of the 5w30 being too light to actually result in bearing wiping is virtually nil.

Yes, I'm still running a light 20wt oil in my E430 and the engine is as quiet as it was new, I'll use xW20 in that car from now on. I got rid of M1 0W30 exchanged for M1 0W20 at my local Walmart. All my stash now are xW20 syn oils only.

I drove the E430 from Irvine, CA to Vegas for several summers already, the ambient temp was as high as 128F and speed was above 85-100 MPH most of the drives without problems.

 

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: 45ACP
Why not just run a synthetic 0W-30? It will be a heavy 30, and have 0W at startup. GC comes to mind.

The idea is an alternative to M1 0W-40 that's as cheap as possible and still work.
GC is no cheaper and while M1 0W-40 is heavier than necessary with it's HTHSV of 3.8cP it's actually lighter than GC
at temp's below 25C due to it's much higher 185 VI. Just another example of why M1 0W-40 can't be beat for the price.

While I have used M1 0W-40 in my BMW in the the past I don't currently because it is heavier than necessary and a light 5w30 syn is cheaper, lighter on start-up and plenty thick enough to deal with the hottest days in the summer. Even cruising in the 90-100 mph range won't get my oil temp's above 100C. To warrant a heavy HTHSV 3.5cP oil I'd need to see oil temp's of at least 120C which never happens. I also have no need for a long drain oil since I don't put a lot of miles on the car and keep the OCI short based on miles.

 

[hpichris]

I see no reason why anyone would doubt anything other than a good 5w30 syn oil

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: hpichris
I see no reason why anyone would doubt anything other than a good 5w30 syn oil

But how is a good 5w30 syn oil going to reduce his oil change bill compared to M1 0w-40?

 

[hpichris]

5w30 FS oils are going to be on sale a lot more often and are cheaper to find than spec LL01 oils ATM.

 

[hpichris]

Honestly at this point, all he wants to do I think is a quick oil change and be done with it.

 

[hpichris]

lol, I said LL01. I've got BMW all stuck in my head. I need sleep.

 

[Bambam]

Resurrecting this, got some M1 0w40 at Wally world ($6.47/qt), so it will be getting it's oil change finally. I'll do a UOA , be interesting to see the results after 16 months and about 12k+ miles(could be more)... Now that I know a Wally world thats close, my daughter will be picking up a quart a month so by the time the next oci is due, she'll be ready and I won't have to teach her any valuable life lessons as was suggested !

Thanks for all the input.

 

[tig1]

What about looking for sales at AZ or AAP? I even bought M1 0-20 at O'Reilly's last week for $5.49 a qt. on sale.

 

[Bambam]

0w40 is a hard beast to find in these parts, so even when there is a sale, they don't usually have it. Wallyworld does carry it all the time and $6.47 is as good as it gets round here.

 

[jeepman3071]

Originally Posted By: Bambam
0w40 is a hard beast to find in these parts, so even when there is a sale, they don't usually have it. Wallyworld does carry it all the time and $6.47 is as good as it gets round here.


This is true. My dad's GL450 specs M1 0w40 and its hard to find here. [censored] you Connecticut!!

 

[uart]

Originally Posted By: Bambam
Resurrecting this, got some M1 0w40 at Wally world ($6.47/qt), so it will be getting it's oil change finally. I'll do a UOA , be interesting to see the results after 16 months and about 12k+ miles(could be more)... Now that I know a Wally world thats close, my daughter will be picking up a quart a month so by the time the next oci is due, she'll be ready and I won't have to teach her any valuable life lessons as was suggested !

Thanks for all the input.

Hi BamBam. Since the ML320 is not a particularly fuel efficient ride, I think you've done the right thing in getting that oil. Given the cost of fuel over 10k miles could be around $2000+ then saving say $20 on oil would not really be worth it, even the reduction in fuel economy was only tiny.

For example, just dropping from 16.1 MPG to 16.0 MPG would cost you about $15 over 10k miles.

 

[dave1251]

Originally Posted By: uart
Originally Posted By: Bambam
Resurrecting this, got some M1 0w40 at Wally world ($6.47/qt), so it will be getting it's oil change finally. I'll do a UOA , be interesting to see the results after 16 months and about 12k+ miles(could be more)... Now that I know a Wally world thats close, my daughter will be picking up a quart a month so by the time the next oci is due, she'll be ready and I won't have to teach her any valuable life lessons as was suggested !

Thanks for all the input.

Hi BamBam. Since the ML320 is not a particularly fuel efficient ride, I think you've done the right thing in getting that oil. Given the cost of fuel over 10k miles could be around $2000+ then saving say $20 on oil would not really be worth it, even the reduction in fuel economy was only tiny.

For example, just dropping from 16.1 MPG to 16.0 MPG would cost you about $15 over 10k miles.


I wish you folks would have been members on this forum about 5 years ago. There was a very well respected member on here would run M-1 delvac 5W-40 on here in his Porsche and provide analysis just to prove that HDEO was a very viable option to use in applications just like this.

 

[Geonerd]

Originally Posted By: Bambam
My daughter has a 2000 MB ML320, which they purchased used with 60k on it. Mobil 1 0w40 is the preferred oil of choice and thats what it got last oil change ( that I paid for). Well it's been 10k miles and it's time for an oil change, that they can't afford and frankly I don't want to fork out the 7-8 bucks a quart for an eight and a half quart sump. I would think a HDEO 5w40 would work? Oil is going to be run 1 year or 10k, mostly city driving.

Thoughts and recommendations please.


I recommend they trade the pig for a something they can afford - like a CR-V or Rav.

Their Merc gets 20mpg... downhill, with a tailwind. It must cost at least $70 to fill the tank. Yet they whine about saving $15 on oil?

OK... O-Reilly/Kragen has Delvac at $13 a gallon. Buy two, and a decent $6 filter and call it good.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
My dad's GL450 specs M1 0w40 and its hard to find here. [censored] you Connecticut!!

Does your AutoZone not carry it?

 

[Bambam]

Originally Posted By: Geonerd
Originally Posted By: Bambam
My daughter has a 2000 MB ML320, which they purchased used with 60k on it. Mobil 1 0w40 is the preferred oil of choice and thats what it got last oil change ( that I paid for). Well it's been 10k miles and it's time for an oil change, that they can't afford and frankly I don't want to fork out the 7-8 bucks a quart for an eight and a half quart sump. I would think a HDEO 5w40 would work? Oil is going to be run 1 year or 10k, mostly city driving.

Thoughts and recommendations please.


I recommend they trade the pig for a something they can afford - like a CR-V or Rav.

Their Merc gets 20mpg... downhill, with a tailwind. It must cost at least $70 to fill the tank. Yet they whine about saving $15 on oil?

OK... O-Reilly/Kragen has Delvac at $13 a gallon. Buy two, and a decent $6 filter and call it good.


Stick to the question, you hardly know their/our situation, so save your $1.98 advice for someone who asks !