Yet Another Oil Recommendation Request

[glum]

Please recommend an engine oil to me for my 1999 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor. This car has ~145,000 miles on it. The owner's manual doesn't issue recommendations for oil (which is idiotic). It says to ask the dealer. I'm not going to do that.

I've been feeding it MaxLife blend 10W-40 and SynPower 5W-40. I kind of hate this car, but I don't want to neglect it. The cheaper the oil (without it being garbage), the better.

I have a feeling it calls for synthetic, but because Mercedes-Benz can't be bothered to tell me, I'm not sure.

* I live in NC where winter temps occasionally dip to the teens (Fahrenheit), and summers are in the 90s much of the time.

* This is mainly my wife's car. Driven under more or less "normal" conditions, except for highway traffic in ~90F weather.

* No known issues with this car. Oil consumption seems pretty normal.

 

[robertcope]

I'd put Mobil 1 0W-40 in it. No idea if that's the right spec or not, but I imagine it is close enough and good enough.

robert

 

[Jeffs2006EvoIX]

Originally Posted By: robertcope
I'd put Mobil 1 0W-40 in it. No idea if that's the right spec or not, but I imagine it is close enough and good enough.

robert


+1 Would be my choice as well. I mean you can go with some High Mileage synthetic, but Mobil 1 0w40 for Euro Cars is pretty tough to beat regardless of miles. If the car has been taken care of running the Mobil 1 0w40 shouldn't be a problem. If its been abused while using Conventional oil, stick with the conventional oil IMO. Some cars that are abused with high mileage on Conventional oil may leak oil if you switch to a synthetic. Could be the HM conventional oil just swells the seals good so you don't notice. The Sythetic will clean everything out and may cause seepage. Its a possibility. It happend on my old 300ZX with about 150K on it. So something to keep in mind.

Jeff

 

[HTSS_TR]

Does the car has FSS(Flexible Service System) and you follow it ? Since the car is 12 years old and mileage is 145k miles, your car had been driven about 12k miles a year which is about when FSS goes down to zero. If you change oil and filter once a year then synthetic is required and Mobil 1 0W40 is recommended for your car, SynPower 5W-40 is on the MB 229.3 oil list too. Now, if you change oil twice a year at around 6k miles, then you can use Delo 15W40 in summer and thinner 10W40 in winter, or even 5W30.

 

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: glum

I've been feeding it MaxLife blend 10W-40 and SynPower 5W-40. I kind of hate this car, but I don't want to neglect it. The cheaper the oil (without it being garbage), the better.


So you hate the car! Odd thing to say.
Those two oils are heavier than what I'd use.
As suggested Mobil 1 0W-40 is a no brainer choice.

 

[glum]

Don't know about FSS. If it has it, I've never paid attention. I hardly ever drive this car (it's my wife's).

Yeah, I hate it. This car is one my wife haaaaaaaaaaaaad to have. I hate it because driving in it is like driving a diesel farm tractor that accelerates well, except not as smooth or quiet.

 

[steveh]

Mobil 1 0W40 is what Mobil recommends on their web site.

 

[electrolover]

T6 all the way! its a cheap syn thats tough as nails and gets the job done.

 

[dave1251]

All of the above suggestions are fine. Mobil Delvac 1 ESP 5W-40 is another. A 15w40 HDEO would be fine also.

 

[901Memphis]

Rotella T6 5w-40 at walmart is pretty inexpensive yet still maintaining a high quality product. I would either use that or Mobil 1 0w-40 if your engine calls for a 40 weight