What kind of motor oil do you use?

[mrtonyn]

I run Valvoline 10w30 in my `96 Mercedes E320, usually have the local indie mechanic do it. Running 3,000 mile intervals and it`s running perfect at ~264,000 miles. Little bit of seepage around the head gasket, but no noticable drop in level between changes.

In the early 90s, my dad had about 180,000 on a `86 300E. He decided to run Mobil 1 in it. The car almost immediately started using oil, you could even see it puff a bit if you followed him. After a couple changes, he went back to regular Valvoline and it went back to normal. Pretty sure my car`s always had dino oil in it, and will continue to. Nothing against synthetic, I think it`s great stuff, just not in a high milage engine that`s always had regular.

Good to hear your e320 is still running good at those mileage. I knew the key was the regular oil change and not so much convention versus synthetic.
But I believed 1999 or newer models were required to run synthetic..so I have no choice on my 1999 e320...I have 77K miles on it...and I have been replacing it with synthetic since new...and so far it is not burning oil..knock on wood
I hope I get at least 300k on mine

[DigTheRide]

I bet you`re right about the newer cars using synthetic. They changed engines from the inline6 to the v6 about that time. It`d also explain a guy at a oil change place giving me a hard time about running regular. Thought he was just giving me the hard sell.

[imported_Termigator]

[QUOTE=DigTheRide;4352]I run Valvoline 10w30 in my `96 Mercedes E320, usually have the local indie mechanic do it. Running 3,000 mile intervals and it`s running perfect at ~264,000 miles. Little bit of seepage around the head gasket, but no noticable drop in level between changes.


Funny you should mention the seepage thing. I take care of my mom`s 95` E320. It currently has 84k miles. She doesn`t drive much. I just took it in last Monday to a Benz tech because it was running really rough. He told me a few of the spark plug wires were bad and there was also oil leaking around two of the cylinder heads. He said it`s a common occurrence with that model.

[imported_Termigator]

Works as a mech for 30+ years i would never recommend to any of my customers to change there oil every 10 thousand miles even using a full syntheic or a syntheic blend.The heat todays engines produce from having turbo`s or just the day to day driving the oils start breaking down why before that.The auto maker i work for changed there recommend serv from 5000 to 7500 and since most people figure well if it`s 7500 i can push it to 9000 miles .We started to track these customers engines and the sludge build up was unreal some to a point that the cars came in with no oil pressure.I thought that this was only our car line but after speaking to other techs i know at least five other car lines had the same problem.I really don`t want to mention the car lines but they are all very high line cars.Bottom line is an engine loves an oil change and filter if you do this every 5000miles it will give you alot less headaches in the future .It still is the cheapest and the best maintance you can perform.Also try WIX oil filters they also out last the big 3 companys .If you read about oil filters look WIX and compare there specs to others or if you find a store by you that sells them pick one up and in the other hand pick up another filter and compare the weight of each .It`s not the metal that makes it heavier but the material inside that does the filtering.Just my 2 cents and yes i understand everyone has an opinion.

I`ve never heard of WIX filters. Do you know if any of the chain auto parts stores carry them?

[michakaveli]

Amsoil 15w-40 HD Diesel & Marine for the `97 E300.
Amsoil XL 5w-20 for the `05 Taurus.
Amsoil XL 5w-30 for the `05 Corolla.

I`ve gone to Amsoil as I can always order the same product when needed and for all of our vehicles at one location. I used M1 from the local WalMart, but everytime I needed to change the oil, they or the other locals stores never carried what I needed in stock. In addition From what I can recall, Amsoil is fairly consistent with the base stock that they use for the synthetic oils, Group 4 if I`m not mistaken. Mobil is always changing their formulas... can`t leave something good alone without trying to make more money.

And I usually have an oil analysis run from AVLube for every change. This helps keep me informed on the health of the engine, and how long I can safely run the oil in the engine, or keep it in the engine if it`s a garage queen without getting too acidic, etc...

[michakaveli]

I`ve never heard of WIX filters. Do you know if any of the chain auto parts stores carry them?

They have been around for a while. I know O`Reilly`s carries Wix products/filters... at least they can order them. The quality of Wix products from my readings appears to be fairly decent.

[Harleyguy]

I`ve never heard of WIX filters. Do you know if any of the chain auto parts stores carry them?

I buy them from my local Bennett auto .http://www.bennettauto.com/

[Harleyguy]

They have been around for a while. I know O`Reilly`s carries Wix products/filters... at least they can order them. The quality of Wix products from my readings appears to be fairly decent.

They blow away all other filters.

[imported_Termigator]

I buy them from my local Bennett auto .http://www.bennettauto.com/

The closest Bennett Auto to me is in Titusville. I did a Google search for the filters and found out Central Auto Parts (Carquest) carries them. I`ll probably drop by them real soon. Thanks.:smile:

[imported_Goose]

Synthetic or conventional?

Change it yourself or have it done?

Advantages and disadvantages..... etc.

Here`s my list:
2000 Pontiac T/A LS1 V8: Mobile 1 Synthetic 10-30
2006 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP 3800 V6 S/C: Quaker State 10-40 Conventional
1982 Chevrolet Corvette 350 V8: Castrol GTX 10-50 High Mileage

Wix Filters in all vehicles; I change it myself every 3000:cornut:....

What are you using?????

My Vette and my ZR2 S10 get Mobil-1 Syn.
I have friends mechanics I trade mechanical work for some detailing work
I had my fuel pump, ball joints, spark plugs and stuff like that replaced on my truck for literally the cost of parts!

[imported_Luster]

My Vette and my ZR2 S10 get Mobil-1 Syn.
I have friends mechanics I trade mechanical work for some detailing work
I had my fuel pump, ball joints, spark plugs and stuff like that replaced on my truck for literally the cost of parts!

Bartering is a good way to do things... I`m doing a buddy`s `67 Vette today in exchange for a new water heater installation!

Yeah, Mobil1 seems to be a popular choice. I like it for late model cars, but for older model cars with higher compression engines, I like the higher viscosity (thicker) oils. Older engines with Synthetic oils always seem to spring leaks! Change it back to hi-visc conventional and the leaks go away!!!!

[imported_Jokeman]

In my 02 Silverado I used Mobil 1 5-30 for 140k. We pulled the motor since I build a bigger motor for it. The internals were perfect. No sludge, just a little bit of carbon. I change the oil every 3k with a AC Delco filter. My current motor I use 10w-30 Mobil1 every 3k.

[Old Pirate]

I use el cheapo 19.99 oil change.............

[imported_Slik560]

Benz 560SL - due to the age, I run regular Valvoline 10W40. Synthetic would make it leak like my old Chevy Silverado.

Scion xB - Valvoline synthetic 5W30. Synthetic is not spec, but permissible under the warranty.

2006 Mini Cooper S - Castrol synthetic 5W30, cause it`s still under warranty and thats what they use. Their intervals are ridiculous, though. 10-12,000 miles. That`s just too long.

[Altimazzz]

Royal Purple 10-w30 with Fram filters---but I think Im switchen to Wix. Change both cars at about 6000 mi--`o5 Nissan Altima and `06 Grand Caravan.

I can see alot of guys that use this site running around with a car that bellows smoke from the rear and uses a court of oil a day---but D** that paint looks GREAT!!!!!:w00t::w00t::w00t: