[W126 Coupe] Oil for 560 SEC

[Richard Hogarth]

I'm curious to see what the oil experts have to say about fuel washing. 
3k oil changes, from my understanding, was a number based on older additives
from the '60s and '70s. 
With leaded gas gone and the auto industry demanding better oils, 3k oil is
considered (I thought)  to be in brand new
and 5k to 6k changes the standard. I've moved to 4k-5k and have had no
negatives. The drained oil still looks nearly brand new although I have not
had it analyzed. My '84 chevy silverado truck with a 545cui has 278,000
miles on it and my MB has 167,000 miles. The timing chain is just now worn
enough to begin to be of concern . Compression is perfect and oil
consumption is normal.
Perhaps we are all being overly concerned about this oil business and the
short change interval may be the key to longevity, regardless of the oil. 
I also consider it beneficial to the environment to extend the oil changes.
(but that's just me)
-RPH
 
From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com [mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com]
On Behalf Of Jonathan Hodgman
Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2007 10:21 PM
To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Oil for 560 SEC
 
Interesting, in my chats with Valvoline and Mobil engineers they have both
Strongly recommended use of their diesel oils in our older gas engines.

The diesel oils have additive packages that are far closer to what was
around when our engines were designed.  New oils with  new
engines/tolerances/warranty concerns in mind do not...even the high mileage
oils formulations have been changed to a degree that could negatively effect
engine wear. 

I have a good friend/mechanic who's 280TE which has had the ever living snot
rung out of it for the past 80 of it's almost 300K mile life run on a strict
Rotella diet.  After a recent valve job and inspection of the cylinders they
were nothing if not near perfect. 

I have also b/w clients and my personal fleet run up in excess of 80+
thousand miles on Rotella/Delo.

I am particularly fond of diesel oil in engines that haven't had regular oil
chances and have sludged up quite heavily internally.  I have one customers
560SEC w/ 190K on the clock, when it arrived the heads/valve covers had
heavy deposits.  It has now been almost 3 years of Rotella every 2500 miles
and the internals are night and day from where we started. 

I'll be attending a Mobil engineering convention in the coming months at
which point I will get more info to support the above.  Ideally, I'll have
some of it in writing.

Lastly, IMHO, 4000 miles on conventional oil is too long.  If I'm doing
strictly highway I'll change every 3000, serve duty/city driving I'll change
b/w 2 and 2500.  As such the internals of my engines stay near spotless.  I
will only consider extended drain intervals when running Mobil
1/Amsoil/Redline oil. 

Jonathan


On 4/15/07, Richard Hogarth <R_Hogarth at foundrycove.com> wrote:
Jonathan,  
It's my understanding that oils (like rotella) which are designed  for
diesel engines should never be used in a gas engine.
The main issue is fuel washing and the second issue is reactivity with
sulphur compounds. 
The Rotella is not resistant to fuel washing from gasoline so the rings and
cylinder walls are left unprotected with the obvious result. 
Personally I've always like Castrol 20/50 mineral oil changed every 4k miles
and as an engine ages, I"ve started to use High Mileage for my car.
Does anyone have any other thoughts
-RPH
 
From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com [mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com]
On Behalf Of Jonathan Hodgman
Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2007 6:17 PM
To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists
Subject: Re: [W126 Coupe] Oil for 560 SEC
 
I like Rotella 15/40, although w/ the new formulations and their lack of
ZDDP I now add GM's tappet/cam lube to bring levels back up to pre-2007
specs.

Or, if you engine is tight/leak free I'd run Mobil 1 20/50, but again w/ the
same additive. 

Jonathan
On 4/15/07, Kell <kell13 at adelphia.net> wrote:
 
What is the best oil to use in a 1988 560 SEC with 130,000 on it?   anyone

The MB Coupes Website!
W126 SEC Mailing List
Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.



-- 
Blue Ridge Mercedes/AMG East
Offering Enthusiast Service, Restoration and Modification. 
Providing quality parts to discriminating customers in all parts of the
world.
Located in the Greater Atlanta area.
http://www.blueridgemb.com
http://www.AMGEast.com

1996 S600 Euro "Scharnhorst"
1991 560 SEC Full Euro ECE
1991 560 SEC 226Hp/271ft/lbs:)
1989 560 SEC AMG (N.Amer 250/295)
1987 560 SEC US Spec
1986 560 SEL AMG 6.0L 32V
1986 560 SL  White on Burgundy
1985 500 SEL Euro (Parts Car)
1985 300 CD For Sale
1980 280 SE Euro
1978 300D TMU
1987 560 SEL 162K Midnight Blue on Gray RIP:(
1987 560 SEC Sold
1992 E300D 140K Champagne on Parchment tex (Sold) 
1990 560 SEC 154K Anthracite on Gray (Sold)
1988 300 TE 160K Burgundy on Palomino (Sold)
1980 280 SE US 185K (Sold)
2006 Z4 3.0Si M spec 6sp 

The MB Coupes Website!
W126 SEC Mailing List
Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.



-- 
Blue Ridge Mercedes/AMG East
Offering Enthusiast Service, Restoration and Modification. 
Providing quality parts to discriminating customers in all parts of the
world.
Located in the Greater Atlanta area.
http://www.blueridgemb.com
http://www.AMGEast.com

1996 S600 Euro "Scharnhorst"
1991 560 SEC Full Euro ECE
1991 560 SEC 226Hp/271ft/lbs:)
1989 560 SEC AMG (N.Amer 250/295)
1987 560 SEC US Spec
1986 560 SEL AMG 6.0L 32V
1986 560 SL  White on Burgundy
1985 500 SEL Euro (Parts Car)
1985 300 CD For Sale
1980 280 SE Euro
1978 300D TMU
1987 560 SEL 162K Midnight Blue on Gray RIP:(
1987 560 SEC Sold
1992 E300D 140K Champagne on Parchment tex (Sold) 
1990 560 SEC 154K Anthracite on Gray (Sold)
1988 300 TE 160K Burgundy on Palomino (Sold)
1980 280 SE US 185K (Sold)
2006 Z4 3.0Si M spec 6sp 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://www.pairlist.net/pipermail/mbcoupes/attachments/20070415/974a0b7e/attachment.html>