From: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net (diesel-benz-digest) To: diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Subject: diesel-benz-digest V1 #726 Reply-To: diesel-benz-at-digest.net Sender: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Errors-To: owner-diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Precedence: bulk diesel-benz-digest Thursday, March 14 2002 Volume 01 : Number 726 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: Synthetic Oil for Mercedes Diesel? Re: Synthetic Oil for Mercedes Diesel? Fw: BOUNCE diesel-benz-at-digest.net: Non-member submission from [Eric Ditwiler ] Midwest listfest - anyone coming past Downers Grove Re: Synthetic Oil for Mercedes Diesel? Fwd: Re: Synthetic Oil for Mercedes Diesel? buckle up and... [FSJparts] FSJ's Are Saved ! Scrappage is Defeated! (fwd) steering Diesel Benz Digest Home Page: http://www.digest.net/diesel-benz/ Send submissions to diesel-benz-digest-at-digest.net Send administrative requests to diesel-benz-digest-request-at-digest.net To unsubscribe, include the word unsubscribe by itself in the body of the message, unless you are sending the request from a different address than the one that appears on the list. Include the word help in a message to stag-digest-request to get a list of other majordomo commands. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 00:36:40 -0800 From: "Thomas Martin-Tran" Subject: Synthetic Oil for Mercedes Diesel? Hello, Well, I finally have a 126 300SD. My questions are. What type of oil do most people use in this engine? The previous owner (who inherited the car from his grandfather) always used castrol 20w-40 which is what has apprently always been used in the car. The car is operating fine. I have always had a preference for Mobil1 in cars I've maintained and was considering using Mobil1 15w-50 in this car. The cost (8 quarts of oil per change?) and the fact that this car has always used one particular type of oil and I thought I have heard that mobil1 is not suitable / rated for use in diesels makes me hesitant though and I'd like to get some opinions/ experience from other diesel owners. My father had a diesel truck and always used rotella... . Also in reguards to filters - are there only geniune MB filters or does fram or some other aftermarket company make oil filters as well. Thanks, Tom Martin ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 03:22:53 -0600 From: Jon Filina Subject: Re: Synthetic Oil for Mercedes Diesel? Tom asked: > Well, I finally have a 126 300SD. My questions are. What type of oil > do most people use in this engine? The previous owner (who inherited the > car from his grandfather) always used castrol 20w-40 which is what has > apprently always been used in the car. The car is operating fine. I have > always had a preference for Mobil1 in cars I've maintained and was > considering using Mobil1 15w-50 in this car. I switched from Castrol to Chevron Delo 400 (15w-40) about 6 years ago. I have used this oil in three different diesels, VW Jetta, MB 240D and MB 300SD ('84 W126). In every case, I have noticed an improvement in performance and mileage. The regular dino Mobil you have a preference for is probably a good oil, but the Delo 400 is formulated for a diesel and is excellent. I used Rotella one time on my 240D. The oil appeared to break down around 1500 miles. Some people swear by it, I didn't like it. If your 300SD has less than 150,000 or so miles, you might consider a synthetic. If you have any oil leaks though, stay with Delo 400. > Also in reguards to filters - are there only > geniune MB filters or does fram or some other aftermarket company make oil > filters as well. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT use Fram. They are junk from my experience. From the dealer, you'll get probably get Mann or Knecht. Wix is available at many parts stores and is a very good filter. My independent mechanic stocks Mann, which I usually use. If I forget to get one from him, I go to the local Parts Plus and get Wix. Either way, if you change the oil every 3000 miles or so, any of the three filters are fine. Enjoy your 300SD, they are great cars! Jon '84 300SD 132,600 mi. "Bruno" ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 09:25:03 -0800 From: "Derickam" Subject: Fw: BOUNCE diesel-benz-at-digest.net: Non-member submission from [Eric Ditwiler ] > From: Eric Ditwiler > To: Thomas Martin-Tran > cc: > Subject: Re: Synthetic Oil for Mercedes Diesel? > In-Reply-To: <003001c1ca6a$32bd5ea0$8001a8c0-at-tampabay.rr.com> > Message-ID: > MIME-Version: 1.0 > Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII > > You will want to use a C rated (rather than S rated) oil and stay away > from Fram filters as they are absolute junk. > > Synthetic oils tend to leak more than dino oils and are also more > detergent (as are diesel oils) If your car was run on castrol for a gasser > its engine is probably full of gunk which might all get dislodged at once > if you switch to a diesel synthetic. > > Mobil 1 filters are good but pricey. Amsoil filters are a little better > and a little cheaper but you can't buy them at pep boys. > > I'd use Rottella or Delo for a while and then consider switching to a > synthetic with a bypass filter if you have very good oil control (no > leaks). > > How did you find your car and what did it cost you? > > > On Wed, 13 Mar 2002, Thomas Martin-Tran wrote: > > > Hello, > > Well, I finally have a 126 300SD. My questions are. What type of oil > > do most people use in this engine? The previous owner (who inherited the > > car from his grandfather) always used castrol 20w-40 which is what has > > apprently always been used in the car. The car is operating fine. I have > > always had a preference for Mobil1 in cars I've maintained and was > > considering using Mobil1 15w-50 in this car. The cost (8 quarts of oil per > > change?) and the fact that this car has always used one particular type of > > oil and I thought I have heard that mobil1 is not suitable / rated for use > > in diesels makes me hesitant though and I'd like to get some opinions/ > > experience from other diesel owners. My father had a diesel truck and > > always used rotella... . Also in reguards to filters - are there only > > geniune MB filters or does fram or some other aftermarket company make oil > > filters as well. > > Thanks, > > Tom Martin ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 13:19:20 -0600 From: Jan Guthrie Subject: Midwest listfest - anyone coming past Downers Grove The Permatex rep cannot make it to the listfest, but has a few things for us if someone can pick them up in Downer's Grove, IL. Volunteer anyone? - -- $:0^0:$x,88,x$:0^0:$x,88,x$:0^0:$x,88,x$:0^0:$x$:0^0:$x,88,x$: Jan Jan Guthrie Yacht Brokerage jan-at-buy-a-boat.com 262-553-1998 http://www.buy-a-boat.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 15:36:36 -0600 From: Jon Filina Subject: Re: Synthetic Oil for Mercedes Diesel? Tom, > Hello Actually I was looking though the literature that came with the car > and it does say Mobil 1 is approved by the factory but, only in operating > temperatures below 50 degrees farenhight.... . I thought that was > interesting Same here. Which grade of Mobil1 were they referring to? MB used to, and may still, ship their cars from the factory with Mobil1 in the crankcase. > - it does also list the oil you mentioned (is that synthetic > too?) Delo400 may have some synthetics in it, but it's mainly dino juice. > I just want to put what will be the best for my engine in. It has > just under 200,000 miles on it. and it runs like any other 300SD I've > driven (if anything it shifts better... . If the engine is dry (no signs of oil leaks) you might want to try Mobil1. If it were me, I'd use Chevron Delo400 15w40 and change it every 3000 miles. I used it for 4 years in my 240D and never saw any indications of it breaking down even when I accidently left it in for 6000 miles once. My 300SD had Pennzoil in it when I got it 6 weeks ago. I replaced it with Delo400, using my Topsider (I love that thing!) and noticed an improvement in performance. That may have been in my mind, but it DID seem to run better. > Thing is - where should I be able > to by that Delo? at any chevron station? I've never seen it at walmart or > parts stores... . You can get it at most Chevron stations, but I get mine by the case at a local parts store (part of the Parts Plus chain). I have bought it at Walmart, also. They don't always have it in stock, though. I don't remember seeing it at Pep Boys, though. My local Autozone only stocks the 30 wt. version, but I'm sure they could get the 15w40 if I asked them. Actually, when I replied to your message last night, I missed the Synthetic reference. That will teach me to respond to email when I'm tired... > Also Do you have to use MB Coolant? I just sold a VW (to > buy a 4 door diesel) and it took special coolant too which is blue if I > remember right and is for alunimun heads (cost $24 a gallon too... .) VW needs some help with their cooling system. I had to replace the radiator on my '90 Jetta diesel at 100,000 miles because it was clogged. I didn't know they'd switched to a special coolant. You might want to ask someone about using the VW antifreeze, but I would be leary of using it. My mechanic uses Peak. I thought he was using Prestone, but found out this week that he doesn't because it contains additives to prevent leaks. He says Prestone tends to clog the system. On our older diesels, I don't think it matters much whether you use the MB brand or a good brand name such as Peak as long as you change it every 2 years. Both my 240D and 300SD had the green stuff in them when I got the cars. I was going to replace the 240D's green antifreeze this spring since it had been almost 4 years since the last coolant change. The radiator was perfectly clean, though. I will be draining and flushing my 300SD in a few weeks and will replace the coolant with the MB brand. I think I paid $12 a gallon for MB's fluid versus about $8 for a name brand. The difference is negligible as far as I'm concerned. Gotta get to work. Jon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 14:09:01 -0800 From: Greg Fiorentino Subject: Fwd: Re: Synthetic Oil for Mercedes Diesel? >>Thing is - where should I be able >>to by that Delo? at any chevron station? I've never seen it at walmart or >>parts stores... . I get Delo at Costco by the case. I've been using Mobil 1 10W30 in my '84 300D turbo with good results. Greg ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 14:56:12 -0800 (PST) From: john Subject: buckle up and... drive an SUV... ... for safety... article points out that Washington State has more SUV's then people living in Seattle... :) http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/62071_truck13.shtml ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** john-at-wagoneers.com via PINE on Linux ** (plain text please!) ** http://wagoneers.com ** ** http://freegift.net ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold. ...and remember, leaving life without Jesus just isn't recommended... - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 14:57:09 -0800 (PST) From: john Subject: [FSJparts] FSJ's Are Saved ! Scrappage is Defeated! (fwd) those of us with older vehicles might appreciate this... :) john ---- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** john-at-wagoneers.com via PINE on Linux ** (plain text please!) ** http://wagoneers.com ** ** http://freegift.net ** Snohomish, Washington USA - where Jeeps don't rust, they mold. ...and remember, leaving life without Jesus just isn't recommended... - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: JP SCRAPPAGE IS DEFEATED ON U.S. SENATE FLOOR ! Attention SEMA Action Network: Thank you all for your hard work in opposing, and now defeating, the old car scrappage provision in the Energy Policy Act of 2002 (Section 822 of S. 517). In case you haven't heard the news, Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell's (R-CO) amendment to eliminate scrappage from the legislation was - astonishingly enough - passed by unanimous consent. In the end, even the principal sponsor of the scrappage provision, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), was not willing to oppose the Campbell amendment! This is fantastic work, work that would not have been possible without the literally thousands of phone calls, faxes, emails and letters to U.S. Senators that SEMA Action Network vehicle clubs and individual enthusiasts were able to muster. Hobbyist efforts were cited by Senator Campbell and Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) as a compelling force in defeating this scrappage provision. SEMA sincerely thanks everyone for their dedication, hard work, and willingness to protect the vehicle hobby today and to preserve for it for our children. This is an amazing victory and a testament to the powerful connection between the specialty aftermarket automotive industry and the American vehicle hobbyist community. Job well done. Brian Caudill Director of Public Affairs Specialty Equipment Market Association - ------------------------ Yahoo! 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Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 00:46:41 -0500 From: "John Heflin" Subject: steering Hey all, My steering has been a little loose for sometime now and there is a screw a mechaninc friend of mine suggested would tighten it up by loosening the nut, tightening the screw and then tightening the nut back up. he also said to check first because he din't know if there was a certain tightness it should be at to not damage it. so im asking you guys for help on this. the play with the steering wheel is just not side to side or up and down, but you can turn the wheel left and right (say 2-3 inches each way before you get resistance from the wheels on the ground). it's especially annoying trying to drive the car when its windy, it blows me all over. John 78 240 _________________________________________________________________ Join the worlds largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #726 *********************************