"High Mileage" engine oil

[tim]

Is the recent introduction of engine oil (Castrol, Valvoline) formulated for "High Mileage" vehicles an advertising ploy or is there some potential benefit from the use of this formulation?
Thanks.

tim ferrell
1990 300E

[Robert Goodwin]

See really interesting comments on this subject at:

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1657738

[tim]

Thank you for the link. An interesting discussion, and as with so many things, different opinions, but little technical data. After reading it, I may just stick with my usual oil and oil change interval. Apprecaite it.

-tim-

[Robert Goodwin]

I just changed both of my Mercedes deisels to MOBIL-1, 0W40. Weeping gaskets are already weeping slower. Will see what it looks like at the end of the year.

[Allen]

Based on experience I believe in using good oil and sticking with it. Since new my E car has had only Rotella 15-40. My 96 Yukon has 172,000 mi. The dealership has only used Havoline 10-30 in it since new and it uses no oil between 4000mi oil changes.
A buddy had a nightmare over changing oil types, the MB dealer suggested he change oil types in his ML (320P.O.S.) (as he calls it) and it was just another chapter added to the nightmare of the "M Experience". It started slurping oil and eventually the top end of the engine had to be reworked at 80K mi.
On synthetics: One of my customers is a major petroleum distributor. He was at a seminar recently hosted by a major manufacturer, they said that synthetics actually did not break down and therefore you could eliminate oil changes and only regularly change the filter, however this will never go public due to fact that they want to sell more oil. He is going to experiment with this in one of his fleet vehicles.

[bill streep]

I've heard the "never change" story on synthetics for years. Amsoil folks have touted it forever. The problem is, the oil gets contaminated AND the additives wear out. The only way to remove the contaminates is change the oil. Come on, it's $25 in synthetic oil on our cars. Why risk an engine...

[Robert Goodwin]

Having worked on and around piston engines for more than 50 years, I would not go without changing oil. The key to longer oil use (not necessarily life) is oil analysis. The process is used on airplane engines as a predictive tool. Metal in the oil means yoiu are likely to crash and die. A car engine is much more forgiving, but if you have to buy another engine because of contaminated oil, you will probably wish you had died.

[Flakman]

I have to agree with Robert and Bill. Just because the oil doesn't break down as fast doesn't mean that the particulate matter can't still harm your engine. Changing your oil is a small price to pay compared to a new or rebuilt engine.

[Lyonstexas]

Robert is correct. Trucking companies analyze their oil on a routine basis.

[Jordan_3202000]

Instead of using a "high milage" oil for my car, i just use a thicker oil for added protection. For my 300E i use Mobil-1 15W-50.

[Robert Goodwin]

15W50 MOBIL-1 sounds awful thick for a gas engine with such low mileage. I remember using 5W30 in my 91 Mercury Grand Marquis well past 125K. Now I use MOBIL-1 0W40 in both the E300D (182K) and the 300SDL (152K).Neither of these cars has ever "used" oil although, they both had leaks that have been fixed. Are you using the thicker oil because of leaks, burning or other consumption reasons?

[Jordan_3202000]

Actually i use the thick oil mostly to protect the engine from alot of hard driving, the car sees quite a bit of Autocross use, as well as a lot of foot to the floor driving. This preticular oil is sold as mobil 1's "Performance Driving Formula" and says it "Provides excallant protection during high performance driving," as of yet, the car does not use any oil, and the engine still runs strong after 16 years of driving the car can still run 0-60 in 8.5 seconds (i think the offical figure for that car when new was 8.3 seconds). My dad has also used that oil ever since he got the car up until he gave it to me, and i attribute that to why the engine still runs as strong as it does, so i'm gonna keep on using that oil as long as i own the car.

[Robert Goodwin]

Sounds good. It's hard to go against what works.

[Robby Ackerman]

Allen

The problem with the MLs was they started with the flexible service plan and the extended mileage between changes ended up damaging the engines. The fix was simple. They increased the frequency of oil changes.

SWEPCO makes good motor oils, including transmission fluids and grease. Their 306 product line of engine oils can accomodate long drain services.

www.swepcousa.com

We are using their 306 multi-grade oil in the rally car we will be using in the Classic Adelaide in Tasmania and South Australia. Products are a bit pricy, but you get what you pay for.

[bill streep]

Robby, which car are you taking?

[Robby Ackerman]

Bill

This is the car we will be using, which is Bruce Adam's 1955 190SLR. This shot was taken two weeks ago at Sears Point Raceway. We sorted out the rear suspension and the car is ready for shipping.

http://www.iandonald.com/061704/0617043/ppages/ppage28.htm

[Robby Ackerman]

Here is a shot of the car as we were leaving the Sonoma Lodge and heading out to Sears Point.

[sid_farkus]

I just use Mobil Delvac 1300 15-40 in my '86 300E. (60K). Comes in a 4-gal. case for 30 bucks.