Realistic oil drain interval?
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 62
From: Port St. Lucie, FL
Mercedes recommends 20K miles oil changes now.
Here's the reasons behind it:
Oil life cycle:
Detergency cycle
5-10ppm per 1000 miles wear rate duration approx 1000 miles
Additive activation (EP additives)
Placement occurs after approx 50 hours of run time at normal operating temperature
Affected components: Cam, Lifters, Wrist pin, thrust bearing(s), Cam bearing journals,
After 1000 miles Wear rates drop to approx 1-3 ppm per 1000 miles, partially due to the detergents having done their job
now the additives are able to function uninhibited and prevent further wear. Now the TBN addtives as well as dispersents
will prevent the conglomeration of the combustion by-products and keep them evenly dispersed in the oil.
FWIW, an engine running a proper oil forumulation is generating wear metals to small to be removed by the oil filter. Typical wear metals and combustion
by-products are in the 50 nanometer to 1 micron range. The engines oil filter at best can only capture 7 micron particles with 90% efficiency.
After 20,000 miles without an oil change wear rates will still be at the 3-7ppm per 1000 mile range which is LESS than what occured in the 1st 1000 miles of the oils life.
If you plot the ACTUAL metals generated and with oil changes at anything less than 10K result in higher wear than if you were to simply run the oil for 25,000 miles.
Take an oil sample after the oil change and after the engine has been brought up to operating temperature. Then again at 500 miles and again at 10,000 miles and post it, that alone will prove that your are wasting not only your time but also showing where the highest wear is occuring. After you see those results you will be inclined to skip the 10K oil change and press on to 20K...
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w211...icament-2.html
Here's the reasons behind it:
Oil life cycle:
Detergency cycle
5-10ppm per 1000 miles wear rate duration approx 1000 miles
Additive activation (EP additives)
Placement occurs after approx 50 hours of run time at normal operating temperature
Affected components: Cam, Lifters, Wrist pin, thrust bearing(s), Cam bearing journals,
After 1000 miles Wear rates drop to approx 1-3 ppm per 1000 miles, partially due to the detergents having done their job
now the additives are able to function uninhibited and prevent further wear. Now the TBN addtives as well as dispersents
will prevent the conglomeration of the combustion by-products and keep them evenly dispersed in the oil.
FWIW, an engine running a proper oil forumulation is generating wear metals to small to be removed by the oil filter. Typical wear metals and combustion
by-products are in the 50 nanometer to 1 micron range. The engines oil filter at best can only capture 7 micron particles with 90% efficiency.
After 20,000 miles without an oil change wear rates will still be at the 3-7ppm per 1000 mile range which is LESS than what occured in the 1st 1000 miles of the oils life.
If you plot the ACTUAL metals generated and with oil changes at anything less than 10K result in higher wear than if you were to simply run the oil for 25,000 miles.
Take an oil sample after the oil change and after the engine has been brought up to operating temperature. Then again at 500 miles and again at 10,000 miles and post it, that alone will prove that your are wasting not only your time but also showing where the highest wear is occuring. After you see those results you will be inclined to skip the 10K oil change and press on to 20K...
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w211...icament-2.html
I run mine to 5,000 & dump it but when I change it I use a Rogue Chopper Scavanger so I drain out all the dirty oil in stead of leaving dirty oil in the sump. Also replace filter at around 2,500 it's ownly $12.50
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 4,922
Likes: 589
From: Running with the gators
It's more about the filter. Run your redline to 5k, then get it analyzed. If its ok, next time run to 5k change filters then try another three then analyze. That's truly the way.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,020
Likes: 69
From: Twin Cities, MN
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,459
Likes: 2,893
From: Oklahoma
To stretch your oil change interval pretty well requires a sample or two to be analyzed to determine the change interval for YOUR driving techniques and environmental concerns (dust and industrial pollutants). Those who have their oil analyzed seem slow to volunteer the cost so the rest of us must guess. My guess is that the analysis costs the same or more than just changing the oil, so change the oil and don't worry.
Harley says that 5000 miles on dino oil is safe, if syn oil is really better than dino oil, then 5000 miles is a "no brainer" for syn. You may want to go farther, but then you get back into the analysis expense again. So, change your oil at 5000 miles and enjoy the ride, stop worrying about it.
Harley says that 5000 miles on dino oil is safe, if syn oil is really better than dino oil, then 5000 miles is a "no brainer" for syn. You may want to go farther, but then you get back into the analysis expense again. So, change your oil at 5000 miles and enjoy the ride, stop worrying about it.
Road Master
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,140
Likes: 6
From: Arkansas
PS: We aint talkin German here.