I've seen many comments re many different car brands ($5K car or 200K car) & frequent oil changes. Some people are convinced changing oil every 2-3K miles is best for their cars. Have yet to see any remotely convincing evidence of this.

 

Mercedes has used a couple different names --- My current manuals call it FSS (Flexible Service System).

It starts out at 12k (older ones were 10k) -- and it monitors the trips. If you take a lot of longer trips in a short period of time the oil change interval will increase. The car will tell you --- xxx number of miles to your next service.

It is not a simple mile counter like most of them. The car does have an oil sensor that monitors .. something. Mobil 1 0w-40 was specifically developed to be used in these vehicles and has some additive that can be monitored -- I don't know it it changes electrically??

On my high mile MB -- that car will use about 1Qt every 7-8k depending on the type of driving and when I add the quart the service interval will really jump -- sometimes 1k ... so I know it is reading something.

 

After researching oil and, having multiple cars that have gone well over 100K miles, I've come to this simple conclusion.

Synthetics require to be changed at least annually, regardless of mileage.

Dino works well if kept within its suggested operating specs and expected mileage.

Therefore:

Black Betty (XJR100) that only gets 3-5K miles a year, gets dino since I've got to change the oil at least once a year anyway, having an oil that can go 10K+ miles is useless if I only go 4K a year and Synthetic is recommended to be changed at least annually regardless of mileage;

PURRLL (XKR) goes about 10K miles annually and was designed for Synthetic and since I have to change oil annually it's a good choice to keep to OEM recommendations (15K and changed annually) and the vehicle usage matches the specs of the OEM oil specs.;

The OL' Jag (1985 XJ6) burns, leaks and expels oil at an alarming rate yet is only driven 2K - 4K winter/snow miles a year gets Dino that is refilled on a regular basis, no sense putting $9/qt. oil in a car that uses or leaks $3/qt. oil in 500 or less miles;

Timmy (1969 TR-6) only goes a couple thousand miles annually with the Top Down in the summer so to put in 10-15K mile oil is a waste of funds. Besides, there's nothing easier than changing the oil on a Triumph;

Wife's car that goes 18K a year gets Synthetic since it limits the amount of downtime and shop time for simple maintenance;

Kid's car that goes 15K a year gets Synthetic since I can rarely get him out of it for enough time to change the oil or any other maintenance item for that matter, 4K intervals make no sense for his 100K+ vehicle.

Hope this helps. Dino is good for some and Synthetic is good for others. There is no "one magic bullet", it all depends upon the vehicle's usage, condition and needs.

 

That analysis actually makes sense to me!

 

Synthetics require to be changed at least annually, regardless of mileage.


Porsche/ Mobil 1 say two years -- increased additive pack. The major concern would be acid buildup ... and modern engines don't have the problem.

I have not changed my low mile cars with synthetic at 1 year since about 1998. I use synthetic in them due tot he fact that 0W-40 is not available in anything else.

On the long interval changes - have to use a high quality filter .. I stick to OE for that reason.

 

I was looking for a hint on this motor oil:

Castrol 03101 EDGE 0W-40 A3/B4 Advanced Full Synthetic Motor Oil

should it be good for a 1998 XJR, california weather ?
thanks