Best oil for 500E with extended drain intervals?

[dinbirb]

I am currently looking for the best oil for my 500E. After reading through some older posts here on the board, I understand that Group IV or V base stocks (true synthetics) are preferred for their stability and high ZDDP levels.

Since I’m looking for an oil that can handle longer service intervals without shearing down or causing high consumption, what is the current "gold standard"?

Is Red Line 10W-40 still the top recommendation for extended drains, or are there newer alternatives I should consider?

 

[gerryvz]

Not sure why you would want to go with extended drain intervals. I would NOT go more than 7,500 miles (12,000 km) even with a Group IV/V synthetic. IMHO 10,000 miles (16,000 km) is too far.

It’s cheap insurance to change oil and filter every 5K miles (8,000-10,000 km) with a synthetic.

If you can get RedLine, great. The other oil I’d consider would be Motul. I think it’s called Motul 300V.

Do NOT push a Dino (Group III or below) oil past 5,000 miles (8,000 km). 3,000 miles (5,000 km) is better.

 

[gsxr]

Ditto what Gerry said above. ^^^

One clarification: Group IV/V base stock oils do not automatically have higher ZDDP levels. The additive package (which includes varying levels of ZDDP) is different between any/all oils. For the M119 engine specifically, high ZDDP is not necessary, but also doesn't hurt - as long as the levels remain below ~1300ppm or so. Above that (say, 1600+) they can damage the catalytic converter. This is why you do not use "race only" oils, which may have extremely high ZDDP, but also do not have catalysts. The M117 engine must have high ZDDP to keep the valvetrain intact, but that's a totally different motor.

You definitely want Group IV/V for extended drain intervals though, as Group III will shear down at some point and start "burning" oil, until the next change.

And, a question: What "extended" drain interval are you considering? 5k? 7.5k? 10k? Beyond? Etc.

But yes, I am still using Red Line 10W-40 in cars I care about, despite the now-exorbitant cost (~$16/qt!). Motul 300V is great stuff but even more expensive... and, be careful which variant you select (Competition, Power, Offroad, Factory Line, etc)... they are all different. I don't know the Motul lineup well enough to recommend a specific one.

 

[dinbirb]

Ditto what Gerry said above. ^^^

One clarification: Group IV/V base stock oils do not automatically have higher ZDDP levels. The additive package (which includes varying levels of ZDDP) is different between any/all oils. For the M119 engine specifically, high ZDDP is not necessary, but also doesn't hurt - as long as the levels remain below ~1300ppm or so. Above that (say, 1600+) they can damage the catalytic converter. This is why you do not use "race only" oils, which may have extremely high ZDDP, but also do not have catalysts. The M117 engine must have high ZDDP to keep the valvetrain intact, but that's a totally different motor.

You definitely want Group IV/V for extended drain intervals though, as Group III will shear down at some point and start "burning" oil, until the next change.

And, a question: What "extended" drain interval are you considering? 5k? 7.5k? 10k? Beyond? Etc.

But yes, I am still using Red Line 10W-40 in cars I care about, despite the now-exorbitant cost (~$16/qt!). Motul 300V is great stuff but even more expensive... and, be careful which variant you select (Competition, Power, Offroad, Factory Line, etc)... they are all different. I don't know the Motul lineup well enough to recommend a specific one.

Thank you

To answer your question: I am looking for a drain interval between 6,000 and 10,000 km (roughly 3,700 to 6,200 miles).

What do you think about Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40? It carries the MB 229.5 specification and is very popular here in Europe. Would this oil be suitable for that interval in the M119, or should I still prioritize a Group IV/V oil like Red Line to avoid the shear-down and oil burning issues you mentioned?

 

[gsxr]

To answer your question: I am looking for a drain interval between 6,000 and 10,000 km (roughly 3,700 to 6,200 miles).

Got it. No problem at all with that interval. You could even get away with a Group III oil at those intervals. IME, the Group III's begin to shear down beyond ~7kmi / 11kkm, when I was changing at 10kmi / 16kkm in some of my cars (M119 or OM60x).

What do you think about Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40? It carries the MB 229.5 specification and is very popular here in Europe. Would this oil be suitable for that interval in the M119, or should I still prioritize a Group IV/V oil like Red Line to avoid the shear-down and oil burning issues you mentioned?

Should be totally fine with the intervals you mentioned above. The Shell isn't much cheaper than Red Line in USA, but if you are in Europe, the Shell may be substantially lower vs Red Line.

 

[szvook]

If running Motul 300V for street use only, Competition or Power are the two to use. They can hold up beyond 10,000 miles and although a Blackstone analysis report has confirmed that, I would not run them for that long. I run Motul 300V Competition in my whip and never go past 6,000 miles.

 

[szvook]

Here’s an analysis report from Blackstone for Motul 300V 5W/30 Power. The driver also did 4 track days on the oil. He ran 9,130 miles and was told he could go 2,000 miles longer.

 

[wbjrace]

Not sure why you would want to go with extended drain intervals. I would NOT go more than 7,500 miles (12,000 km) even with a Group IV/V synthetic. IMHO 10,000 miles (16,000 km) is too far.

It’s cheap insurance to change oil and filter every 5K miles (8,000-10,000 km) with a synthetic.

If you can get RedLine, great. The other oil I’d consider would be Motul. I think it’s called Motul 300V.

Do NOT push a Dino (Group III or below) oil past 5,000 miles (8,000 km). 3,000 miles (5,000 km) is better.

Gerry Did you tell us at one that DELVAC Extreme 15/40 diesel oil was a full synthetic?

 

[gsxr]

Gerry Did you tell us at one that DELVAC Extreme 15/40 diesel oil was a full synthetic?

Mobil Delvac™ Extreme 15W-40 | Mobil Delvac™ Engine Oils

Learn how Mobil Delvac™ Extreme 15W-40 synthetic diesel oils can help prolong engine life and reduce oil changes.

www.mobil.com

 

[gerryvz]

Gerry Did you tell us at one that DELVAC Extreme 15/40 diesel oil was a full synthetic?

Not me. I've never used a synthetic diesel-rated oil. Only Chevron DELO 400 15W-40, which is a Group III "dino" oil. Although I believe they may have stopped making it......and replaced it with a supposed "synthetic" version.....