Engine oil brand and type

[kampala]

Using this -   They state 1310 - 1400 ZDDP

[mdsalemi]

A standard ExxonMobil Super 2000 10w40 contains around 1000ppm ZDDP (for those of you who are scared by a ZDDP level less than 1000) and fulfills the MB sheet recommendations.

(operating the M127.981 with Mobil1 FS 0W-40)

"ExxonMobil Super 2000" is not a product available in the USA. Many of these manufacturers change their names and offerings in different markets, so what Mauro can find in Italy isn't necessarily exactly what you may find in Australia or France. Aside from their big brand of Mobil1 ExxonMobil does make other oils in synthetic blends as well as non-synthetic. Not always easy to get the specs on those. They make it nice with the Mobil1 line, a tidy organized chart!

There are several Mobil 1 0W-40 oils for the USA market:

ESP-X3
ESP Formula
FS

All with 900+ zinc and phosphorus content, both

@Ed Riefstahl, ZDDP = Zinc dialkyldithiophosphate(s). It is how they get zinc into the engine oil formulation.

[MikeSimon]

  The biggest topic was disposal of used engine oil - I had to make arrangement with a nearby shop to take it from me to utilize properly.

Another thing that may be different around the world.
Here in Ohio - can't speak for other states - all places that sell engine oil are legally required to take back "used" oil. They do not require that you bought it there. I usually drop my drained oil at Autozone.

[mauro12]

I have the original owners’s manual but I believe that using a too thing oil is not the best idea for our car .
Also I realized that most of the oil viscosity grades and no longer sold .

[MikeSimon]

The basic engines haven't really changed through the years since the 60s/70s. Most changes that affected engine oils were due to catalytic converters, other emission issues and federal mandated friction inhibitors. As far as lubrication needs are concerned, there are plenty of oils around that give us what we need for our cars. Also, as the cars have moved away from the status of daily driver around the year, the loads and requirements on the engine are not as severe anymore than they used to be. Thus, alternatives to originally specified oil grades are acceptable.

[MikeSimon]

I found a diagram in one of my many operating manuals. Without making a preference for a weight, I thought it was interesting to see what the German engineers of that particular vehicle thought was the difference in temperature range. While I was always of the opinion that the high number of a multi-range oil would cover the same temperature range, this here says different. A 20W50 goes for a higher temp than a 15W50...

[Merc_Girl]

I use this one

[Jowe]

Then we are two. https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=36551.msg267581#msg267581

I use this one

[Pawel66]

I use this one

Me too.

[jkmmrs]

FWIW, my very experienced German-born mechanic said to use a minimum of 40w for the top number on these overhead cam engines. He has seen lots of cam lobe wear on such engines, which he attributes to the use of 30w oils as recommended in the owners manual.

[rwmastel]

A 20W50 goes for a higher temp than a 15W50...

Mike,
That is interesting.  Not so much so that I'll spend time researching, but if someone already knows why the three "50 weight" oils in your chart have different max operating temp ranges, I'll listen to their explanation. 

[DaveinOC]

Hi All,

I guess I'm kinda late to the party here but after reading this thread a few weeks ago I decided to change my oil and filter as it's been a year or two but only about 500  miles. (I never could cinvince my late MIL that changing her Camry's oil every 90 days at the dealer like their postcard said was not really required) Michael Salemi has a lot of good info (as always) and he convinced me that a "streeet" oil intended for gasoline engines and not specifically diesel is a good bet. FWIW I found that my local Wally's currently sells the Mobil 1 15w50 in a 5 qt. jug for $26.95 with another qt. for about $8. I don't like walking from one end of the store to get to the auto section so the curbside pickup is great while it's still at no additional charge.

Times sure have changed sine the 70s when I worked in an indy mercedes shop where we put Valvoline straight 30 weight in everything from diesels to 300 SLs!

Dave

[mdsalemi]

...my local Wally's currently sells the Mobil 1 15w50 in a 5 qt. jug for $26.95 with another qt. for about $8. I don't like walking from one end of the store to get to the auto section so the curbside pickup is great while it's still at no additional charge.

I think that's a pretty good price for the 5 quart 15W50! I think I have the next 2-3 oil changes in stock (along with panic buying of a lifetime of spark plugs!). When my car came out of restoration some 23 years ago, nobody was talking about ZDDP and zinc/phosphorus levels. My old school thoughts were simply older, import and  "performance engines" used heavier weight oil, particularly in the summer. 10W-40 was for domestics, we always used Castrol 20W-50 in the imports. Little did I know just how high revving the Pagoda engines are, but I started with a -50 Mobil 1 from the start. It was only when the zinc and phosphorus issues came to everyone's attention did I start reading the details on the Mobil 1 spec sheets, and choosing the one with an educated eye.

So the oil YOU use, Dave, is the same oil I use, and is the Mobil1 full synthetic with the high levels of zinc and phosphorus specified for our cars. Some others come close. Of course it is just one of many suitable oils, and I think most of the top manufacturers have something that works.

PS. That's one crazy Toyota dealer "suggesting" to the MIL that every 90 days she needs the oil changed...