3 Tips for Choosing the Right Oil for Your Mercedes

There are many different types of oil out there, so how do you know which one is best for your Mercedes? Oils created for engines include conventional, premium conventional, full-synthetic, synthetic -blend, and high mileage oils.

There are recommendations in your owner’s manual to see which viscosities and oil types the manufacturers recommend. If you are driving a Mercedes, then it is recommended that you only use synthetic oil in your vehicle. Here are some tips that will help you choose the right oil for your vehicle.

Know Your Oil

Typically, a manufacturer will suggest two or more different types of oil viscosities for your car. One example could be 5W-20 or 5W-30. Knowing what these numbers mean will help you choose the right oil for your vehicle. Different oil viscosities are created based on operating conditions, specifically temperatures, that your vehicle will be running in. The idea is to find a viscosity that ensures the oil won’t thin or thicken too much while driving.

Viscosity is a fluid’s resistance to flow and is displayed as XW-XX. The number that is in front of the W tells you the oil’s flow at 0 degrees Farenheit while the W stands for winter. If you live in a colder climate, you want a lower viscosity, like a 0W or a 5W, because it will thicken less in the cold than a higher number, such as a 10W.

The second set of numbers is the oil viscosity measured at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. This number shows how resistant the oil is to thinning out at high temperatures. The higher the number, the less the oil will thin out. Therefore, if you have a 10W-30, it will thin out faster than a 10W-40.

Benefits of Synthetic Oil

Synthetic oils have several benefits. Some benefits include better flow in cold weather, allowing the car to start easier. The viscosity of the oil is also more resistant to changes at high temperatures, which can prevent damage to the engine. Avoiding changes in the viscosity allows you to reduce the chance of evaporation of molecules, which can cause metal on metal contact and create permanent damage to the vehicle. Other benefits include smoother and cooler engine operation, which leads to more horsepower and better gas mileage.

Disadvantages of Synthetic Oil

A disadvantage to using synthetic oil is that it is quite expensive and can cost at least twice as much as conventional oils. The bonus is that you can get away with waiting longer between oil changes, which can make up for a bit of the cost of the oil. Make sure you are careful of which synthetic oil you are using, as cheap ones can have inferior additives that can deteriorate quickly and cause damage to your vehicle.

Knowing about which type of oil is best for your vehicle is important. Without that knowledge, you can damage your vehicle. For more information about recommended oil in your Mercedes, you can contact the service department at Mercedes -Benz of Pleasanton for answers all your questions.