1MAX2NV

iTrader: (5)

Is it true MB S500 only needs to change the motor oil every 100K miles? Is this a myth? How is it possible? Can anyone confirm this in MB's owners manual?

iwannabmw

iTrader: (3)

Highly unlikely, where did you hear that?

The claim is probably 100K between tune-ups.

1MAX2NV

iTrader: (5)

My GF's college professor said infront of his class. She told me about it. I didn't believe it but then again I never knew anyone that has a MB S500 personally.

dwapenyi

iTrader: (3)

Yeah, what he said. Most people consider a tune-up an oil change, among other things. The only way for a car to last that long between changes is to have massive oil capacity and huge filters, like 18 wheeler trucks. They can go 20 to 40K miles between oil changes.

Mercedes and BMW do tend to have larger oil capacities than most other cars, and I think filters, too. Bit not 100K miles big!

DW

bill99gxe

iTrader: (1)

If I keep the Minima, then I'll be going with an oil-bypass system and I'll run Amsoil and never change anything but the filters.



Several Amsoil testimonials have folks going 200k without oil changes with the bypass filtration system.

IceY2K1

iTrader: (3)

What's that? Links?

iwannabmw

iTrader: (3)

http://www.mdvsynthetics.com/guides/...filtration.htm
http://www.mdvsynthetics.com/guides/bypass.htm

The second link is kinda redundant and slow to load, but does have some different info on it.

Have you gotten the paperwork from Amsoil yet? If not, I have an e-document you can use if interested. Just let me know.

iwannabmw

iTrader: (3)

Just make sure you do periodic oil analysis to make sure the oil is still serviceable. You know what oil analysis is right

Sorry, couldn't resist.

bill99gxe

iTrader: (1)

http://www.amsoil.com/products/bf.html

bill99gxe

iTrader: (1)

When/if I do this, I'll be using the Fumoto Valve so that I don't lose much oil doing analyses.


For those who don't know, the Fumoto Valve is similar to the recently released Fram Sure Drain plug, basically a no-drain plug removal method to draining your oil.

IceY2K1

iTrader: (3)

Thanks!

NickStam

iTrader: (3)

I've heard this too, but it wasn't explained to me how.

bill99gxe

iTrader: (1)

Basically you interrupt the oil flow at the current filter location, and re-locate a standard SDF filter and bigass small micron filter that are mounted on a bracket, relocating them to another place in the engine bay. On Maximas, I would say the firewall is a safe bet. Then you simply change the filters and "never" the oil. Of course you'll probably lose a quart or less when you change both filters, so 'not changing' is relative.....

iwannabmw

iTrader: (3)

Then this link would be best for you. It's slow because it's all a graphic, but explains the process in more detail.

http://www.mdvsynthetics.com/guides/bypass.htm

oops.... Bill and I seem to be replying at the same time. He basically explained it, but if you want more detail on the process it's in the link.

IceY2K1

iTrader: (3)

I'm seriously considering that high flow/10% bypass setup.

I'll probably wait till the 3yr./36K wears off though.

Finding a good location where you can EASILY change the filters and not make a mess all over the engine bay is the hardest part.

bill99gxe

iTrader: (1)

Honestly, it looks to be a piece of cake in my 3rd gen.


My 4th gen looks a bit tougher.


The 5th gen looks downright impossible from what little I've seen of all the crap that's in the engine bay.....

iwannabmw

iTrader: (3)

NDDST made a box that was the same size as the dual remote system. We found on his 5th gen that it would fit above the left splash guard just behind the radiator. As you're looking down at the engine bay, the support that is to the right is what it would attach to. I didn't measure, but I think it would fit there on a 4th gen as well. Routing the lines is what would be the interesting part in that case.

Anachronism

Correct, most 18 wheelers have an oil capacity of 11 gallons, or 44 quarts. A little impractical in most cars.

For those who are interested the bypass oil filter mounting kit is about $160 and the filters are $25 to 30 if I was looking at the right thing.

iwannabmw

iTrader: (3)

Just the bypass kit is $160 at full retail. The dual remote system which is a better choice is a litle more. I like it because it is more convenient and the install is much easier and completely reversible. I'm offering them discounted 15% off retail to org members. Filters are still available at my cost as well

BTW, 18 wheelers with by-pass filtration have gone 100K+ on a single oil change. Amsoil did a study on a Mack engine that went 409K and was then torn down to study the wear.

pocketrocket

iTrader: (1)

I hope that if the professor owns an S500, he'll take that seriously & not change his oil until 100k miles. Ignorance comes at a price

1HOTMAX

iTrader: (1)

my boss owns a s500 and a custom built s600 v12/ he has Gengis, one of the techs at my work drive it to manhattan mercedes for oil changes once in a while like 3000k miles. i think they use some cheap stuff cause it only cost 43 beans.
that car whooooooooooooops A S S!!!!!!!! i drove it b4 and i fell in love the first time. i'll be getting one when i get older with more money. i was close to buying the one he traded in for his s600. this was last year. a 98 s500 with like less than 20k miles and all the toys for 40k beans!!!!!
i was so close but what stoped me was no one wanted to buy my pos maxima.

Finality

The oil only needs to be changed every 20K Km about 12K miles. I remember cause I did the servicing on my dads car last time I was there

If I remember correctly there is a service @ 5K Km then another about about 12K then you dont need to turn up for a while.

bill99gxe

iTrader: (1)

Wouldn't that require a CAI to do? In looking there, the stock airbox eats up all that space. Now, if an aftermarket intake was there, I would see your point......

caz41

1HOTMAX, you don't want a 98 S500. The W140 series S-Class was the most expensive to maintain that Mercedes built. I've seen average annual operating costs of about $3K-$5K. Anyone who tells you that the S-Class goes 100K miles between oil changes is mistaken. My dealer tells me every 3000 to 3500 miles. If you are serious about the S-class, save your shekels and wait till you can get the 2000 model year and later S-class. Also, might want to look at www.mercedesshop.com

I'm also a Maxima owner I've gotten 234K miles out of my 97 SE with regular oil changes and religous maintenance. Is what I'm hearing about this Amzoil thing true? Has anyone done an oil analysis over a series of years and accumulated mileage?

iwannabmw

iTrader: (3)

Hmmm. Honestly I'm sure on a 4th gen since we didn't try it on my car. His 5th gen has the stock intake and it did fit there just fine. You have to take the splash guard off and go in from the bottom, it won't fit from the top. I didn't really pay any attention to how the 5th gen intake plumbing was different from a 4th gen. I guess now I'm going to have to make a box myself.

iwannabmw

iTrader: (3)

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....hreadid=100060

Bill has spearheaded a collection of oil analysis results from many different vehicles, on different oils, operating in different conditions.

The analysis that sounds similar to the one you are looking for is probably Don Steven's 528e

bill99gxe

iTrader: (1)

o, from underneath......OK.


Yeah, that would make for an interesting oil line run. If I were to do that, I would go to the passenger side and try there first....

iwannabmw

iTrader: (3)

There isn't enough room on the pax side because of the pulleys and accessory belts. I was thinking of mounting it to the side rail just forward or the transaxle, and then running the oil lines along the bottom flange of the radiator.

bill99gxe

iTrader: (1)

yeah, the belts are on that side......


Several guys with auto tranny coolers use the bottom of the radiator for running the extra cooling hoses, so no reason to think you couldn't do the same.

Just try not to have a wreck.

iwannabmw

iTrader: (3)

I haven't had a wreck in 10 years, so I'm either okay, or really overdue

Slightly OT, has anyone from supraforums emailed you any analysis results?

gsleve

That may not be too far off in the near future has anyone here tried or looked at the entire synlube site. They have users of this product going 170,000;60,000 miles without oil changes and only top off's with a filter change in somewhere between 60,000 or even 100,000 miles

caz41

IWANNABMW, thanks for the link!

dmbmaxima2k2

iTrader: (1)

sounds like a good idea but i don't think i'll do it. i'm gonna get one of those valves though.