Mercedes 300SL

[Hendog]

Another oil question. I posted this on PeachParts (MB SL forum), so I just copied and pasted below:

My brother in law owns a 1990 300SL. It is in new condition. He bought it approximately two years ago with only 9,000 Km on the clock. It now has approx 11,000 Km.

I visited him this weekend and we talked cars of course. He is not mechanically inclined yet he has been a "car nut" his entire life. His passion lies more to maintaining the originality of a car to the point of perfection. I on the other hand am somewhat mechanically inclined, since I own and wrench on my '87 Porsche 911. As a matter of fact I found this forum by searching for it on the Pelican Parts forum; but I digress.

The question I have is one of oil. Which oil to use?

The manual indicated 20W50 for +10 degree celsius and up climate; which would suit his situation. In my 911 I too run 20W50. Given the cams and rockers of that era, we want to have the proper content of friction modifiers (ZDDP). The Brad Penn oil is consistent with this. Are there any reasons he should NOT use this oil?

[speeder]

Yes. His wallet will get galled from lack of lubrication while it's being evacuated. Seriously, any 20W50 or 15W40 with the right alphabet soup on the bottle will be fine and probably exceed the original requirements when the car was new.

The oil change intervals in the owners manual should be followed and always change the filter with a good name brand item, ie. Knecht/Mahle/Mann or Original MB.