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12/03/2003
06:50:55

Subject: Amsoil, Mobil 1, Mercedes Lawsuit - Synthetic
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In response to "hkDak"'s post on 5/12/2003 @ 15:17:25, and as an addition to my earlier post "AmsoilSponsor" on 5/12/2003 @ 15:38:27 ... I add the following as reported in a respected Industry Magazine ... LUBE REPORT - Industry News From Lubes-n-Greases:

Canadian Sues Mercedes Over Oil Guidance

By Tim Sullivan

After observing the success of a similar case in the United States, a Canadian man has filed a lawsuit claiming Mercedes-Benz set motorists up for engine damage by failing to advise them to use synthetic motor oil.

Toronto resident Michael Malc asked the Ontario Superior Court of Justice last month to certify the case as a class action suit in Canada. Mercedes-Benz settled the U.S. case earlier this year but has vowed to fight the action north of the border.

Like the case in the United States, the Canadian suit complains about the manufacturer's oil use recommendations for new vehicles sold between 1998 and mid-2001. According to the suit, filed earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz Canada sold 40,000 vehicles during that period equipped with “flexible service systems” designed to alert motorists when the engine’s oil needed to be changed.

Rather than analyze the oil, the system makes such recommendations based on factors such as passage of time and driving speed. Mercedes-Benz said previously that the system begins with a minimum interval of 10,000 miles and adjusts upwards as it detects favorable conditions, such as highway travel.

But Malc, who drives a 1998 Mercedes C230, alleges that the system was programmed based on the assumption that crankcases would be filled with synthetic motor oil. It was not until July 2001 that the carmaker advised specifically that synthetic oils should be used.

The suit claims that vehicles subjected to long intervals with conventional motor oil suffered extensive wear and damage and that operators run risk of injury if, for example, their engines seize during travel.

Malc’s lawyer, Harvin Pitch, said his client’s car hasn’t shown signs of engine damage yet, but that he fears it will in the future.

“You just don’t know how much it may have been damaged and what kinds of problems he could have in the future,” Pitch said.

Malc’s suit seeks Canadian $500 million (U.S. $385 million) in damages, but Pitch said he would be satisfied with a settlement like the one reached in the United States, where Mercedes-Benz agreed to extend warranties and mail owners coupons for a free oil change. When it entered the settlement, Mercedes-Benz denied wrongdoing and contended that conventional motor oils should withstand intervals of 10,000 to 20,000 miles.

The estimated cost of the U.S. settlement – which covered more than 350,000 vehicles – was U.S. $32 million. Malc’s suit says there are 40,000 at-risk vehicles in Canada.

“We think the settlement in the U.S. was fair and we would be satisfied with that,” Pitch said.

Mercedes-Benz Canada Director of Marketing and Public Relations JoAnne Caza described Malc’s filing as a “copycat suit,” but said the company has no intention of settling again.

“The conditions here in Canada are different and we intend to fight this suit in court,” she said. Caza declined to discuss how circumstances in Canada differ from those in the United States, and Pitch said the company has not disclosed its position to him. Pitch noted one difference, saying that the 2001 recommendation to use synthetic oil went directly to customers in the United States but was distributed to dealers in Canada.

Pitch said he expects a ruling in February on the request to certify the case as a class action suit. He added that the case will probably be tried in 2004.
--------------------------------------------------

To request a FREE Amsoil Catalog offering Synthetic Oils, Lubes, Greases, and Filters ... click the following link.




Steven Roark , Amsoil Dealer , Proud Sponsor of www.DodgeDakotas.com

AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils, Lubricants, Filtration, and Truck Care Products



Buck
Dodge Dakota
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12/26/2003
08:47:06

Mercedes Lawsuit - Synthetic
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Well it took me about a half hour to find this thread so I could post. My neighbors M-B just blew up because he was waiting for the change oil monitor to tell him that it was time. I needed the information here to help him with his problem. Thanks everyone for the info.



Matt03DAK
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12/26/2003
12:53:59

Amsoil, Mobil 1, Mercedes Lawsuit - Synthetic
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How many miles did your neighbor run on the same oil? I ask because unless the oil had seen an absurd amount of time in the crankcase, I doubt the engine failure was lube related.



92Dakota4x4
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12/26/2003
14:07:38

Amsoil, Mobil 1, Mercedes Lawsuit - Synthetic
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What do you mean "blew-up" ??? I am a MB tech...details please, maybe I can Help...



Dr. D
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12/26/2003
18:51:00

Amsoil, Mobil 1, Mercedes Lawsuit - Synthetic
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A lot of the new Mercedes engines have NO oil draim plugs.

You or the tech must have a topside oil changing system and suck the oil out of the dipstick tube.

I think it's just plain STUPID !

Dr. D

p.s.
and as far as the lawsuits against Mercedes go .... Shouldn't everybody be using synthetics ?



92Dakota4x4
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12/26/2003
19:20:05

Amsoil, Mobil 1, Mercedes Lawsuit - Synthetic
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Most of the new ones dont have dipsticks either. We have a lot of problems with high oil warning light coming on...No dipsticks is REALLY stupid.



Dr. D
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12/27/2003
15:52:51

Amsoil, Mobil 1, Mercedes Lawsuit - Synthetic
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That is why I would not buy a 2003 Ford Explorer that I
could have really gotten a good deal on.

The D@MN thing had NO transmission dipstick tube and
NO
way to allow the owner to add any fluid.

What if you were 100 's of miles from home and had a
leaking transmission .... What could you do ?

Dr. D



Pyro
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12/28/2003
06:51:10

Amsoil, Mobil 1, Mercedes Lawsuit - Synthetic
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Light it and feel the warmth.



Art2
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12/28/2003
15:56:39

Amsoil, Mobil 1, Mercedes Lawsuit - Synthetic
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How the fu** do you change the oil with no drain plug or dipstick??



Rob454
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12/28/2003
19:13:01

Amsoil, Mobil 1, Mercedes Lawsuit - Synthetic
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Art2
the way you do it is you drop the tranny pan or drop the oil pan. On my next tranny fluid change Im having the shop install a drain plug so its not so messy to do it myself
Rob



Art2
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12/29/2003
10:09:52

Amsoil, Mobil 1, Mercedes Lawsuit - Synthetic
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LOL,ya well how do you fill the trans back up with no dipstick?? droping the oilpan to change your engine oil is about as smart as changing your windshield because you wipers dont clean well anymore!



92Dakota4x4
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12/29/2003
19:44:46

Amsoil, Mobil 1, Mercedes Lawsuit - Synthetic
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Mercedes has what appears to be a dipstick "tube" in which a thin long hose is inserted and sucks the oil out of the engine.



Art2
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12/29/2003
21:01:32

Amsoil, Mobil 1, Mercedes Lawsuit - Synthetic
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Thats completely stupid that motor vac system does not do as good a job of getting the old oil as a drain plug in the low spot of the oil pan.All new vehicles are cheaply made expensive junk!!



Buck
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12/31/2003
09:23:02

Amsoil, Mobil 1, Mercedes Lawsuit - Synthetic
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Matt

I don't know, but he was blowing smoke and the engine was noisey.



HelpfulDak
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6/30/2004
12:38:07

Amsoil, Mobil 1, Mercedes Lawsuit - Synthetic
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Mercedes-Benz Owners Receive $32 Million Settlement
A U.S. District Court judge in Philadelphia has awarded a $32 million class action settlement to American owners of Mercedes-Benz vehicles due to the company’s failure to specify the use of synthetic motor oils with its Flexible Service System (FSS). Many motorists who have used conventional oils with the system have experienced premature engine wear problems. The settlement requires Mercedes-Benz to cover repairs estimated at $20 million and supply 350,000 owners and lessees with vouchers for free synthetic oil changes.

The Mercedes-Benz Flexible Service System was included on nearly all Mercedes-Benz models sold in the U.S. from 1998 to 2001. It utilizes an electronic device that monitors engine oil life by measuring factors such as engine temperature, oil level, vehicle speed, engine speed, distance driven and time since last service. Beginning with a 10,000-mile minimum drain interval, the system adjusts the interval upward as it detects favorable engine and driving conditions.

Through the Flexible Service System, motorists extended their drain intervals to an average of 12,000 miles, with some reaching as high as 20,000 miles. The problem is that owners manuals and promotional materials advised consumers to use conventional motor oils, which failed to maintain protection or performance throughout the extended drain intervals.





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7/02/2004
09:27:39

Amsoil Synthetic 5W-40 European Engine Oil Amzoil
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The solution = Synthetic Motor Oil ...

Amsoil Synthetic 5W-40 European Engine Oil

Superior Protection and Performance
for Gasoline and Diesel European Vehicles
API SL, CI-4, CF

AMSOIL Synthetic 5W-40 European Engine Oil is specially formulated for the lubrication needs of European gasoline and diesel cars and light trucks. Formulated with advanced AMSOIL polyalphaolefin (PAO) synthetic base stocks, premium additives and a broad 5w-40 viscosity rating. AMSOIL 5w-40 allows motorists to take advantage of the maximum extended drain intervals recommended by European automakers while providing second-to-none protection and performance in the most demanding operating conditions. Product Code: AFL


_____ _____


Maximum Engine Protection

AMSOIL Synthetic 5w-40 European Engine Oil surpasses the North American SAE and European ACEA oil specifications for high temperature/high shear (HTHS) viscosity. It does not shear back to a lower viscosity oil in the high temperature/high shear conditions of today's smaller, high RPM automobile engines. AMSOIL 5W-40 contains high quality anti-wear additives for superior engine protection. It resists the damaging effects of heat, blowby chemicals and oxidation for extended drain intervals, providing cool, clean and efficient engine performance.

Meets or exceeds the following specifications for domestic and foreign gasoline engines: API SL, CI-4, CF; ACEA A3, B3, B4; BMW LL-01/98; Daimler Chrysler 229.3, 229.4, 229.5; Opel Long Life Service Fill GM-LL-A-025; Opel Diesel Service ill GM-LL-B-025; Porsche; Volvo; Saab; Volkswagen 502.00, 505.00, 503.01;
__________________________________________________

For more information regarding Amsoil's Complete Line Of Synthetic Motor Oils, ATF, Gear Lubes, and Filters ... you can Request a FREE Amsoil Catalog by clicking the following link.



Steven Roark , Amsoil Dealer , Proud Sponsor of www.DodgeDakotas.com

AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils, Lubricants, Filtration, and Truck Care Products



Freddy Dee
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4/23/2006
08:53:25

Amsoil, Mobil 1, Mercedes Lawsuit - Synthetic
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When will American drivers realize that conventional oils simply cannot protect your engine like synthetics? I wonder if any of these dino dung users would prefer their dino juice on the jets they are flying at 40,000 ft? Oh,take that back,the plane would not even get off the ground.



02dak
Dodge Dakota
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4/23/2006
10:40:20

Amsoil, Mobil 1, Mercedes Lawsuit - Synthetic
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Way to respond to a thread from 2 years ago.



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