Oil Changes - I Think I am Done
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08 MB
Oil Changes - I Think I am Done
I completed my third oil change on this car and each time it seems to be more of hassle. Maybe chalk it up to being busier these days with a family and house to occupy my time but the pride and enjoyment of working on my own cars is fading, especially anything fluid related(gas, oil coolant, etc.)
I'm assuming the almost 9 quarts of oil gushing out lead to the "heavy" splash mess when draining the pan. Then there's the crawling halfway under the car to remove the undercarriage pan to access the drain plug. In my older years I am more paranoid of tool failure(jack failing) so out with the jack and jack stands. After that mess is complete one still has to transfer the oil to a container (even more mess to wipe up) and go to a recycling facility.
So between storing cardboard, endless amounts of rags, and getting nice and dirty I think I'll start to leave this to a shop to do. That's my one of many rants for the day.
I'm assuming the almost 9 quarts of oil gushing out lead to the "heavy" splash mess when draining the pan. Then there's the crawling halfway under the car to remove the undercarriage pan to access the drain plug. In my older years I am more paranoid of tool failure(jack failing) so out with the jack and jack stands. After that mess is complete one still has to transfer the oil to a container (even more mess to wipe up) and go to a recycling facility.
So between storing cardboard, endless amounts of rags, and getting nice and dirty I think I'll start to leave this to a shop to do. That's my one of many rants for the day.
Out Of Control!!
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From: OC
a quarter mile at a time
why don't you just use a mityvac? It's been proven to extract just as much oil as when done through the drain plug, and the method is preffered by MB. It's no mess and you don't have to jack up the car at all. Takes 20 minutes to do a complete oil change if you know what you're doing.
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C
why don't you just use a mityvac? It's been proven to extract just as much oil as when done through the drain plug, and the method is preffered by MB. It's no mess and you don't have to jack up the car at all. Takes 20 minutes to do a complete oil change if you know what you're doing.
Thread Starter
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08 MB
Buying the extraction tool and trying it out for myself would not be such a big deal if I didn't already have 50 times more tools than I really need already. I'm running out of storage room to keep a tidy and organized garage the way it is.
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From: eNyCe
Steel Grey Metallic C63!!
I have read just as many negatives as positives with the top extraction being accurate at draining fully. Not to mention the inability to remove any foreign debris that settles at the bottom of the pan.
Buying the extraction tool and trying it out for myself would not be such a big deal if I didn't already have 50 times more tools than I really need already. I'm running out of storage room to keep a tidy and organized garage the way it is.
Buying the extraction tool and trying it out for myself would not be such a big deal if I didn't already have 50 times more tools than I really need already. I'm running out of storage room to keep a tidy and organized garage the way it is.
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Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Las Vegas, NV
C300 4MATIC (w204)
I have read just as many negatives as positives with the top extraction being accurate at draining fully. Not to mention the inability to remove any foreign debris that settles at the bottom of the pan.
Buying the extraction tool and trying it out for myself would not be such a big deal if I didn't already have 50 times more tools than I really need already. I'm running out of storage room to keep a tidy and organized garage the way it is.
Buying the extraction tool and trying it out for myself would not be such a big deal if I didn't already have 50 times more tools than I really need already. I'm running out of storage room to keep a tidy and organized garage the way it is.
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Out Of Control!!
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From: OC
a quarter mile at a time
Not sure if your negatives were specific to MB engines. A M272 engined w203 was tested and a negligible ammount was removed after each of the methods using the other method. So after an extraction done, very little if any was left to drain out of the drain plug and vice versa. Also, the fluid flows pretty quicly using the vaccum method, I doubt any particles would not be sucked up with the oil, and if there are any too large for the extractor tube, you have larger issues with your engine.
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From: DC Metro Area
08 C350 Sport
I found easier solution for $100 a good shop will replace the oil with Mobil1 0-40 and they will drain the oil from the drain plug. I think $100 worth the change including oil and filter, considering shop is good and they will use what asked to use.
I love working on my cars, but without lift it is not an easy solution.
I love working on my cars, but without lift it is not an easy solution.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: MD
2014 E350 4Matic
I found easier solution for $100 a good shop will replace the oil with Mobil1 0-40 and they will drain the oil from the drain plug. I think $100 worth the change including oil and filter, considering shop is good and they will use what asked to use.
I love working on my cars, but without lift it is not an easy solution.
I love working on my cars, but without lift it is not an easy solution.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Southeast
2008 C300 Sport, RWD, US
I found easier solution for $100 a good shop will replace the oil with Mobil1 0-40 and they will drain the oil from the drain plug. I think $100 worth the change including oil and filter, considering shop is good and they will use what asked to use.
I love working on my cars, but without lift it is not an easy solution.
I love working on my cars, but without lift it is not an easy solution.
You kind of need a way of getting under you car anyway, but for oil changes, as others have said, just suck it out from the top. Just remember not to swallow.
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08 MB
The more I think about the inconvenience of getting to the oil plug on this car and draining from it I think maybe MB designed the motor to be extracted from the top as the shops are set up to do this as you say.
The motor is truly accessible to work on otherwise for many other things so I found it odd that draining oil was such a hassle.
Maybe my old school ways need to be modified in this case.
The motor is truly accessible to work on otherwise for many other things so I found it odd that draining oil was such a hassle.
Maybe my old school ways need to be modified in this case.
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From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C300 Sport 6 Speed Manual, 1953 Chevy Bel-Air, 2015 Audi allroad, 1963 Chevy Apache
That is the point that finally led me to accept the suction method's effectiveness.
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From: NoVa
2004 S55 (SOLD, miss it every day), 2009 GL550
why don't you just use a mityvac? It's been proven to extract just as much oil as when done through the drain plug, and the method is preffered by MB. It's no mess and you don't have to jack up the car at all. Takes 20 minutes to do a complete oil change if you know what you're doing.
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From: East Bay, CA
2010 E550 Coupe Arctic White P2 Appearance
I know this is a silly question to ask but where is the oil filter located on the 2010 E550 Coupe, I opened the hood and was looking around and could not see it.
Out Of Control!!
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From: OC
a quarter mile at a time
The more I think about the inconvenience of getting to the oil plug on this car and draining from it I think maybe MB designed the motor to be extracted from the top as the shops are set up to do this as you say.
The motor is truly accessible to work on otherwise for many other things so I found it odd that draining oil was such a hassle.
Maybe my old school ways need to be modified in this case.
The motor is truly accessible to work on otherwise for many other things so I found it odd that draining oil was such a hassle.
Maybe my old school ways need to be modified in this case.
Should be under the front part of the engine cover. Remove the cover and look under it, slightly off center to the right.
Last edited by e1000; Sep 2, 2010 at 11:10 AM.
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From: Delaware
2004 Mazda6, 1993 RX7
Did you get all 8-8.5Q's out?
Several of us with C300 4matic's had to use a special adaptor at the top of dipstick tube to avoid leaving about 2 Q's in engine.
All dealers use the top suction method, with this special $35 adaptor (shipped), shown in this thread:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...er-method.html
and here: http://www.fluidevacuators.com/probe.html
With the dealer's adaptor, those with C300 4MATICS were able to fully drain the oil, including me.
--------------------
Racetested, I could pour the oil directly from the Mityvac into pep boys 55 gal drum in the shop, but I use a 5 gal "hold" can in my garage.
.
Several of us with C300 4matic's had to use a special adaptor at the top of dipstick tube to avoid leaving about 2 Q's in engine.
All dealers use the top suction method, with this special $35 adaptor (shipped), shown in this thread:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...er-method.html
and here: http://www.fluidevacuators.com/probe.html
With the dealer's adaptor, those with C300 4MATICS were able to fully drain the oil, including me.
--------------------
Racetested, I could pour the oil directly from the Mityvac into pep boys 55 gal drum in the shop, but I use a 5 gal "hold" can in my garage.
.
Last edited by kevink2; Sep 2, 2010 at 04:08 PM.
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From: NoVa
2004 S55 (SOLD, miss it every day), 2009 GL550
I have to drive to a collection point, the closest being at the county landfill 10-15 minutes away. Where I live (Chesapeake Bay watershed), the penalty for just dumping it is severe, not to mention just plain wrong.
This time must be "charged" to something, and it ain't the "general fun" project.
similarly, the task "changing a soiled diaper" does not end until the soiled diaper has been disposed of properly. (if you quit the task early, it comes back to haunt you!)
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 18,677
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From: OC
a quarter mile at a time
really? what do you consider it?
I have to drive to a collection point, the closest being at the county landfill 10-15 minutes away. Where I live (Chesapeake Bay watershed), the penalty for just dumping it is severe, not to mention just plain wrong.
This time must be "charged" to something, and it ain't the "general fun" project.
similarly, the task "changing a soiled diaper" does not end until the soiled diaper has been disposed of properly. (if you quit the task early, it comes back to haunt you!)
I have to drive to a collection point, the closest being at the county landfill 10-15 minutes away. Where I live (Chesapeake Bay watershed), the penalty for just dumping it is severe, not to mention just plain wrong.
This time must be "charged" to something, and it ain't the "general fun" project.
similarly, the task "changing a soiled diaper" does not end until the soiled diaper has been disposed of properly. (if you quit the task early, it comes back to haunt you!)
There's a autozone about 5 minutes from my place and they accept (and recycle) used oil for free, so I guess it's maybe a little more convienient for me.
In any case, the discarding of oil needs to be done regardless of if you use the drain plug or if you vacuum it out the top, so it's a moot argument. Whether or not you choose to take it to a dealer or shop to have an oil change done is entirely up to you, and I have nothing against that.
.
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From: eNyCe
Steel Grey Metallic C63!!
really? what do you consider it?
I have to drive to a collection point, the closest being at the county landfill 10-15 minutes away. Where I live (Chesapeake Bay watershed), the penalty for just dumping it is severe, not to mention just plain wrong.
This time must be "charged" to something, and it ain't the "general fun" project.
similarly, the task "changing a soiled diaper" does not end until the soiled diaper has been disposed of properly. (if you quit the task early, it comes back to haunt you!)
I have to drive to a collection point, the closest being at the county landfill 10-15 minutes away. Where I live (Chesapeake Bay watershed), the penalty for just dumping it is severe, not to mention just plain wrong.
This time must be "charged" to something, and it ain't the "general fun" project.
similarly, the task "changing a soiled diaper" does not end until the soiled diaper has been disposed of properly. (if you quit the task early, it comes back to haunt you!)
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
I've been using my Topsider from West Marine ($50) for a long time and I can indeed change my oil in twenty minutes if I were in a rush.
Last edited by RLE; Sep 3, 2010 at 07:52 PM.
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Ditto on the adapter plug for the 4MATIC, its essential for a complete extraction on that model.
Consider a 12V powered marine suction unit if you want to make the job even easier then using a mityvac or manual pump suction device.
Consider a 12V powered marine suction unit if you want to make the job even easier then using a mityvac or manual pump suction device.
