Oil Changes - I Think I am Done

[racetested]

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.

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[e1000]

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.

[Samieee]

Originally Posted by e1000

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.

I'm thinking of getting one. Which model is the preferred / correct one to use for sucking out the oil?

[TheDarkSide]

I use the Mityvac 7201 Fluid Evacuator.

[racetested]

Originally Posted by e1000

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.

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.

[I am Jeff]

Originally Posted by racetested

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.

I had the same concern about the system not extracting all the oil completely at first. I felt better once I was able to put 8.5 quarts into the car to show medium oil level. I felt even more confident when I was able to pour the old oil back into the bottles to get 8.3 bottles. I'm assuming the other .2 is either burned or in the oil filter. I use the mityvac 7201 extraction tool.

[TheDarkSide]

Originally Posted by racetested

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.

lol! i feel you on the too many tools!

[e1000]

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.

[haykf1]

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.

[Pristine]

Originally Posted by haykf1

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.

Which place do you take it to?

[JimPap]

Originally Posted by haykf1

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.

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.

[racetested]

Seems the extraction tool may finally be worth a try as the mess created draining from the plug has gotten old over the years.

[racetested]

Originally Posted by e1000

and the method is preffered by 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.

[C300Sport]

Originally Posted by e1000

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.

That is the point that finally led me to accept the suction method's effectiveness.

[i_am_amused]

Originally Posted by e1000

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.

you still have to dispose of the extracted oil and used filter. It would take me *at least* 20 minutes to do that, so unless the extraction can be performed in zero time, I wouldn't be able to do a "complete oil change" in 20 minutes.

[Jake94526]

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.

[e1000]

Originally Posted by racetested

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.

It really is. As you already know the oil filter is right at the top of the engine as well. Done this way, there is no need to mess with the crush washer on the drain bolt and possible leaks, etc etc. Just so much less mess and ease.

Originally Posted by C300Sport

That is the point that finally led me to accept the suction method's effectiveness.

Originally Posted by i_am_amused

you still have to dispose of the extracted oil and used filter. It would take me *at least* 20 minutes to do that, so unless the extraction can be performed in zero time, I wouldn't be able to do a "complete oil change" in 20 minutes.

I personally don't consider taking the oil and disposing of it part of the time it takes to change the oil.

Originally Posted by Jake94526

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.

Should be under the front part of the engine cover. Remove the cover and look under it, slightly off center to the right.

[kevink2]

Originally Posted by TheDarkSide

I use the Mityvac 7201 Fluid Evacuator.

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:

http://www.mbworld.org/forums/c-clas...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.

.

[i_am_amused]

Originally Posted by e1000

I personally don't consider taking the oil and disposing of it part of the time it takes to change the oil.

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!)

[e1000]

Originally Posted by i_am_amused

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!)

Not to start a pissing match, but do you also consider the time to go out and purchase the oil in the time it takes to change the oil?

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.

[kevink2]

amused, you can use my hold method ( 1 big or several 1 gal containers ), and then spread the charge across several accounts for 1 disposal trip .

[I am Jeff]

Originally Posted by i_am_amused

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 don't include the disposal of my oil to be part of my oil change time. But that might be due to the fact that there is a gas station 2 mins away from me that takes my oil.

[RLE]

Originally Posted by i_am_amused

you still have to dispose of the extracted oil and used filter. It would take me *at least* 20 minutes to do that, so unless the extraction can be performed in zero time, I wouldn't be able to do a "complete oil change" in 20 minutes.

There is something called "planning ahead." Head over to Home Depot and pick up a couple of plastic 5 gallon kerosene containers and an appropriately sized funnel. Then when they are both full of used oil after a year or two, take them somewhere for recycling.

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.

[nyca]

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.

[BoostedThrills]

No adapter needed for non-4Matic (RWD) models, correct?