braincuttermd

do you guys change your own oil? I thought about picking up some supplies to change my oil when I tried to find the oil filter and realized that it's not the same as changing the oil filter on a Ford. I have no idea how to change the filter on my 2001 430. Can any body post some instructions?

(Sorry for the lame post, but at $89 per change at the local dealer, I want to learn to do it myself!)

Thanks in advance
Mike

Van_CLK430

You can do it yourself but u have to buy the filter at a local mercedes dealer which will cause your around 15-20 USD You can then go an pick your own oil such as Mobile 1 or Castrol. I used Motul 300V and for my CLK430 it is aorund 7.5 liters. Cost me around 120 USD but worth the money cuz the engine is real smooth. Hope this help!

WDC

I change my oil. I use Mobil 1 - about $50 for 8.5 quarts (0w40). I use a OEM filter (Hengst) for about $5, I can get an MB filter for $12.

The filter is in a canister at the top front of the engine (see your owners manual). You can drain or pump out the oil. If you drain, you must get under the car and remove a panel, then drain. If you pump out, you do everything from above. You can buy a pump from a boat dealer for about $30 (it may not be the proper size) or you can by a "topsider" for about $50, it's made for MB's so it is the right capacity, etc.

djamer

Mike,

I haven't done this myself, however, I am considering buying this for DIY oil changes on my car. Looks quite simple.


http://www.liquidvac.com/MercedesExample.htm

djamer

Safet

I have to change the oil this weekend. It's a pretty simple DIY process.

Go get about 7-8 quarts of MOBIL Synthetic Oil (it's about 7.5 quarts that you'll need), go to your local auto parts store and pick up the oil filter. The oil filter is located in the upright cylinder near the front of the engine. You'll have to get underneath the car and remove a panel to drain out the oil. Don't forget to change the rubber seals with the oil filter.

Safet

Oh, by the way,

6 quarts of Mobil Synthetic 10W30 at Costco is about $22, the exact same stuff (Mobil, 10W30) used by the MB dealership.

byip25

i always wanted to know where to get a topsider.. does anyone have one and can tell me where to get one?


b

Martin

Most Marine parts stores have them.

Try West Marine at http://www.westmarine.com/

braincuttermd

I went to my local autoshop and bought this hand pump siphon for $11 (it's like a bike tire pump except with an "in" and an "out" hose. I also got a $10 filter gripper for imports and attached that to a 3/8" torque wrench. I got a Fram filter (8134? I forgot the #) and 9 quarts of Mobil 1 OW40 (used approx 8.25 quarts).

I vacuum suctioned the old oil out of the dipstick after I warmed up the car and then replaced the filter cartridge and the 4 O-rings. It took about 30 mins to get the old oil out and the new oil in. Plus it didn't cost me the usual $90 the dealership charged me for the service and synthetic Castrol oil.

Safet

Just a question,

If you use the pump to pump out the oil from the top, is there the possibility that small pieces of metal/other impurities in the old oil can still remain at the bottom of the engine oil pan?

Van_CLK430

I was doing the oil chance under my car, it was jacked up and the release screw is just under front hood. Let it all come down and then screw back on the screw and then pour the oil back from the top is your best bet. That's what i will do.

If you are gonna pump it up there is possibility that the grease will not come up with the pump so do it under the car is better.

Safet

That's what I thought.

WDC

Yes.

I look at it this way. If it stays there, it won't do anything. If it gets moved around by the oil, it will get picked up by the filter, that's what the filter is for.

WDC

Van_clk430 are you saying that you don"t have to remove the panel under the engine to remove the oil?

Van_CLK430

I mean there is a plastic cover at the bottom of the CLK that covers the "oil tank" just remove the plastic cover and u will see the engine oil tank and there is a screw at the bottom of the tank and that is the release buttin. : ) hope this help

Jetstream62

I talked with my mechanic about it and he told me that when he started to use the topsider method he didn't believe it also. So he made the experience: used the topsider and after it he tried to pour any rest of oil from the bottom hole and believe it or not nothing come out. Nowadays this kind of engines are conceived to use topsider's type oil change. All the work is done from the top of the engine (see the oil filter location). Older engines don't.

I hope this will help to clarify any doubt.

Brian_R170

M-B's are designed to have their oil sucked out of the dipstick tube. They've been this way for almost 20 years. Every M-B dealer I've been has a special machine to do it. This is also the reason that M-B oil filters don't come with the copper gasket for the oil pan drain plug.

I didn't believe that sucking out the oil was better at first, either. I tried it both ways on my SLK. On the first oil change, I sucked out all of the oil, then pulled the drain plug. Not one drop came out. On the second oil change, I pulled the drain plug, let it drip for 20 minutes, then I used my Topsider and sucked out another 6 ounces of old oil. There's no doubt in my mind which method is "better."

There are several cheap devices available to suck the oil from the dipstick tube. I use a Topsider because it's one of only 2 self-contained units I've seen that have a capacity of 8+ quarts and that's what you need for a M-B V6 or V8.

I bought my Topsider from BoatUS-store.com. They sell at least a dozen other types of oil change pumps. Ranging from $30 to $150. Other online marine shops like Overton's will have them, too.

The other thing you need is a wrench to remove the oil filter housing cap. It looks like a huge socket and it costs about $10 from your M-B dealer. Or you can buy a similar one for about $4 (made from plastic instead of aluminum) from a local auto parts store.

BTW, I bought a filter for my SLK32 AMG (it's an M112 engine so the filter is the same as the CLK320) today from my M-B dealer and it was only $8.50.

Also, Mobil 1 0W-40 is now available at AutoZone stores nationwide (got this from the Mobil 1 website). I checked out my local store and they have it for $4.99/quart. My M-B dealer charges $6.95.

awiner

For those whom don't buy their oil filters at a Mercedes dealer, where are you guys getting/ordering your OEM filters at ? I would like to order some in bulk.

GBD

That sure is funny!! I bought two filters the other day from Mercedes and both have the brass rings for the drain plug!! I live on the East Coast and my Mercedes dealership does not suck the oil out they drain it!! Maybe different here on the East coast. The reason you run your engine before you change it is for two reasons.. One the oil is thinner when hot, and Second the contaminates are suspended in the oil so when you drain the oil out they will also drain. I guess sucking it out will achieve the same thing

WDC

It is true that MB recomends their dealers pump out the oil.

It is also true that most of the dealers, in my area at least, do not pump it out.

I never asked them why they don't, but I think the reason is the pump they use costs a few thousand dollars (I've seen it advertized in a magazines, I think it's air operated, not sure), they still pay their mechanics the same amount no matter how long it takes them to do the job and most of the time they have to lift the car anyway, for some other reason, so they don't save anything buy pumping it out.

The copper gasket does not come with the oil filter, but the dealer automatically adds it because most people drain their oil.

braincuttermd

I used a Fram oil filter rather than OEM because the nearest dealer is about a 45 mins drive while the local autostore is down the block. I think the Fram cost me about $12.

WDC

I buy most of my parts from Rusty.
1-800-741-5252
He sells OEM or MB whatever you want.

GBD

WDC, I think you might be wrong about the brass ring! Filter part # A 112-180-00-09 comes with a brass ring for the drain plug. This is sealed up in a bag with the rubber O rings.The box is also sealed with a silver Mercedes sticker, so this was packaged at the factory. I had to go in the garage to check the other filter I have because I could not remember if it was in the bag or not. Maybe it is different where you are located. Sounds like the filters are comming from different places. I don't mean they are not comming from Mercedes but maybe Mercedes is having different people making them. If you are sucking the oil out it doesn't matter anyway.

Brian_R170

The filter for the V6 is doen't come with the drain plug washer. It's part number A 000 180 23 09. It's the same part for the 2.8L, 3.2L and 3.2L Kompressor engines. It has a bag with 4 O-rings but no copper washer. May be a new part, though. I changed the oil on my friend's C280 yesterday and his old filter was very different. It had a Mercedes star on it, but it was made entirely of paper and cardboard. The new one has plastic ends.

Edit: Oh yeah, and the box is sealed with the Mercedes-Benz hologram sticker, too.

WDC

GBD, the number of the filter I buy is the same as yours except it doesn't have an "A" in front of it. Mine comes in a blue MB box, with the rubber O rings sealed in the plastic bag, no brass ring and no sticker. You must be getting something new, maybe it's the new "A" class filter The dealer has the copper washer taped to the outside of the box, and he tries to charge me 6 cents for it. I wonder what the markup is on that.