Aggressive

I just called and they were very diligent in taking my order. I called them @ 8am PST and they picked up right away. Looks like I will be doing my oil change very soon.

I did my first oil extractor change by inserting the tube into the dip stick tube. I am excited to do it with the adapter because it will be easier and I will know that I have a perfect seal.

Now....I have to go get the oil, Mobil 1: 0W - 40, European Car Formula. Its tough to find a good price on this specific oil. The local NAPA store said they could do it for $7.50/qt.(I just missed the sale where they sold it for less than $6/qt.) No one else carries it. Any ideas?

itsLoonie

Really?! Guess I gotta try and give them another call. I just recently did an oil change through the oil pan. Got most of the 8.5QT out.

As for the oil, O'Reilly's should have oil on sale right for $4.99/QT which ends on the 26th. Might wanna jump on that quickly because they run out fast.

kevink2

From: kmcmurray2@***.net To: KevinK2, Subject: Re: Mercedes adaptor Part # PR381Q
Date: May 24, 2011 11:16 AM

Glad you like the adapter !

We are a manufacturer and sell our products through "Service Champ" and "Installers Edge" which sell to quick lubes in the USA.
We do sell direct, but 90% of our business comes from our distributors . We also run a few other unrelated companies. We return all calls and emails provided they leave a name,call back #, and reason for the call. If they leave a message or email without that info we do not call back assuming it is a sales call.

You posting on the MB forum explains the recent calls about the Mercedes adapter. My first question when someone only orders a single probe or adapter is if they have our unit. The main concern is we have a special machined quick disconnect end from the Mercedes adapter to our evacuation hose. I explain that to people in depth then, they want to return the item because it does not work or they can't adapt it to work with their machine even though I warned them about it . ( This is not a concern, since you can use 3/8" fuel hose for a direct conection to the adaptor .. KevinK2 )

Large orders are welcome and preferred !!

Thanks again for the order and spreading the word about our products !

Thanks,
Kevin McMurray

---- KevinK2 wrote:
>
> Kevin,
>
> I bought one from you and it works great. A few questions:
>
> 1) do you still sell it to individuals, ie just 1 unit?
>
> 2) I'm in a MB forum, I recomended this part in the "oil change" thread, but lately people say you don't return calls or emails.
>
> 3) would you sell lots of 10, 20, etc, to an independent mercedes shop?
>
>

IGB

Not to dispute or argue what you've posted, but "promised to get it corrected" where? I just downloaded the 2008 Owners Manual and it still shows:
Then again, I don't see where in that e-mail she promised a "correction"... Only that she "forwarded your information to the appropriate area in the organization to check the documentation".

I guess I'll see how much I'm going to get out when I change mine in the next week or so, and I'll post the results. My last oil change was done at the dealer (I got a freebie "first scheduled service" when I bought the car ).

kevink2

Just had our 2008 4MATIC done at dealer ... they used 8 of the 9 Q's of 0W-30 we brought, and level is at top of narrowed cross hatch, which is max.

Pete is right on this, 8.5 Q's would have overfilled it.

BTW, here is the 2011 oil viscosity chart. Only the first 2 groups are approved by MB, except the 5W-50.

http://www.mbusa.com/vcm/MB/DigitalA...ual/2011_c.pdf ( pg 309 )

RLE

And my '08 C300 RWD takes eight quarts to the top of the dipstick.

BTW, I picked up a case of M1 0W-40 today at NAPA and the on-sale price of $4.99 per quart is still active. This is the cheapest I've seen it in several years.

I now have 28 quarts on the shelf so I'm set for a while.

I'm sure you meant 0W-40, not 0W-30, didn't you?

kevink2

Nope. 0W-30 Castrol synthetic, a 229.5 approved ACEA A3 oil with a good rep'n.

It is grouped with your 0W-40 in the latest MB viscosity vs temperature range selection chart, linked in my previous post. If I lived in florida, or other southern states, I'd go xW-40. But with single digit winters here, and one driver that is not into warm-ups, I like it. Trip mpg's went up by 2 mpg.

A couple of other facts:

These cars are shipped with 5W-30 in the engine, for 1st 10,000 miles, per MB choice.

Of all the 104 different 229.5 oils listed by MB, about 40% are 0W-30 or 5W-30, the rest are 0W-40 or 5W-40.

http://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/229.5_en.html

.

Pete7874

You're right. They haven't actually promised anything. I'm fairly sure dealerships still keep overfilling these poor engines.

Pete7874

And it makes you wonder why in 2009 the 0w-30 was not to be used if ambient temps were above 86F, but for 2011 it is now OK...

kevink2

Yup, 0W30:

no limit for 05-07 (Starteckinfo)
no visc chart for 08 ?
86F limit for 09 and 10 ( but groups-columns were the same)
no limit for 11, but now all groups based on lower viscosity number.



.

nyca

fluidevacuators should carry a home garage DIY type suction device, people would buy such a device from them, the ones they sell are really professional ($$$s) units designed for commercial shops, too much for the DIYer.

Pete7874

You can get a cheap oil extractor just about anywhere on line these days, including Amazon.

kevink2

Spec Comparo:

M1 0W-40
M1 5W-40 ( typical dealer oil )
CE 0W-30 ( 229.5 oil for colder climates )


---------------------------------------- Mobil 1 ------- Castrol
------------------------Mobil 1------ Formula M ------ Euro
------------------------ 0W-40 ------ 5W-40 -------- 0W-30
Viscosity, cSt
@ 40º C -------------- 75 ------------ 79 --------------72
@ 100º C ------------13.5 ---------- 13.2 ----------- 12.2
Viscosity Index ------ 185 --------- 168 ------------ 167

HTHS Visc ----------- 3.8 ---------- 3.7 --------------3.5
Pour Point ---------- (-39) -----------xx ------------ (-54)
Total Base Num ---- 11.8 ---------- 8 ------------- 10.3

.

ssf

************************************************** ****

I found this information in MB's site today which has quite different values of engine oil capacities to the list posted above a few months ago!

Pete7874

Which model year is this for?

ssf

The site directed me to this manual page without asking the year. I would think this is for all current models.

In any case, I took my 2009 C300 yesterday to a nearby lub shop and have them drained (actually vaccumed sucked from the dipstick hole) the oil out of the car, and saw about 8 litres out of the engine!

The first and only previous oil change was done at the MB dealer!

When I checked the dipstick before the oil change, it was actually a bit 'above' the max level. So instead of filling it of what's out, I only put in 7 litres of Shell Helix Ultra 5w40. Replaced the filter with MB 000-180-26-09 fleece. The dipstick level is now right between the 'min' and 'max'.

IGB

It still is on sale though not at all Napa stores... So you might have to check around online for pricing and then call the store to confirm availability.

I picked up 3 cases last week...

kevink2

" I found this information in MB's site today which has quite different values of engine oil capacities to the list posted above a few months ago! "

That weblink showed 6.5L for both awd and rwd. Not correct for amount for either model.

The only reliable info for capacities is shown in post 239 above, from 2010 and 2011 owners manuals, hard copy, or online found here:

http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/servic...owners_manuals. (pg 305 for 2011)

The most accurate chart for viscosity ranges vs temperature is found in the 2011 owners manual, pg 309. PLEASE, this document "resists" geetng an image for me. If someonee can capture that viscosity chart, please post it here.

------------------------------------------------------------

If you have a 4MATIC:

For DIY's, get the Fluidevacuators MB adaptor for complete evacuation of old oil (or use drain plug), and add 7.5 Q's for midrange on stick (or 8 Q's to reach the "max", ie top of smaller crosshatch zone)

For dealer or Quicky-lube changes, tell them to put 7.5 or 8 Q's, based on the above results.

.

IGB

OK, I recently reread this thread in its entirety and now understand that all this talk about a discrepancy in the capacity/# of quarts used only relates to the 4Matic models, whereas for the RWD models (which is what I have), it is unquestionably 8.5 quarts

Just did my first oil change last night, so I'll make a few observations...

I used the MityVac 7201. Initially, I wasn't very impressed in that it took some time (approximately 45 minutes) to extract 8.5 quarts... HOWEVER, I did realize midway through the process that the rubber adapter I used between two different size hoses was not sealed properly (I could hear it seeping air). I should also mention that I tried to get every last drop of oil out, which may have added to the total time to extract it all.

Speaking of the rubber adapter... My MityVac came with 2... Both of which are flared (wider on one end compared to the other (see 1st pic below)).
Pic #1

And since I was one of the unfortunate ones not to receive any response from fluidevacuators, I decided to try it with the rubber adapter. I did take some measurements (See pictures 2 & 3 below) of it as well as of the dipstick plug, and although the rubber plug measured wider than the dipstick plug, I can only assume that the dipstick opening (at the top of the dipstick pipe) is wider at the top and flares down towards the bottom because that rubber adapter did fit inside and is felt like it made a good seal.
Pic #2

Pic #3

Point is, if you have a MityVac, chances are you don't need the fluidevacuators adapter.

I did check the oil prior to starting (last oil change was at the dealer) a number of times (over the past few days) and it looked to me like it was a hair or two over the MAX level.

After all was said and done, I did actually pull a bit more that 8.5 quarts (probably 8.75 and I'm guessing I could have pulled 9 Qts but it was getting late and I decided "enough is enough"). And replaced it with 8.5 quarts. Checked it a few times since last night and it seems to be a bit below the MAX level... That's good enough for me!

I used Mobil-1 0W-40 (bought 3 cases @ Napa during their most recent sale), I had ordered a Mann HU 718/5 X Metal-Free Oil Filter from Amazon.com.

For those who were wondering, yes, I did replace 3 O-rings (one large one and 2 small ones at the bottom of the filter holder...

I had a difficult time finding the right size tool to remove the filter cover, finally settled on the OEM/76 mm. dia. oil filter "B" cap wrench from Autozon, and though it seemed to fit fine at the store, once I got home and tried to use it, it was slipping... Ended up having to wrap some tape around the top of the filter housing, and managed to get it loose, but when I went to tighten it, (even with the tape still there), I couldn't get it past 15 N.m (whereas the cap has "25 N.m" engraved on it)... needless to say it is hand tight and have checked it and found no leaks so far. Point here is the "B-Type" and/or 76mm oil filter cap wrench/tool is too big. I'm going to try and find a 74.5mm one that has been mentioned in this thread.

Thank you to all who contributed to this thread so far.

Pete7874

Yeah, I went through a couple of those 76mm wrenches... none of them worked. Ended up buying this:
https://mbworld.org/forums/4378041-post171.html

Nice write up! I never even thought about trying one of my old MityVac adapters for the dipstick tube. Like you noticed, it would have probably done the job just fine.

IGB

I'll try that out, thanks again.

While I realize that having the proper tools will make the job easier, I noticed that there was someone who ordered one adapter that ended up not fitting... So again, it is not about the extra $14 or the $25... Its more about the hassle of finding the "perfect" tool. This, happens to have worked out as a great alternative (for me, at least). Hopefully someone else will try it and report back; as I'm 95% sure it'll accomplish the job.

RLE

The correct size is 74.5mm, 14 flute. I bought this one and it has worked well:
http://www.handsontools.com/Assenmac...nt_p_2716.html

There was no way I could have unscrewed it by hand. Mine was on so tight, I stripped a couple of plastic wrenches from local auto part stores before I got this metal Assenmacher one.

That tool fits all MB and Porsche spin-on filters going back decades. I have one.

kevink2

That was not the F.E. adaptor, another brand.

Good idea to try the mytivac bushing. I had suggested just using a short length of 3/8" SAE fuel hose, and jamming a 3/8" brass hose barb in there to assure no leak under vacuum.

.

hanli0315

Thank you for this post, saved me 10 or 20 bucks on the MB adapter I was about to order.
I tried the adapter came with MityVac last weekend, it worked fine. It only took 20 mins to extract 8-8.5 quarts (4Matic). The oil was hot, about 80C, maybe that helped the flow a lot.

By the way, I got mine oil filter socket here

http://www.namotorsports.net/detail.cfm/part_cd/CT267

It fits perfectly.

IGB

I'm glad it helped

And rightback at you