Catapult

New to Mercedes and would like to change my own engine oil. I just bought a 2006 C55. Is there anything not straight forward in doing this?

Frisco

Do a search and you can find some detailed DIY instruction threads - there's a good writeup in the W210 forum with pictures of the underside. I just changed the oil on my CLK last week for the first time - using an extractor it was very easy. My brief writeup if it helps: https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class-w209/124483-diy-oil-change-done.html

StapleGun

Oil extractor is the way to go! i have found some excellent deals on oil filters on ebay for Mann OEM filters too, just for your 411....

Jayhawk

Why would you want to change your own oil when MB will do it for you at no cost for four years or 50k miles--don't they? You also want to be careful not to void your warranty by using the wrong oil, filter, etc...

Maybe C-classes are different, but that is the way it was w/ my S.

genechien

nope you're wrong. that free maintainence incentive ended in 2004 for all mb cars, not just the c-class. now 2005 cars and up have to pay for all service a and b's.

StapleGun

For your 411, I would not wait for 10K on those intervals for oil either. I do the Mobil One every 5K and the ATF once a year.

Jayhawk

Bummer... I did not know the service contract had been dropped. I still think your warrenty probably specifies certain things regarding oil changes, types of filters, etc...

And I agree w/ StapleGun about doing the oil @ 5k intervals.

Catapult

On the right rear of the engine there is a tube with a red plastic cap. No dipstick. Is that for engine oil? It is located where an auto trans dipstick/filler tube would typically be.

StapleGun

You'll always have a dipstick....that's the trans service tube. It's a sealed cap....it's for the trans.

DUC916

Yes. That is correct. Just pull the red cap and it comes off. That's where you can insert an oil drain tubing. As an owner of '05 MY, I did the oil change by myself using an improvised oil sucker (empty pickle jar, $2.00 worth of tubing from Home Depot, and Mity Vac) on my C320. It was very simple and easy.

kjb55

I strongly suggest you get a dipstick - the correct part number is 120 589 07 21 00. The correct reading is 160mm (9qts) - if you DRAIN the entire engine through both drain holes one before and one aft of the cross member. The suction method will work through the engine oil tube (red plug - NOT trans) but will only remove approx. 7.5qts. The suction method will not work through the filter housing for the remaining 1.5qts.

Also note that the dipstick will not fully seat into the tube - it will bottom out with approx. 3 or 4 inches remaining. btw - I found the OEM Baum dipstick online for $39usd. I believe it is $100+ at the dealer.

Be very specific to get the fleece oil filter - MANN is OEM, Bosch is the MANN filter also - p/n 72204. The factory fill Mobil 1 is 0W-40 synthetic.

Trekman

is it better to pump the Oil out than draining it? you guys that use the pump you think the pump takes out all the old oil out? I think the dealer just pumps the oil out but what do you guys think?

Catapult

Thanks kjb55. This seems to be the best advice.

StapleGun

My apologies..I was mistaken from what I read. My C43 has the dipstick in the front. The red-capped tube in the back is for my supposed sealed transmission - did not realize M B would mess with that in 2006 and actually get rid of a dipstick (that's a mistake).

OZC32AMG

Dipsticks have been gone way earlier than 2006

Jayhawk

My '00 S500 has a dipstick, but I'll be damned if I can read the thing. I think it is because the oil is so clear and the tip of the dipstick is "grooved" in such a way as to make it nearly impossible to read. I check it electronically on occasion, but that just says "OK" so I really never know the level. I guess I'm fortunate that the car doesn't seem to burn oil--at least I assume it doesn't.

Anyone else had trouble reading the dip****?

MarcusF

Reading the dipstick takes a bit of attention, however, that's a sign that the MB engineers got it right. You see, the 113 had the world's first silicon-aluminum cast-in cylinder sleeves. MB decided since those cylinder walls were made of such a low friction surface material, they could reduce piston ring tension by 50% under the previous design. I know other manufacturers that have tried to go the low tension ring route, have ended up with engines that have a fair amount of blow-by (that and those engines devour oil, bearings, valve guides, etc.). Just about the only benefit blow-by has is that it gets the oil filthy, so it can be read on the dip stick. The MB low tension rings were part of a bigger plan to reduce internal drag. Engines that don’t waste power on internal drag are able to use that power driving the rear wheels. The downside to this design is, the MB engine's oil stays so clean you have a hard time reading the dip stick.

Jayhawk

Hey, thank you for that great explanation!! I really appreciate it. These forums are trully great for this sort of thing. Very helpful.

DbleNckel

speaking of oil changes, I just got my Service A completed Friday...and it consists of an oil change...I always wondered if they really do change it, or if the dealer just says they do.....??? how can one tell if the oil is new or not?? after I got my car back, I ck the oil by removing the cap and the oil looks as black as it was when i first dropped it off....I've heard before somewhere that new oil usually has a green tint to it when you look at it in sunlight....and as the miles go by, the dirt and grime is what makes the green turn into a darker black...can anyone confirm this.??

Jayhawk

I think if you are dealing w/ a reputable MB dealer you have nothing to worry about. They could not stay in business if they are that corrupt. Customer cars would be blowing up all over the place. My dealer does oil changes, plus a 20 or 30 point check, for $59.99, and they still make plenty of money. What they would save on the oil would really not be worth the trouble they would cause if they didn't really change the oil.

How many miles on your '05 '55? How many miles between oil changes? What kind of oil do you/they use? Do you drive it hard? If it is really "that black," there may be something wrong...

MarcusF

Correct me if I’m wrong here,your 05 has no dip stick, so you’re removing the filler cap and looking at the oil there, right? If so, it’s going to be tough to discern the quality of the oil that way. If you’re really interested, pull the filter and have a look.



If a dealer says they’ve changed the oil, they probably did. I agree with Ramp, they’d be out of business otherwise. If you want to insure that it’s done, just before you take it in for the next service, make a seal that crosses the filter cap and the base. A drop of white out will do. When you get the car back from the service, the seal should be broken. If not, I'd call the service manager over for a chat.



Yes, oil has a tint to it and as you posted, as it gets dirtier, the oil gets blacker.

DbleNckel

thx for the input guys....I'm not saying that the dlrs scam all oil changes....it was just that day, they were sooooo busy w/ service on a bunch of cars, i wondered if they just looked at mine and said, let's just skip his and play like we changed the oil to save them some time and get to the next car that maybe had major service/repairs required....i may be over analyzing this, but I will do that seal test for the next service...thx for the tip!

and no, my car doesn't have the dipstick for the oil, the only dipstick it has is a little red one, but I heard that's for the tranny oil....the way i ck my oil is via the computer inside

RBMBC32

I wish I could change my oil at 5K. I have a 2004 C32 and maintenance is included. I would like to change my oil sooner but they said it will screw up my A and B maintenance schedule.

Jayhawk

5k maintenance will absolutely NOT "screw up" your A and B maintenance schedule! It will not affect it in any way, except the oil they change will be much cleaner.

RBMBC32

I'll call again and ask them but two service guys told me the car will automatically increase the service interval as soon as it senses new oil. They said the way it works is by 50K miles I would have gotten two A's and two B's. But if I do it sooner I will end up paying for service because the service interval thingy will register higher.