drmaster

I decided to do my own oil change and I am a bit confused here.

According to DIY oil change thread and Owners Manual,
I need to put 8.5 quarts but my service log(invoice) from the dealer stated that they only put 7.8 quarts. It's about 1 quarts different or .7 quarts exactly.

How much do I need to put? 8.5 quarts or 7.8 quarts?

FYI, 02 CLK 320.

tery

8.5 would be the right amount.
if you not sure park your car in a level area, and add oil up to 7.5quarts and then check you dip stick. There is a min and max marking on your dip stick. you can read it from there. keep adding till you think is a bit over half point mark on the dip stick. and i think 8.5quarts would be around that point.
correct me if i am wrong. that is how i do it.

mheffel

7.8 quarts will probably do it. Even thought the car is listed as holding 8.5 quarts, you probably won't need that much. I just changed my oil and 7.5 quarts did the trick. I suppose it's not possible to get that last quart out when you drain it (or suck it out the top like I did).

Silverbillet

Mheffel, are you saying that there is no difference in using the topsider and draining it from the drain plug? I heard you can actually pump out almost all with the topsider. Please correct me if I am wrong. I was planning to go out and buy the topsider pump.

drmaster

I did it today.
Actually took it to the mechanic. I couldn't open drain plug or filter.
I've used exactly the same one that showed on oil change thread but it was little big. Since both filter cap and filter wrench were compound I didn't want a put too much force to open. It might break.

So I took it to this mechanic and he doesn't want a take it because he doesn't know how. I finally took it to Express Lube and they charged $30 for the labor. What a rip off.
They would charge $99 for oil and filter change. I ended up spending more.

Anyways, 7.8 quarts was about right.

Silverbillet

So did they drain it through the drain plug or extracted it out with the topsider?

drmaster

They drain it through drain plug.
I don't think any mechanics or dealer would do topsider. Maybe for transmission flush but not for an engine oil.
You could ask them to do it but drain plug is way they do it.

The Jury

I paid $130 for 8 qts of synthetic, filter, and oil change at express lube.

I nearly shat myself because I just traded in a Lexus for this CLK and was paying $35.

This car better be glad I like it.

MarcusF

Dealers do not use the drain plug. At a Mercedes-Benz dealership, the oil is removed via vacuum, just as a topsider does.

fredush

I just drained the oil in my e 320 2003 the manual calls for 8.5 quarts including filter which is exactly what I put in,the computer shows TOO MUCH,I am at puzled because I had the same problem with my CLK 320 and the dealed had to change sensors at that time.
Has anybody had a similar problem,as there is no dipstick on these cars I guess I will have to go to a dealer who probably has a dipstick.
HELP PLEASE i do not want to ruin the seals....
FRED

software

I have a 430 so I can't advise on oil levels. Here is the tool I use to pull the oil out through the dipstick tube. This thing works so well that I'll never take another drain plug off again.

http://www.johndow.com/pages/oil/jdi6ev.html



It's pretty clean too. You can do an oil change and not spill a drop if you're careful.

CLK430girl

I was a little hesitant about taking the CLK down to the local, generic oil change places, but I see some have done it at Express Lube....so you guys have had no issues? Did you take the car to the dealer to have the computer reset to prevent it from saying that the service is exceeded? Thanks in advance...

Silverbillet

Wow, that evacuator looks like it cost an arm to buy.

jtbeche

Nooooo. If you love your car never take it to an "express" type place. Most of those people will have no clue about your car.

Serndipity

I use a vacuum device called the TopSider to remove the oil through the dipstick pipe. It's been used for years to suck the oil out of boat engines and is available at marine stores (i.e. West Marine) for $40 - $50.

It's large enough to hold all the oil in one operation. Over the years, I've read the pros/cons of sucking out vs. dropping the oil from the oil pan. Interesting enough, some have done test and after sucking out the oil, they then removed the drain bolt and nothing came out.

While I always drained from the oil pan (and swore I'd never buy a car where one could not), I've converted. It's nice to chance the oil and filter w/o having to raise the car, remove the splash panel etc..

My CLK320 Cabrio calls for 8.4 quarts....however, I put in 8 quarts of 0W-40 Mobile One and it's good until my next change.

CLK430girl

This is what I always thought! That's why I asked about "issues". These types of places seem to hire "Any Joe" that can talk, let alone know anything about a car...I remember when I took my Honda to Jiffy Lube and they screwed my baby over...A$$hole didn't put the plug back on tightly and the oil started pouring out as I left the place and all types of warning lights came on... Don't want another issue like that...

jtbeche

Exactly. It's not like these guys are certified master mechanics or anything. Then again, taking it to a dealer doesn't always mean you're getting an expert but at least they'll back up their work a little better and know that you put 8.5 quarts of oil in (or however much it is) and not the "standard 5".

gn3

How much oil do you drain/syphon using a TopSider from a 430? I just bought one but it only holds 8qt, I don't want to overflow it.

Bo CL500

where can i get the TopSider from?

jasonowens32

I took mine to Express and they did a good job. Maybe because I knew the person who worked there. I bought the oil myself and took it to them. Much cheaper that way. You do have to watch out for places like that sometimes but there are some decent places like that to go to. I would recommend going to MB dealership if you have the money to spend. You cant go wrong there. I think I saved $25.00 by not going to MB. Maybe its not worth it to you to save $25.00. To each is own. Good luck...

John 99CLK430

I do my own oil changes, the old fashion way. Drain Plug. There is a reason ours cars have it and I use it. It's no different then any other car that you drive today. Not a Lamborghini or Ferrari.

The best way I do an oil change on these Mercedes is to tilt the car where the drain plug is pointing. to make sure you get ALL the oil out and after you wait a few minutes when it's done completely dripping out all the old stuff, I pour in a LITTLE bit of the new oil to get the rest of the old oil out, and bam! Fresh oil ready to be poured in.