15K Mile Oil Change
#1
15K Mile Oil Change
The maintenance due indication popped up on my instrument panel earlier this week a couple hundred miles shy of 15K, so I did the oil change and thought I'd add a bit of information to an earlier post on this topic at https://mbworld.org/forums/g-class-w...il-change.html.
Another forum member said his pan plug is a 6mm hex head, instead of a T40 torx. I took a photo of mine while I had it out, and the flutes characteristic of a torx head are clearly visible. Nevertheless, oil plugs come in a variety of sizes and drives, and MB probably sources from several suppliers. The plug size is probably standard, and mine is an M14 x 1.5 / 12mm length. If you booger up the head with the wrong type or size driver, replacement plugs are available at most auto stores in this size. The thread M14 x 1.5 is the critical part -- the length can be longer than 12mm without any problem.
Also, I drive my vehicles up onto Rhino Ramps for additional work clearance. Like most others, I've used a low profile drain pan for many years, but I decided to try this combination of jumbo funnel and 12 qt. jug ($20 at O'Reilly's). The height was perfect for the G and for my Jeep and made catching the oil much less messy, both draining the pan and removing the filter cannister. And pouring the used oil back into the empty oil jugs was much quicker.
I refilled with 9 qts of Castrol Euro 0W-40. The OM says 10 qts, which gave me an overfill instrument panel indication when I refilled with this much on my last oil change. I drained out a quart, and then it was happy. I think the correct amount is 9.5 qts so I might add a bit if the electronic level indication reads low. The amount of oil I drained this time measured just shy of 9 qts.
Oil Drain Plug - T40 Drive
Jumbo Funnel & 12 Qt Jug
Another forum member said his pan plug is a 6mm hex head, instead of a T40 torx. I took a photo of mine while I had it out, and the flutes characteristic of a torx head are clearly visible. Nevertheless, oil plugs come in a variety of sizes and drives, and MB probably sources from several suppliers. The plug size is probably standard, and mine is an M14 x 1.5 / 12mm length. If you booger up the head with the wrong type or size driver, replacement plugs are available at most auto stores in this size. The thread M14 x 1.5 is the critical part -- the length can be longer than 12mm without any problem.
Also, I drive my vehicles up onto Rhino Ramps for additional work clearance. Like most others, I've used a low profile drain pan for many years, but I decided to try this combination of jumbo funnel and 12 qt. jug ($20 at O'Reilly's). The height was perfect for the G and for my Jeep and made catching the oil much less messy, both draining the pan and removing the filter cannister. And pouring the used oil back into the empty oil jugs was much quicker.
I refilled with 9 qts of Castrol Euro 0W-40. The OM says 10 qts, which gave me an overfill instrument panel indication when I refilled with this much on my last oil change. I drained out a quart, and then it was happy. I think the correct amount is 9.5 qts so I might add a bit if the electronic level indication reads low. The amount of oil I drained this time measured just shy of 9 qts.
Oil Drain Plug - T40 Drive
Jumbo Funnel & 12 Qt Jug
The following 4 users liked this post by streborx:
#2
For those that leave the oil changes to the dealer, I thought the attached photo might be interesting -- what oil looks like after 5,000 miles (which is why I don't let it go until 10,000 miles).
0W-40 Oil - New and 5K Miles Later
0W-40 Oil - New and 5K Miles Later
The following 2 users liked this post by streborx:
084runnerltd (08-19-2022),
Festertester (08-14-2022)
#5
Follow-up: Took the G for a drive the other day, and set the instrument display for the oil level monitor. After ~9 miles it registered 2 green blocks, midway between Min and Max. 9 quarts seems to be the number that makes it happy.
The following users liked this post:
The Butcher (08-16-2022)
#6
Follow-up: Drove the G again yesterday -- this time the oil level sensor display showed 3 green blocks at the "Max" mark. Thinking about installing an overflow tank to catch what percolates out next week (lol).