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I have recently acquired a 2005 SL600 (V12 ). I am looking to change the oil and filter on this vehicle. Can the oil be changed via a drain plug at the bottom. If so, where is it located? A quick perusal underneath the vehicle (after removing the plastic shields) wasn't helpful in locating it. If the oil must be removed via suction up top what is that process. Is it done through the oil filter opening once the filter is removed? Is it done via a dipstick tube? The vehicle has no dipstick but I've read the tube is somewhere ubder the hood. If so, where is it located and how is it accessed?
Im hoping someone with actual experience or knowledge of this process on this vehicle ( circa 2005 SL600 V12) can help me out. Those looking to tell me to crawl under it and pull the drain plug need not apply.
Can be done regularly, remove the underbelly pan, you'll see an exposed 13mm bolt, remove that and drain the oil. Replace washer each time, filter is on top, use a cap to remove it. I add 9qts 0w40 when i change my oil.
Can be done regularly, remove the underbelly pan, you'll see an exposed 13mm bolt, remove that and drain the oil. Replace washer each time, filter is on top, use a cap to remove it. I add 9qts 0w40 when i change my oil.
Is your vehicle the same type/engine class - V12 SL600 circa 2005? I'm wondering if the layout is slightly different or not.
I've removed the two frontmost panels (see pic) and I'm not seeing a drain bolt. There is a sheet metal type pan further back just where the 2nd and 3rd panel (which I haven't removed) meet. I'm wondering if that is it or if it's the tranny pan. Seems a little far back for an oil pan but this is my first MeBe and I know they do things different. That third panel is going to take a little work to get off as I can't get under there when it is on ramps. So I don't want to do it if I'm just spinning my wheels. See attached pics.
Changed filter, added 8 quarts of 5w40, which is the amoubt indicated in the owners manual. When I checked the oil level via the dashboard it's telling me I am 1.5 liters below the maximum oil level level.
Is there an issue with the electronics or is 8 liters the minimum amount of oil and the system has the capacity to hold and therefore register more? I don't mind adding more but don't want to over fill it either if there is a fault with the electronic measurement system.
If the dash is saying to add some I would add a quart and a half. My SL600 takes about nine to nine and a half quarts to fill. I use a MightyVac and it fills that thing right to the top, very close to 9 and a half quarts.
If the dash is saying to add some I would add a quart and a half. My SL600 takes about nine to nine and a half quarts to fill. I use a MightyVac and it fills that thing right to the top, very close to 9 and a half quarts.
What year SL600 is your car? When you say quarts I'm assuming liter containers ( 8 liters is roughly 8.5 quarts). It just seems whacky that the manual says 8 ltrs and it is showing it's low 1.5 ltrs. One of the original respondents to this thread also indicated his oil change was like 9 ltrs.
To answer your original red-arrow question most directly, you have pictured the oil pan, and the drain plug faces the rear of the car, the side opposite of that shown, on the passenger side of the rear of the pan. So yes, you may need to remove one more panel to access that. As for ramps, Autozone ramps will not work (not tall enough). I made custom ramps from 2x10s and other 2xscraps to get a 10-inch ramp height (pictured). Thankfully, I have never driven it off the ramps, so be very careful at your own risk. I just drained and changed my '05 SL600 oil now, and for years I had no idea if there was a drain plug or where it was. I actually had to see it on a lift for the first time, so you are in like company! When they are well-maintained, your SL600 will drive just about as close to a modern-day Bentley Continental GTC V12 as you can get, so enjoy!!!
For any future DIY'ers, my finger is on the drain plug in the following picture. You will need a 13mm socket to remove it, and just in case you want to make your life easier, a fumoto valve will not fit this location because the drain plug is in too tight a position. If anyone solves that challenge - please let us know!. My finger is touching the 13mm drain plug in this photo (no room for Fumoto though...).
My SL600 is a 2004. My MightyVac is knee high about two and a half feet high, can hold about ten quarts oil, most of my Benzos fill that nearly to the top. Very close. I love how with most Mercedes you can vacuum out the oil thru the dipstick tube and the oil filter is right on top of the engine, making oil changes very easy! Some BMWs and other carsd you might only get half the oil out, but with Benzos you do get it all. My SL55 AMG holds I think 9 Quarts as well. I'm a fan of the old style dipstick tube oil checking stick, but for the cars that you have to ask it to check the oil, I guess that works. My 2013 X166 GL450 SUV has an old style dipstick, you pull it out and check the oil level the old fashioned way. Why can't Mercedes make up their mind?! This reminds me, it's the one year anniversary of my SL55 AMG oil change so maybe in the next week or so I will do that one, it's been between 3000 and 4000 miles. If you put in eight quarts and it asks for more I'd just add one more, and ask it again. Most of these R230s want about nine. Actually the jugs I get (Liqui Moly and/or Mobil 1) are in Liters, so maybe 9.5 Liters is actually nine quarts?
I have a 2005 SL600. Changing the oil from the top side is the way to go. The car was designed to be serviced this way. The longest part of the oil changed was waiting for the vacuum extractor to remove the 9 liters of oil! This took about 15 minutes. Changing oil filter was simple as it is easily accessible on top of engine.
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