SL/R231: Home oil change on 2014 SL63 AMG?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 63
Likes: 19
From: Calgary AB
2014 SL63 AMG / 2024 Porsche Macan GTS (Winter beater)
Home oil change on 2014 SL63 AMG?
Our 2014 SL63 is due for an oil change. We purchased it from a local dealer a year ago. They had done a "A" service on it before purchase and we have only put around 5000 KM (3000 miles) since then and the last service. Aside from needing fresh oil it's running GREAT! As background I'm in my mid 70's and have had to deal with medical issues over the last year that has restricted use of the car aside from a few low speed local cruises with copilot Wife of 58 years. I have ALWAYS done most of my oi changes in al or vehicles over the last 60 years. I have a garage, 10" high Race Ramps, lots of tools, experience and even an oil vacuum that we used on our 2003 R230 that we did just before trading it on the SL63.
My current reluctance is only based on health. I have COPD and I'm on oxygen. Extreme exertion leaves me short of breath but I crank up the O2 and life is good. Wife is more than happy to work with me on this project (she helped lay the Swiss Trax floor tiles in the garage) and she's not afraid of work but I'm not sure I want her to strain herself either.
Plan A = Raise the suspension, put it on the ramps, Remove the underbody pans, pull the drain plug and catch the oil in a large drain pan Or
Plan B = Use the vacuum tank to suck the oil out
I have a Mann filter 6008Z ready and will install after the oil is drained and before I fill with fresh Mobil 1 0W40 Euro spec.
Plan C = take it to the dealer for a B service at an additional cost of $750 or basic oil change for $400
Looking for Guidance and probably encouragement
What would you do in my situation
My current reluctance is only based on health. I have COPD and I'm on oxygen. Extreme exertion leaves me short of breath but I crank up the O2 and life is good. Wife is more than happy to work with me on this project (she helped lay the Swiss Trax floor tiles in the garage) and she's not afraid of work but I'm not sure I want her to strain herself either.
Plan A = Raise the suspension, put it on the ramps, Remove the underbody pans, pull the drain plug and catch the oil in a large drain pan Or
Plan B = Use the vacuum tank to suck the oil out
I have a Mann filter 6008Z ready and will install after the oil is drained and before I fill with fresh Mobil 1 0W40 Euro spec.
Plan C = take it to the dealer for a B service at an additional cost of $750 or basic oil change for $400
Looking for Guidance and probably encouragement
What would you do in my situation
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,847
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From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
If you can afford to have the dealer do it, then have the dealer do it. The vacuum method is what the WIS describes, but in your case, your health may be the bigger concern. If it wasn't, you wouldn't be asking what you should do.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 12
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2013 SL550
Use the vacuum pump
Just use the vacuum pump, so much easier. I do all my cars that way. All but my Porsche Panamera, which doesn’t have a dip stick. Personally, I’m surprised more people don’t know about vacuum pumps, it’s the only way to change oil. And buy Mobil 1 oil at Costco!
Last edited by Love2fish; Jul 18, 2025 at 02:55 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 63
Likes: 19
From: Calgary AB
2014 SL63 AMG / 2024 Porsche Macan GTS (Winter beater)
Consensus is that I should use the vacuum method. I pulled the dipstick yesterday and inserted the suction tube. it went 7 or 8 inches deeper than the dipstick before bottoming out so I'm comfortable that it will pull most of the oil out. I need to pick up a 26mm socket for the filter cap today and will do the change this afternoon or tomorrow.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 63
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From: Calgary AB
2014 SL63 AMG / 2024 Porsche Macan GTS (Winter beater)
This was quite easy! I have a air compressor and purchased the suction pump from Amazon for our previous R230
- Ran the car to warm the oil to about 100C.
- Removed the dipstick and bottomed out the suction tube.
- Little pancake compressor sucked out 8 liters of old oil.
- Old filter removed while still under suction to allow oil to drain out of filter.
- Shut down suction when nothing more was being pulled out.
- Installed a new filter and filter cap Torqued to 25nm.
- Filled with 8 liters on Mobil 1 0W40 Euro spec.
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Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 2,516
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From: DFW
SL63
This was quite easy! I have a air compressor and purchased the suction pump from Amazon for our previous R230
- Ran the car to warm the oil to about 100C.
- Removed the dipstick and bottomed out the suction tube.
- Little pancake compressor sucked out 8 liters of old oil.
- Old filter removed while still under suction to allow oil to drain out of filter.
- Shut down suction when nothing more was being pulled out.
- Installed a new filter and filter cap Torqued to 25nm.
- Filled with 8 liters on Mobil 1 0W40 Euro spec.
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Joined: Jul 2018
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From: Nothern Georgia, U.S.A.
'17 SL450, '25 Lyriq, '25 Sonata Hybrid, '96 Corvette GS coupe
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 63
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From: Calgary AB
2014 SL63 AMG / 2024 Porsche Macan GTS (Winter beater)
I would rate this an 9 out of 10 only because I'm "old school" and have previously done all my oil changes from the bottom of the vehicle. I suspect there is still a bit of old oil left in the pan using this method. On my 2003 R230 I did a couple oil changes with the car up on Race Ramps. Removing the bottom pans was a pain and getting the rear pan off was the worst part as I had to get al the retaining nuts from the side of the car. Once I had the pans off I managed to spill oil as it squirted further than expected. I'm also quite frugal (geezer word for cheap) so avoiding the dealer whenever I could was seen as a win. I'm a bit more mature now and will do a full service at the dealer next spring as we only put on a few thousand km each year on pleasure cruises.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 63
Likes: 19
From: Calgary AB
2014 SL63 AMG / 2024 Porsche Macan GTS (Winter beater)
Thanks for sharing Bob!
Cheers,
Bob
Last edited by BMBLBEE; Jul 21, 2025 at 05:21 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 563
Likes: 171
From: Nothern Georgia, U.S.A.
'17 SL450, '25 Lyriq, '25 Sonata Hybrid, '96 Corvette GS coupe
Looking at my post again, it comes off as kind of gruff, which was not my intention. I was merely trying to give you another outlet for info on your AMG. I thought long and hard about an SL63 before coming back to reality and switching to my SL450. Enjoy your car!
