C240 V6 Oil and Filter change ??

[C240yaz]

I have also posted this thread on the UK site, (just in case there are people here who are not members on the UK Forum)

Today I thought that i would change my oil and filter on my 2002 C240. 53k miles and 7k miles since the last service at MB dealers.

3k miles earlier than required, but since my warranty has now expired, and the weather was not bad, I thought I would do it in advance. Just as well I did.

Drained the oil and was really surprised how black and carboned it was for 7k miles since the last change. Proceeded and removed the filter element from the spindle. It was heavily carboned. The 3 "O" rings on the spindle were brittle and there was no need to lever these off. They literly broke up as soon as I tried to prize them off with a pincher scredriver. Is this normal on an MB ? or could they have had a "roasting" in the past ?

My opinion is, these had obviously never been changed. In fact, they were no longer "O" rings, but hardened carbon rings. The "O" ring which seals the filter lid to the oil cooler / engine block was ok, this obviously had been changed, at some point.

According to the service book, the car had been serviced, every 10K approx miles, at MB dealership since new. In fact, I paid for the last service and the book says oil used was Mobil1.

I have serious doubts if the oil or filter had been changed last time, and possibly beyond.

Have done countless oil changes in my time, although never on an MB car, but after seeing what came out of this baby, I am glad that all future maintenance will be carried out by me, when practically possible.

I took several pictures, tried to upload them, but at 5m pixels, they are too large to post on this site. Pity. If anybody wants to see them, I can send you them by email.

Anyway, new "O" rings, filter element, copper washer and 7.5 litres of Mobil oil replaced.

I think I will repeat this after 5K miles to see what the oil and filter is like next time, as a comparison.

What more can I say.

 

[BlackC55]

The split "o" rings are not normal. The "o" rings have probably not been changed with the filter in the past.

 

[television]

I have often had my doubts on some of this work, I had my first service ever done on my SL last week, I have to do this as the car is only at 21k miles, I would have still rather done it myself

 

[C240yaz]

TV and Blackc55, I think you know how I feel about this !

 

[television]

TV and Blackc55, I think you know how I feel about this !

Yes you must be peed off with the whole thing, it is not nice when you cant trust a main dealer

 

[MotardMan]

Do you have the part numbers for the O rings please? I am going to get the oil/filter/plugs on my C240 done soon, and I want the chap doing it to have all the bits required. How many of these O rings are there? I'm getting worried now.......

 

[BlackC55]

They come with the filter.

 

[MotardMan]

Would that be the case with non genuine pattern filters too? I'm worried now as the last service I had done was by a non franchised dealer.... I'm not sure they would have used an OEM filter.....

 

[Myros]

if you go to GSF or a decent motor factor

you get the same filter that MB put in their boxes. I just went to GSF for some filters, and was sold Mann filters, from just down the road in Stuttgart to the MB factory, with the relevant o rings etc, in a nice Mann box. Previously I've had Hengst with the same. Looking at the filter housing on the C280 202, it is made by Hengst .........go figure

 

[doogiec240]

How do I get the oil out of my c240.

 

[C240yaz]

Run engine until hot. Put car up on ramps. Turn off the engine, apply handbrake and chalk the rear wheels. Remove bottom engine cover. 6 bolts. ( I removed G/Box lower cover also, as I wanted a look. Place basin below sump plug. (Make sure it can hold 8 litres, preferably more).

Remove sump plug, allow oil to drain. remember to place basin away from plug, as the oil will shoot out like a waterfall !

Let it drain completely. Either fit a new copper washer or anneal the old one by heating till red hot and dip in cold water. I think a new washer comes with filter. I had one available anyway from my workshop.

Refit plug and washer. Remove oil filter, replace rubber "O" rings. Make sure you clean all parts thouroughly. (These come supplied with the filter). Refit new filter to housing. Make sure that you twist it fully home on the filter spindle. after ensuring filter housing on engine block is clean, no grit etc, refit new filter and housing. Don't overtighten the cap, as it is plastic. If you have a torque wrench available, even better. Setting is marked on the filter cap.

Refill engine with approx 7.5 litres of fully synthetic engine oil. You will need a funnel to prevent spillage.

Start engine and check for any obvious leaks. Turn off engine. Leave for a few minutes, then check the oil level from the steeringwheel menu.

Refit engine bottom cover(s). Job done.

Mobil 1 fully synthetic is available in Costo at approx half the cost of buying it anywhere else. You will need 2 x 4 litres at a total cost of around £46.

I bought my filter from Inchcape. I also purchased a few engine cover bolts just in case, and just as well I did as the threads were all rusted away.

They also sell Chevron same spec oil at half this price, but not approved by MB. Not sure why.

 

[C240yaz]

Sorry...before I get pulled up....You need to have the car on flat ground before checking the oil level after filling, so drive car off the ramps first.

And, I should have said...Chevron is available from Costo also !!

 

[C240yaz]

you get the same filter that MB put in their boxes. I just went to GSF for some filters, and was sold Mann filters, from just down the road in Stuttgart to the MB factory, with the relevant o rings etc, in a nice Mann box. Previously I've had Hengst with the same. Looking at the filter housing on the C280 202, it is made by Hengst .........go figure

Myros, Where did you get the Mann filter ? I may go this way next time.

 

[BlackC55]

Myros, Where did you get the Mann filter ? I may go this way next time.

From Euro or any decent factors that stock Mann (many do)

 

[Myros]

I get my filters from

German Swedish and French ( predominantly Mann& Hummel). Eurocarparts
( usually Hengst) and Andrew Page Motor Factors ( a mixture, depends what they have in. The only ones of theirs I don't like are Purco?, too short for the TE to enable easy fitting and removal).
You can also get them from the dealer. they are a bit pricier, but if you are way closer to a dealer than the others, it probably evens out. I pass all those motor factors on the way home from work so it's not even out of my way.
I've been using Chevron fully-synth for years now with no problems whatsoever. I suspect the lack of endorsement to be linked to the lack of a bung from Chevron to MB to do so.

 

[C240yaz]

BlackC55 and Myros, Thanks. I tried doing a search for Eurocarparts on Google, there are many results. Is it this one ?

http://www.eurocarparts.com/

 

[BlackC55]

yep thats it