DIY Oil Changes

[Chazchuzzlewitt]

After nearly being ripped-off for my last oil + filter change, I've decided to do the next one myself.

For those of you who do this reguarly, what do you use to catch the old oil in under the car?
Also, when I was in the states some people had 'topsiders' that sucked the old oil out the dipstick tube- anyone seen these available over here?

cheers...

 

[turnipsock]

Hellfords have special thing for collecting the oil. The old way was to cut the side of an old gallon oil tin. The Hellfords thing is worth getting.

 

[The Editor]

Sucking the oil out of the dipstick filler is not to be recommended. This type of oil change always leaves muck/crud etc in the sump to be stired up at a later date.

Run the engine to get it up to operating temp, take out the sump nut and leave it.... and leave it.... and leave it. Then give the sump nut a good clean with a rag, replace the sump washer with a new one, dip your finger in some new oil and wipe it round the washer and screw the thing back in. Fill up with your chosen brand and away you go!

 

[tom7035]

A cheaper option is an old plastic washing-up basin (or even a new one come to that!). Nice and wide and low. Transfer to an oil or antifreeze container for disposal by your Local Authority.

 

[mlc]

Ive used an old washing up bowl for the last 30 years! not the same one of course just the cast offs from originally MrsC Senior, then MrsC MK1 and now the perfect MrsC MK2.

I struggle to see how sucking upwards can work properly because you would always leave some oil behind. As already said let it run out for as long as possible to get as much of the old oil out as you can.

Dont forget to be green and take the old oil to the local recycle centre.

Mark.

 

[996jimbo]

Or open the drain near a river or stream and let nature dispose of the oil. That's the eco friendly way. Has the added benefit of waterproofing the poor sea birds and stops them getting wet or drowning.

I'm sure I read that somewhere.

 

[Myros]

oh dear

well I went and invested in a syringy thing, and I'm just going to have to do the sucky bit, and then go for the sump nut to see just what does get left behind. From the noises it makes, I don't think too much can stay in there. What about all these matelot types who have to use them on their marine engines, where they can't get at the sump. Do their engines blow up regularly?

 

[Ramius]

Always a wise move to drain and not do the sucky thing. Also change the sump bung too. My model ( 1991 300te24 ) has an alluminum bung and "should" be changed on each lube.

 

[paulcallender]

Its not worth doing an oil change unless you use oil flush. Seriously.

Also, while its a great idea to use an old washing up bowl (I do!), bear in mind the typical capacity of these things is 5 litres, and the typical Mercedes engine has an oil capacity of 6-7 litres.

Simple solution - don't drop the sump plug into the (hot) oil, instead keep hold of it, and before the bowl overflows, refit it, pour the old oil into another container and continue. Repeat as required...

 

[Chazchuzzlewitt]

thanks for the advice... first oil + filter change completed successfully- the can they had at Hellfords was too small and stood upright so went with the washing-up bowl idea- only managed to spill a little bit when it came out faster than I thought it would after removing the sump plug! The normal size bowl held the 7 litres fine with room to spare.
The hardest bit of the whole thing was getting the rear screws for the under-engine 'sh*t shield' back in...

 

[turnipsock]

I would echo getting some flushing oil and running this through the engine.

I can't see that the sucky up thing would be any good as you are bound to leave the worst of stuff behind.

I'm lucky that I can buy oil at half price.

 

[tom7035]

I personally feel flushing out is a bit outdated these days with modern oils holding everything 'in suspension' and draining out with the old oil. Different years ago when the norm was oil change every 1000 miles and the sludge settled in the sump. Perhaps though it helps psyck - psyph - pyshc - in the mind!

 

[Myros]

I'm not sure

about the leave the worst behind, Turnip. The tube goes right down to the bottom the sump, I make a point of shoving it right down and keeping it down. Therefore, I'm sucking out the bottom of the sump first, just as a conventional drain would. I've only used it once so far, but a bit of empirical maths with the volumes extracted and replaced showed that not much could have been left behind. I pulled over 7litres from the 280, plus what was in the oil filter, and put back 7.5, as the book says, with a new filter, and the dipstick mark was just where it was before. Ok, not exactly rocket science, but it has to be in the ball park. The 280 is due another change soon, so I'll do it belt and braces and let you know.