sump plug size

[Parrot of Doom]

Quickie, does anyone know the exact size of the sump plug on a W210 E300TD 1997?

I lent my tools to someone, and don't have any sockets - just need to pop around the corner and buy one. Any idea?

 

[tom7035]

It's a 12mm.

 

[bundy]

i,m glad i kept my mouth shut!! i would have bet a tenner thet it was a 13mm.

you live & learn

regards ted

 

[C220GJS]

Me too, thought it was 13mm.
Geo.

 

[tom7035]

Gentlemen, I may stand corrected. Apologies if I'm wrong.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Ta muchly, saves time if I have the correct sockets before I begin the job!

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Ta lads, its definitely a 13mm plug. Gonna order a new one now anyway, the old one is looking a bit worn.

 

[tom7035]

Ta lads, its definitely a 13mm plug. Gonna order a new one now anyway, the old one is looking a bit worn.

This is probably what confused me - mine was a bit chewed up and I had to 'tap' on a 12mm socket to undo it. (Excuse? - yes!)

 

[C220GJS]

Nice bodyswerve Tom !!!.
Geo.

 

[LNM]

Mine used to be 13mm. Not sure what size it'd be classed as now though.

I stupidly used an open ended spanner yesterday and predictably enough, it slipped.

Off to buy a vacuum pump to suck it out through the dipstick hole.

 

[LNM]

(suck the the oil out that is, not the plug...)

 

[davidsl500]

just file it down a bit and tap a 12mm one on - ask Tom, he knows how to do it (lol)

 

[LNM]

I'll have a go in the morning.

I was very annoyed yesterday about this; felt completely useless; especially after getting all the bits together for a _simple_ little job like changing the ****** oil !! then I tried a stillson, which was too big and that slipped, then I resorted to mole grips and they just ploughed metal off the feckin edges. Its a total mess now.

When you say tap, do you mean tap or TAP ? I am filing it so its a slight inteference fit with a six sided hex socket ?

 

[tom7035]

A decent pair of pipe pliers should loosen it. (Or, if you haven't filed off too much, do as I did - TAP on a 12mm socket!!)

 

[LNM]

Suck-job

I bought a pump from Lawson's and the dogs bolix it is too; well recommended !!

The engine just makes slight whispering noises now with its shiny new oil, much quieter.

 

[Blobcat]

I bought a pump from Lawson's and the dogs bolix it is too; well recommended !!

The engine just makes slight whispering noises now with its shiny new oil, much quieter.

They use the suck method a lot in North America where they change the oil every few months. The method is fine with very frequent oil changes, however over here it can be an issue with not getting the sludge out the bottom. However any oil change is better than non so if you cannot get the plug out keep on sucking :-D

 

[Myros]

I suck mine as well

It seems to hoover out all the yuck, not that there ever is much yuck in there. I did once do all the sucking, and then took off the plug and not a lot else came out. The trick is to keep on sucking, and wiggle your probe about to catch the dregs. I lean on the front end as well to encourage the oil down to the dipstick end of the engine when I get to the dregs part of the operation.
Pretty much the same as a standard oil change, except you can't go off for a cuppa in the middle of it all.
If you were really worried about it, you could just shorten your oil change interval. After all, we are doing it ourselves and the dealer stamp isn't an issue here, nor is the dealer's price for oil.