Engine flush

[ash1212002]

Looking at the mileage history, in the last 2 years the c250 cgi facelift had only been driven just over 1000 miles!

Car is low mileage 34k

Last serviced in Jan 18, overdue a service from a time perspective, assyt states service not due yet due to the lack of miles driven i guess

Planning to get a service done, do you think it would benefit from an engine flush and petrol system clean?

Looking at Tec4 and forte products

PETROL SYSTEM AND OIL SYSTEM CLEANER TEC4 TWIN PACK 400ML BOTTLES.QUANTITY DEALS | eBay

Also considering cleaning the fuel system with petrol system cleaner, as the petrol in the tank must have been in there for a while!

Thoughts would be appreciated

 

[markjay]

I used to flush engines regularly up to (quite) a few years ago but I understand this is no longer a 'done thing'. Haven't had an engines flushed in the past 20 years...

As for fuel, fill her up and add some Redex/Forte/Millers/BG44K etc, then change the fuel filter.... I think on yours the fuel filter will still be under the car, i.e. not inside the fuel tank as in later models, so easy/cheap to replace.

The service interval is 12 months fixed, regardless of mileage..... if your car isn't asking for a service, I suspect someone may have fiddled with the service indicator? E.g. the indicator was reset before the car was sold? Either way it was definitely due a service in Jan 19. Flexible ASSIST is great for low mileage cars (had it on the W203) but sadly it was replaced with fixed service secheule back in 2007.

 

[ash1212002]

I used to flush engines regularly up to (quite) a few years ago but I understand this is no longer a 'done thing'. Haven't had an engines flushed in the past 20 years...

As for fuel, fill her up and add some Redex/Forte/Millers/BG44K etc, then change the fuel filter.... I think on yours the fuel filter will still be under the car, i.e. not inside the fuel tank as in later models, so easy/cheap to replace.

The service interval is 12 months fixed, regardless of mileage..... if your car isn't asking for a service, I suspect someone may have fiddled with the service indicator? E.g. the indicator was reset before the car was sold? Either way it was definitely due a service in Jan 19. Flexible ASSIST is great for low mileage cars (had it on the W203) but sadly it was replaced with fixed service secheule back in 2007.

Looking at the service indicator it states B1 service due in 275 days.

I think as its hardly been driven for 2 years I'll carry out an engine flush and fuel system clean

I've had a look at various online part sites, I'm unable to find the fuel filter for this vehicle, any ideas?

 

[markjay]

Looking at the service indicator it states B1 service due in 275 days.

I think as its hardly been driven for 2 years I'll carry out an engine flush and fuel system clean

I've had a look at various online part sites, I'm unable to find the fuel filter for this vehicle, any ideas?

This means the service indicator was reset 3 months ago i.e. in Jan 2019. So either the car was actually serviced in Jan 2019, or (more likely) ASSIST started prompting for the service due in Jan 2019 and someone simply reset it to make the warning on the dash go away.

Which is a pitty because the service code would have been informative in terms of was additional items were needed in the 'skipped' Jan 2019 service.

The next service B1 means Service B (oil change and major inspection), plus brake fluid change. So the 'skipped' service was a Service A, but, again, it would be interesting to know what else was needed at the time i.e. in Jan 2019 and presumably also skipped (e.g. air filter, spark plugs, ATF, etc).

With regards fuel filter, originally it was under the car, but at some point it was moved into the fuel tank and the replacement schedule for that changed to 15 years, so if this is the case on your car then just leave it.

 

[ash1212002]

This means the service indicator was reset 3 months ago i.e. in Jan 2019. So either the car was actually serviced in Jan 2019, or (more likely) ASSIST started prompting for the service due in Jan 2019 and someone simply reset it to make the warning on the dash go away.

Which is a pitty because the service code would have been informative in terms of was additional items were needed in the 'skipped' Jan 2019 service.

The next service B1 means Service B (oil change and major inspection), plus brake fluid change. So the 'skipped' service was a Service A, but, again, it would be interesting to know what else was needed at the time i.e. in Jan 2019 and presumably also skipped (e.g. air filter, spark plugs, ATF, etc).

With regards fuel filter, originally it was under the car, but at some point it was moved into the fuel tank and the replacement schedule for that changed to 15 years, so if this is the case on your car then just leave it.

I can only assume that it may have actually been serviced in Jan rather than just reset but the invoice may have been misplaced. All other services are present

I've ordered tec4 engine flush and petrol cleaner for peace of mind. Ordered 229.5 oil 20 litres from ebay

 

[markjay]

I can only assume that it may have actually been serviced in Jan rather than just reset but the invoice may have been misplaced. All other services are present

I've ordered tec4 engine flush and petrol cleaner for peace of mind. Ordered 229.5 oil 20 litres from ebay

If the car was serviced by an MB dealer or by a specialist with access to the MB computer system, then you can ask your local MB dealer to print-out the service history for you. It is online so any MB dealer will have access to the full service history (regardless of where the service was caried-out).

Also, if you register the car online with Mercedes Me, then you can access the car's service history yourself - though you will need a copy of the latest service sheet containing the online access code.

 

[rf065]

I can only assume that it may have actually been serviced in Jan rather than just reset but the invoice may have been misplaced. All other services are present

You're obviously very trusting/gullable/naive/ (please insert word as appropriate).
This is the motot trade we're dealing with!

 

[190]

I wouldn't bother with an engine flush. I don't like the idea of putting something other than the correct oil in an engine because you never get it all out again, only dilute it with the next change. It would take several changes to get rid of the last of the flushing oil. The only reason to consider it is if the car had missed a service and had done a very high mileage such that the oil started to form sludge.

Modern oils are fine for several years and low miles provided that they aren't all very short trips.

 

[ash1212002]

You're obviously very trusting/gullable/naive/ (please insert word as appropriate).
This is the motot trade we're dealing with!

Neither! genuinely I think it has been done, but the invoice is not present. I would have been suspicious if it was reset just before purchasing it and also the oil doesn't look too bad either!

 

[ash1212002]

I wouldn't bother with an engine flush. I don't like the idea of putting something other than the correct oil in an engine because you never get it all out again, only dilute it with the next change. It would take several changes to get rid of the last of the flushing oil. The only reason to consider it is if the car had missed a service and had done a very high mileage such that the oil started to form sludge.

Modern oils are fine for several years and low miles provided that they aren't all very short trips.

Even if i leave it to drain overnight? I've got a pela pump which i plan to use

 

[ash1212002]

If the car was serviced by an MB dealer or by a specialist with access to the MB computer system, then you can ask your local MB dealer to print-out the service history for you. It is online so any MB dealer will have access to the full service history (regardless of where the service was caried-out).

Also, if you register the car online with Mercedes Me, then you can access the car's service history yourself - though you will need a copy of the latest service sheet containing the online access code.

First four services were done by merc, the others are independent

I've got the digital printouts but for some reason none of the sec codes on each print out work online, called the servicing dealer asking for a new code, they didn't have a clue!

Now waiting for merc customer services to call me to sort out

 

[190]

Even if i leave it to drain overnight? I've got a pela pump which i plan to use

I use a Pela type pump too and while it may get virtually all of the oil out of the sump, no matter how long you leave it to drain there will still be some oil throughout the engine in the oil pump and galleries etc. I don't think anyone ever dismantled an engine and found it bone dry inside.

OK maybe the residue of flushing oil is not such a big deal - if it needed doing in the first place. If it doesn't need doing then for me you end up with a sub optimal oil change. How about changing the oil using the correct MB spec, then if it gets dirty very quickly just change it again. Flushing oil isn't even that cheap these days that there would be much difference in the cost.

 

[ash1212002]

I use a Pela type pump too and while it may get virtually all of the oil out of the sump, no matter how long you leave it to drain there will still be some oil throughout the engine in the oil pump and galleries etc. I don't think anyone ever dismantled an engine and found it bone dry inside.

OK maybe the residue of flushing oil is not such a big deal - if it needed doing in the first place. If it doesn't need doing then for me you end up with a sub optimal oil change. How about changing the oil using the correct MB spec, then if it gets dirty very quickly just change it again. Flushing oil isn't even that cheap these days that there would be much difference in the cost.

To be fair, the oil as it is doesn't look to bad. I was only wanting to do a flush because the car has only been driven just over 1000 miles in two years. So thought it would benefit from a flush

 

[markjay]

Whenever the dealer loggs the service on the system, a new SecCode is generated, and the previous code is invalidated. So you can only use the last SecCode generated, i.e. from the last dealer service. You can ask the dealer who carried-out the last service to re-issue a SecCode, however once they do that, the previous code will stop working.

 

[ash1212002]

Whenever the dealer loggs the service on the system, a new SecCode is generated, and the previous code is invalidated. So you can only use the last SecCode generated, i.e. from the last dealer service. You can ask the dealer who carried-out the last service to re-issue a SecCode, however once they do that, the previous code will stop working.

The last service i have is for 2015, tried the code but it is invalid

Do you know how the dealer can generate a new code?

 

[markjay]

The last service i have is for 2015, tried the code but it is invalid

Do you know how the dealer can generate a new code?

I don't know 'how' they do it, but I know they can do it, because MB Brooklands generated a new code for me after the one on their digitial service record didn't work. Said that, it was shortly after the service was carried-out, not sure if they can do it 4 years later....

 

[ash1212002]

I don't know 'how' they do it, but I know they can do it, because MB Brooklands generated a new code for me after the one on their digitial service record didn't work. Said that, it was shortly after the service was carried-out, not sure if they can do it 4 years later....

Fingers crossed mb customer services can sort it out for me, was expecting them to call me on Friday, so not off to a good start!

 

[Bellow]

To be fair, the oil as it is doesn't look to bad. I was only wanting to do a flush because the car has only been driven just over 1000 miles in two years. So thought it would benefit from a flush

Sitting stone cold doing nothing doesn't harm the oil one bit - heat does.

Even if i leave it to drain overnight? I've got a pela pump which i plan to use

Make sure the engine is fully warm or the Pela won't want to know.

 

[markjay]

I wouldn't worry too much about anything, really....

If the oil looks clean, and to the correct level, I would fill her up with premium fuel (or standard fuel with additive) and take her on motorway blast which will also help clean the PDF and fully charge the battery.

After that I would just drive the car normally.

Also:

1. I would inspect the brake discs to ensure that they only have surface rust and that it is fully removed after a few applications of the brakes, and that there's no pitting or persistent rust.

2. I would inspect the tyres to ensure thet are correctly inflated, and have no cracks or flat spots.

3. I would check when the following were last replaced: air filter, fuel filter, ATF, brake fluid, and when they are next due.

 

[ash1212002]

Sitting stone cold doing nothing doesn't harm the oil one bit - heat does.

Make sure the engine is fully warm or the Pela won't want to know.

I've ordered the engine flush and petrol cleaner so may as well use it as a one off

Sure will do! Thanks