W124: oil change

[JumboBeef]

Now, forgive me for being a numptie, but I have never change the oil and filter on any car. My W124 needs it's oil doing, and I have the oil and can get the filter, and was wondering if it is an easy job.............?

It's a 1994 W124 E220 auto. Thanks!

 

[grober]

Piece of cake as the filter is accessible from the top of the engine. Warm up the engine to make the oil flow better. Then remove the filler cap on the cam cover and drain the oil by removing the sump drain plug. You may run into a snag here if the 13mm head is rounded off. You should always use a new copper washer if possible. If the drain plug is very worn I would advise replacing it to save a world of pain in the future. As the oil is draining slacken the large plastic oil housing cover slightly to allow the oil in the filter to drain back into the sump. I would advise you invest in a large oil cover cup wrench makes things so much easier and not expensive --- Laser Oil Filter Cup Wrench 76mm from Halfords Price £5.49
Once the oil had drained remove the filter cartridge and replace it with a new one--it just clips into the cap with the felt ring end pointing into the engine. renew the large O ring and give it a lube with a smear of new oil before seating it in the groove. Screw on the oil filter cap till its hand tight + a tweak and the o ring begins to get compressed.
After replacing the drainplug -don't overtighten it !!!Fill the engine with correct quantity of oil less a litre or so ( see hand book) after a couple of minutes check the dipstick level. Top up till the oil level is 1/2 way between the fill and full marks. Run the engine ( but don't rev it) and check the oil pressure gauge registers after a few seconds. Switch off wait a few minutes for the oil to drain back into the sump and recheck the level. warm the engine up and check the filter housing for any leaks and your sorted. Use disposable gloves and avoid direct contact with the old oil if possible. Dispose of the old oil at your local recycling point. If you have never done this before please get a knowledgeable friend to look over your shoulder the first time you do it - well worth a couple of pints

 

[Smiley]

Just make sure you have a large enough drain container - there is a lot of oil in these cars (I assume the 220s are similar to the 320s).

 

[JumboBeef]

Hi Grober and Smiley,

Thanks for all that info! Very helpful, I shall print it off and give it a go over the weekend.

Fill the engine with correct quantity of oil less a litre or so ( see hand book)

there is a lot of oil in these cars (I assume the 220s are similar to the 320s).

According to this, it holds 5.8 litres.

If you have never done this before please get a knowledgeable friend to look over your shoulder the first time you do it - well worth a couple of pints

This is the only bit which worries me: I have no one nearby to call on (anyone passing Penrith?) so I will have to do it on my own.

Where is the sump plug? Can I reach it without using ramps? (I don't have any!)

Thanks again!

 

[Roger Jones]

The sump plug -- a 13mm hexagonal head -- is at the lowest point on the engine block, or very near the lowest point. You may be able to reach it effectively without ramps by putting the plug side of the car on a kerb. Don't work under the car with only the car's own jack holding it up.

Beware of the tendency of dripping oil to blow with the slightest breeze. Best to spread cardboard or newspaper under the tray you use to collect the oil.

MB have their own filter-cap tool at a reasonable price -- MW103 589 02 09/00 -- and it also works on spin-on filters.

If you're going to do the job yourself regularly, buy a couple of sump plugs and a bag of washers. Note that, as suggested above, the sump plug does not need gorilla tightening; the correct torque is only 25Nm, less than a quarter of the torque needed for wheel nuts. If the plug is rounded, you may need a Mole wrench to get a grip on it.

Finally, as suggested above, the cap on the filter canister only needs hand tightening. Don't damage yourself by using the gorilla technique often displayed by Spanner Controllers at certain High St oil-change outfits.

 

[grober]

If you are serious about doing your oil changes yourself long term you might want invest in one of these. A vacuum oil extractor- Pela Pumps, Oil, Liquid Extractors, Oil Extract

These are often stocked by ship chandlers since they are often used to drain marine engines or you can buy online £35-60 depending on model.

With these you don't even need to get under the car to use the sump plug to drain the warm oil you suck it up through the dip stick--- its how Mercedes do it in the dealership. There are mixed opinions about these but I have had no problems provided the oil is reasonably clean and has been changed regularly.
Using either method you will find you will only probably drain 4-4.5 litres out of the engine despite its 5.8 litre capacity some is always left behind. When you buy your oil make sure you get a brand with a 5 litre container some of the more exotic brands only have 4 litres which is not quite enough! 5 litres should be enough. I would recommend a 10w40 semi-synthetic changed at 5-6k miles depending on how you run the car. Millers XSS 10W40 SEMI-SYNTHETIC or Fuchs Titan XTR 10W40 from opie oils Fuchs TITAN XTR 10W/40 High Performance Semi-Synthetic Engine Oil

 

[wemorgan]

If you are serious about doing your oil changes yourself long term you might want invest in one of these. A vacuum oil extractor- Pela Pumps, Oil, Liquid Extractors, Oil Extract

I've used one of these pumps for my wife's Smart car, as it has no sump plug.

It makes an oil+filter change very quick, clean and easy, so I personally would recommend it as you're new to car DIY.

 

[Number_Cruncher]

>>There are mixed opinions about these...

Yes, but, there is no hard evidence against them.

People often cite that you would be more likely to remove debris from the sump by draining. However, if you had a sump with the type and size of debris which couldn't be sucked out by a vac pump, then, you have a much larger problem to deal with than choosing the detail of your oil changing method.

One advantage of using a vac pump on my engine is that I can also use the probe to "vacuum" out the oil filter housing - there are a few traps in there formed by re-inforcing webs in the casting, where oil doesn't naturally drain from.

Using a Pela means I can do a very quick oil and filter change wearing good clothes, all from the top, without having to get messy underneath the car dropping the undertray, drainging the oil, etc, etc.

 

[JumboBeef]

Thanks to everyone! I'll give it a shot over the weekend.

 

[SilverSaloon]

hi

i changed my oil the other month and this time i didnt use my drive-on ramps. i just jacked up the car as high as i could to get a bucket under there and then undid the drain plug. jacking the drivers side is best as then the car is leaning towards the drain plug so it will drain better.

be careful when tightening the sump plug back up again and the oil filter should come with a copper washer for the sump plug.

also if you have the under-engine guard then you'll need to remove this. it can be plastic or metal. mine is metal and heavy/hassle to remove. its quite hard to re-install this guard without ramps, and took me a while. with ramps its easy enough. ramps are cheap at halfords - well worth it.

 

[hifibloke]

"you want it right do it yourself" so I think
recently got C240 knowing it has 8l of oil went to kwik fit to chenge it
Mobil 1 + filter £29 not bad as 5l in halfords is £24.99

but obviously kwik fit monkeys can't do it even so simple thing right
they scratch filter housing and fill oil 1-3mm above max and who to f... was pouring this oil stevie wonder !? I had to clean engine after that

so i got oil extractor 6l paid £35 and i will do it next time myself

 

[Smiley]

hi

i changed my oil the other month and this time i didnt use my drive-on ramps. i just jacked up the car as high as i could to get a bucket under there and then undid the drain plug. jacking the drivers side is best as then the car is leaning towards the drain plug so it will drain better.

be careful when tightening the sump plug back up again and the oil filter should come with a copper washer for the sump plug.

also if you have the under-engine guard then you'll need to remove this. it can be plastic or metal. mine is metal and heavy/hassle to remove. its quite hard to re-install this guard without ramps, and took me a while. with ramps its easy enough. ramps are cheap at halfords - well worth it.

it is easier with a 7-8 litre oil drain container flat underneath the car - it is then possible to do without jacking up at all - with the plastic cover that is - appreciate that the metal cover makes it more tricky.

 

[Roger Jones]

I use a plastic garden tray to catch the oil. They are about 24"x15"x4" from B&Q and similar places. It's large enough to position such that both the initial strong spurt and the last wind-blown drops are captured. It's also a good size to handle and from which to pour the oil into old oil tubs (get a large funnel from Euro Car Parts or similar places) for proper disposal at your local-authority site -- any larger and the risk of spillage is serious, and you do not want spillage, believe me. I have tried an oil-drain container and found it to be much inferior to the large tray.

 

[SilverSaloon]

yeah i need to get a tray of some kind. yes i agree, only need to jack it up to fit the bucket under the engine, and a tray would eliminate the need for this. bucket also means i can just put it in my old trailer and take it to the tip and pour it straight into the waste disposal unit and then chuck the bucket in the household waste skip. then for £2 (from B&Q etc) i get a new bucket to wash the car with until next time.

i love the metal sump guard i have on the 124 but hate having to remove it (actually refit it)!!

i'd never suck the oil out - no need to if it can be drained. but i dont want to enter that argument again (been there!)

 

[Beetnik]

I use the missus's roasting tin from the oven. Does the job admirably, saves on olive oil and brings a motoring flavour to Sunday dinner.

 

[JumboBeef]

Did this job yesterday. Just about the simplest job I've ever done, and saved myself £30+ I will always do my own oil/filter changes from now on.

Thanks to everyone who helped!

 

[Ted]

Did you remove the sump plug or use an oil extractor?

 

[JumboBeef]

Took the sump plug out. I'm with the old school on this one...........