Can anyone tell me the hex size size of the rear differential ? I want to check and/or add oil. Thanks

__________________
85 300TDT 456,000 orig. miles

It's 14mm.

You'd be way better with a hex bit rather than an allen wrench.

Ya, what he said. Get 1/2" drive, and clean the head of the bolt out first.
Very Very tight.

Pull the bottom plug and just change the oil.

__________________
Thank You!
Fred
2009 ML350
2004 SL600
2004 SL500
1996 SL600
2002 SLK32
2005 CLK320 cabrio
2003 ML350
1997 C280 Sport

Ya, what he said.

Which also reminds me that the fill plug is in the aluminum rear cover and it typically seizes in the aluminum. A propane torch with some heat on the aluminum will release the grip in about 20 seconds........you'll be amazed.

FYI, even Sears doesnt a 14mm allen head socket. Autozone in a 3 pack, 12 14 17mm maybe? Anyway, just about to do mine. Just bought the socket. It was $10. The MBz tool (14mm allen on one side and 17mm open end on the other) is around $35, $41 list. They say its better for manual transmission draining sicne it has a shorty 14mm allen.

THNX for the tip on heat Brian. I'll have the torch ready.

Make sure you remove the top plug first just in case...

__________________
Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

Autozone - 3 pack includes 12mm, 14mm, 16mm 1/2" drive for $8.00 made in china but works well....

Well known engineers trick for meshing aluminum and metal threads is to put a little grease on the threads before torquing in, as it protects threads against the friction and natural seizing of the two metals... (works well, I do it on all my toys) Especially the heads on a KTM 520EXC...


Cheers!

__________________
Thank you for all the help guys!

"Old Gretchen" <--1983 300SD w126 cali. emissions (so it says on wdw sticker)
LIght metallic blue with dark blue interior. Odo stuck at 160,500 mi.

www.handydo.joolo.com

PS. Not too much torching you have seals in there that can get damaged easily!!

__________________
Thank you for all the help guys!

"Old Gretchen" <--1983 300SD w126 cali. emissions (so it says on wdw sticker)
LIght metallic blue with dark blue interior. Odo stuck at 160,500 mi.

www.handydo.joolo.com

If you can find one of the old style 14mm wrenches that came in the ponton tool kits, it sure makes the job easier. I use it on all of my cars. See http://www.mbzponton.org/valueadded/maintenance/toolkit.htm, almost near the bottom of that page.

__________________
Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

Ya, what they said. You might want to kiss the socke3t with a mini sledge to make sure it's seated in there. It's deeper than it looks (that's what she said).

__________________
1989 300E 144K

14mm is something of a German standard.

Drain plugs on BMW are 14mm, too.

__________________
Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

if you have difficulty in finding a 14mm....a 9/16" will work just as well.....

SB

__________________

Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG

I used the cheapies from the local Tool King and they worked fine:

http://www.toolking.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=4849


Have others put anti-seize on the threads when putting them back in? I didn't but I'm tempted to pull it apart again and put some a.s. on.

Anti-seize? I did. Can't hurt.

Another trick to remove the plug (other than heat) is to put your bit and breaker bar (or wrench) on it ready to go with the handle horizontal (slightly down), pushing up to loosen. Then, put your jack under the wrench handle and slowly and carefully crank it upwards. Slow, but easy and painless. Just make sure it is all the way in the hole.

__________________
1982 300CD Petrol/Black Leather