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  #1  
Old 01-06-2010, 08:24 PM
TonyS
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Santa Ynez, CA
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Spring loaded engine oil drain?

My son recently purchased a 1985 300D. We've been going over the car performing maintenance and repairs. A previous owner installed a spring loaded oil drain but the local mechanic we purchased it from had no idea how to correctly operate it. I laid on the floor and held the thing open with a nail for almost twenty minutes last change which was about as much fun as it sounds. Luckily that did not effect the seal (at least not yet). It's time for another change and I'm tempted to remove the unit, although am afraid I might mess up the oil pan in the process. Does this look familiar to anyone? I've got another picture with the cap removed but cannot figure out how to include the second photo. Thanks for the help.

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Spring loaded engine oil drain?-oil-drain-plug1.jpg  
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  #2  
Old 01-06-2010, 08:45 PM
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Not familiar with it but I'd be concerned about why it was installed. Maybe the pan threads are stripped and it's installed with JB weld.
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1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/296386-fs-1-owner-83-mb-300d-turbo-rebuild-parts.html
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  #3  
Old 01-06-2010, 08:46 PM
pawoSD's Avatar
Dieselsüchtiger
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
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That oil pan looks like it has seen better days. I'd be replacing it ASAP if it was my car. But I am obsessive.

I have a brand new pan and drain plug on my car.
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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)
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  #4  
Old 01-06-2010, 08:59 PM
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Location: Cape Cod Massachusetts
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyS View Post
My son recently purchased a 1985 300D. We've been going over the car performing maintenance and repairs. A previous owner installed a spring loaded oil drain but the local mechanic we purchased it from had no idea how to correctly operate it. I laid on the floor and held the thing open with a nail for almost twenty minutes last change which was about as much fun as it sounds. Luckily that did not effect the seal (at least not yet). It's time for another change and I'm tempted to remove the unit, although am afraid I might mess up the oil pan in the process. Does this look familiar to anyone? I've got another picture with the cap removed but cannot figure out how to include the second photo. Thanks for the help.
Usually with this design that cover cap is removed and you use a second part of the system a short section of hose with a coupling which screws into the cap’s place. That coupling is designed so that once screwed into place it will hold open the spring loaded valve in the adapter which was installed in the drain plug hole. You might take a look around in the trunk area for the short drain hose/coupler. These things work pretty well if you've got all the pieces, the idea is to minimize the chance of damaging the threading for the oil pan drain plug by reducing the frequency of needing to remove and install it and making the draining of the oil quicker and easier.

At one time FRAM sold these quick drain adapters.
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  #5  
Old 01-06-2010, 09:00 PM
TonyS
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Santa Ynez, CA
Posts: 3
The pan is actually in pretty good shape. My son recently came home from college and drove down a potholed muddy road which coated the oil pan, tranny, etc. He says he'll clean it in the next couple of days. Somewhere there is a fitting that will screw on to the end to open the valve. It wouldn't suprise me if it is a boat part where the drain plugs are hard to reach and attaching a drain hose before removing the plug is very advantageous.
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  #6  
Old 01-06-2010, 09:16 PM
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A new pan, gasket and drain plug will run about $30, I replaced all of that a few oil changes ago. It did not take much longer than a normal oil change would. I would just replace the pan while they are still available and inexpensive (for a 30 year old Benz part).
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  #7  
Old 01-06-2010, 09:18 PM
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That looks like a Fram Sure Drain. As stated above, the hose that screws onto the fitting has a depressor which hold the valve open while the hose is attached. If you can't find the hose, you can buy a new valve online for around $5. (If you like the set-up, you could even get a valve to fit another vehicle and share the hose.)

Quote:
Originally Posted by derburger View Post
A new pan, gasket and drain plug will run about $30...
And accomplish what?

Seems like a solution desperately seeking a problem.

Last edited by tangofox007; 01-06-2010 at 09:29 PM.
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  #8  
Old 01-06-2010, 09:31 PM
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As stated above. Its not a bad little piece. I had one on a previous car and it was simple to use. I left it on with the sale. The new owner liked it.

Amazon lists it:
http://www.amazon.com/Fram-SD3-SureDrain-Access-Change/dp/B000BQY82E

this is what you are missing:
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Spring loaded engine oil drain?-fram_sure-drain.jpg  
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  #9  
Old 01-06-2010, 09:59 PM
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Dieselsüchtiger
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Renntag View Post
As stated above. Its not a bad little piece. I had one on a previous car and it was simple to use. I left it on with the sale. The new owner liked it.

Amazon lists it:
http://www.amazon.com/Fram-SD3-SureDrain-Access-Change/dp/B000BQY82E

this is what you are missing:
I'd be too paranoid. I like a firmly tightened bolt in that opening.
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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)
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  #10  
Old 01-06-2010, 10:15 PM
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This is what I have installed on my vehicles...

As an alternative, these work well too:

http://www.fumotousa.com/
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  #11  
Old 01-06-2010, 10:46 PM
Craig
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I would just replace the pan and have the correct part, it's cheap and easy.
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  #12  
Old 01-06-2010, 10:48 PM
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I love the oil drain valves, I converted several trucks to them at my last job. They are very common to find on class 8 trucks, these particular trucks were heavy haul and got a full service every 10k. I never once heard of any problems with one of these valves, but if you're paranoid get one with a lever you have to move to open.
In the case of the OP, the hose is probably in the trunk.
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  #13  
Old 01-06-2010, 11:14 PM
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Dieselsüchtiger
 
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AJD View Post
As an alternative, these work well too:

http://www.fumotousa.com/
It's tempting to get one of those.....especially since I do about 4-5 oil changes a year on my 300SD.....
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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)
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  #14  
Old 01-06-2010, 11:15 PM
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I'm in the pan replace crowd. The appearance of it is questionable, even if the pan is in good condition; I wouldn't trust it. That thing pops off, you could potentially fry the engine.
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  #15  
Old 01-06-2010, 11:23 PM
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Location: central Texas
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Sure would be nice if one of those alternative locking drain valves could be accessed from beside the car... slip the oil drain pan under the car, use a long rod to unlock and open the drain.. let out the hot oil... reverse the process.... drag the oil pan out... add new oil....

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