I feel pretty stupid. I have changed the oil at least 30 times on my 1980 300TD, so I should know better - I love working on this car.

Friday I replaced all my filters (oil and fuel) and, of course, changed the oil. My filter housing lid didn't fit too well, but I got it on and tightened the bolts. Drove to the parts store, then came home. 30 minutes drive time. Then left home again with my daughter. Noticed my oil pressure falling and just acting weird. I pulled over and looked - the oil filter housing was covered with fresh, black oil (I keep the engine, really, really clean, so this in its self was very upsetting).

I turned around and went home, knowing exactly what I had done.

The oil filter housing lid is not symmetrical (even though it looks like it is) - it only goes on ONE WAY ! I knew that, but forgot. Once I turned it around the lid slipped into place perfectly.

BTW - I lost almost 4.5 quarts of oil. After refilling, everything seemed fine. I think it idles a little rougher than it should (gonna need to readjust the lifters again).

I'm grateful that Chloie (my 300td is named Chloie) - didn't die that day.

Welcome to the club! I pinched a Vac tube once... There are many story that can be found.. LOL.... Did you take a picture!!!

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92 300D 2.5L OM602 OBK #59

Yeah I've learned the hard way "if its not exactly right find out why" many times. At least you didn't run out of oil and ruin the engine...

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Sadly Benz-less

What I've found so far in my limited Mercedes experience is that MB designs things to work ONE way, and if you don't do it that one way you're going to wish you had.
Case in point: I wasted an entire Saturday trying to get at one of the power seat drive cables without removing the seat. Hours and untold curses later, I caved and removed the whole seat. Finished up in an hour or two after that.

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RIP:
2011 E350 BlueTEC, Schwartz 81k (totaled by uninsured drunk driver)
1964 Unimog 404.1 (wrongfully towed by the city)
1994 E320, Brilliantsilber 208k (transmission shuffled off after sudden catastrophic fluid loss)
1982 300D, Silberblau under a blue repaint 256k (sold for parts)
1995 E320 Polarweiss, 131k (sold for parts)
1995 E300D Polarweiss, 287k (totaled by drunk driver)

What engines does this apply to?

My 603 filter lid is definitely symmetrical. I remember putting it on each way several times and it's worked both ways.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

The one in my '84 Euro TD seems to fit either way. I put it on so I can read the picture/info on top. Only issue was one of the heater hoses pressing on it to make it misalign with the studs.
A serious problem I had on my first W123 240D, was that the PO had overtightened the studs. One pulled completely out of the canister, dumping most of my oil on the driveway. Fortunately it happened in daylight so I could see the spill, and not drive off and wreck the engine!
Repaired with 2 modified 8mm bolts inserted through the stripped canister-holes from below, to create 'strip-proof' studs.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Every 61x engine filter lid that I've ever touch has been symmetrical. On all three that I've owned and several others that I've worked on I've never noticed the lids not being symmetrical.

I too, however, have caught vac lines under the lid and squished them.

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I've never noticed any asymmetry on any of the oil filter lids on my MBs.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

In my experience, if it's Mercedes and it only works one way, it only fits one way.

Except that shutoff thing on the injector pump that causes the occasional runaway when people don't reassemble it correctly...there's a huge red-flag line item about it in a DIY somewhere around here.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

I've replaced two of those in the past year, and I find it difficult to see how someone could put that together wrong, anyone being at least someone careful and paying attention should have no problem with it. First one took me about an hour, second one took about 20-25mins.

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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)

My 1980 300TD is the non-turbo diesel version 617. Thanks !