Oil Filter 300D

[BWatson]

I had the oil changed on my 82 300D. The oil filter they put in was notably smaller in overall length (about 2") then the one they took out. The guy said it was fine. My concern is whether or not ALL of the oil is being filtered. Does anyone have more information on this topic or can anyone tell me how the oil flows through the filter?

1982 300D

[sixto]

If the replacement filter is NOT a Mann, Knecht or Hengst (maybe a couple other OEM brands?), then few on this list will say it's okay.

edit: I added the NOT after reading TXBill's post.

Sixto
91 300SE
81 300SD

[Ken300D]

I think they just flat-out put the wrong filter in your car.

For example, the filter used on the '87 300D is shorter than the one used in your '82 300D by at least an inch.

You probably have reduced filtration because I'll bet there is oil flow around the filter.

Ken300D

[can-do]

Greetings,

I'd have to second Bill's post. I've ordered oil filters online from several places and have used Mann and Hengst. They are both the same size. I'd be curious as to what filter they did install on your car. I stick with the German made filters, they were designed for these cars to begin with. I have a feeling that you are missing the bottom exposed part of your filter that isn't steel wrapped. It does have a purpose, doesn't come to mind why, but I'd order some filters from Fastlane and change the one out that they installed with the proper filter.
I really don't trust anyone to change my oil in my Benz's, any of my cars for that matter, just to many easy to forget things these quick lube places don't care to check. Is the drain plug installed correctly and properly torqued? I guess I'm too picky when it comes to my cars, or just careful.

Charles

[BWatson]

Thanks for the info. I didnt mean to give the impression that I am a complete retard. I am aware how many quarts of oil to put in. I will probably buy a new filter this weekend. The guy insisted it will be OK but I tend to be skeptical because I love my car. It is one of the best 82s on the road and I intend to keep it that way

[ricali]

I carry a spare filter in the trunk just to prevent that.
German filters only quality not price

[can-do]

Greetings Brad,

I don't think anyone meant any ill will towards you. Lube places are just in a habit of filling the crankcase with the norm, 5 quarts, generally out of a drop down hose filler. We just wouldn't want to see your next post expressing the stupidity of the quick lube you just visited for causing low oil bearing damage to your car. We all Love our Benz's to some extent, that's why we don't really trust a whole lot of folks to touch them unless they are experienced Benz mechanics.

Charles

[Ken300D]

Got me curious about just how much difference between the 300D filters:

1982 300D, Mann PF1055/1x is 7-1/2" tall.
1987 300D, Mann PF1050/1x is 6-3/8" tall.

Granted the "real" way to measure the filter is metric.

I wish Mercedes had used the same filter in both cars, but I suspect a fit/clearance issue made them go with the shorter filter in the later model.

Ken300D

[BWatson]

Thanks everyone! I guess the answer I am still curious about is whether or not oil is going over the top of this filter?

[can-do]

Greeting Brad,

Seeing as the top of these cartridge filter are sealed leads me to believe that probably the oil is not going over the top as oil pressure would have to overcome the rubber seal affixed to the center top of the filter housing in order to do this.

Charles

[Ken300D]

It depends on where the hole is in that tube that runs through the center of the oil filter. If it is up high near the top, then no oil is going through the filter. The parts book doesn't show that detail - and I don't feel like pulling the oil filter cover off tonight!



Ken300D

[Billybob]

I don’t know how relevant it might be but as I read from my newly acquired MB 603. manual the filter is made up of two distinct sections the smaller bottom section with a perforated metal screen surrounding is the main filter element called full flow element. The larger upper portion surrounded by a finer perforated tin can is the bypass element. Apparently the design of this system ensures adequate oil flow at all times as well as allowing the bypass filtration of a smaller amount through a very fine filter medium at the same time. The finer filter theoretically needs a larger surface area hence the larger size. The oil flow on this engine is from the outside of the filter canister through the casing then thru the filter medium and onto the engine innards. The small hole in the filter chamber stem is where the smaller amount of very filtered oil is returned to the regular oil flow. This manual recommends that at each oil change the small hole is checked with compressed air to ensure clear passage. There is a check valve approximately 4cm from the end of the stem that allows the finely filtered oil to only flow out of the stem and to prevent regular filtered full flow oil from pushing up back through the stem. I only found out about these particulars after my latest oil change when I got my new manual.. Yesterday I opened the oil filter and replaced the two small o-rings ($1.10 ea. MB dealer-old ones where hard as a rock and had to be broken off) I used compressed air from a rubber tipped blowgun to the small stem hole blowing out what looked like very thick black tar from the end of the stem. I then used a blunt hypodermic needle to inject a small amount of WD-40 into the small stem hole, let soak and blew it clear again. I repeated this a couple of times until I could feel a good flow of air and didn’t get much black ooze. The check valve seemed to work easier also. I hope that now my car can take advantage of the bypass filter designed into the system.
If your filter is too short and the small stem hole is not inside the upper bypass filter element at best you might not be getting the benefit of bypass filtering and at worst you my be pumping unfiltered oil thru the filter stem back into the full flow filtered oil stream possibly clogging the small stem hole and the check valve inside the filter stem. Again I don’t know how pertinent this info might be to your particular engine but some of it may be. Good luck.

[BWatson]

Thanks BillyBob!
I couldn't wait any longer so I opened up the oil filter myself and found out most of what you said. I feel confident that the bulk of the oil is being filtered properly and can now sleep at night. Thanks for explaining in detail how the system works and next time I will clean out the pinhole and use the larger filter.

[P.E.Haiges]

Take the incorrect filter back to where they put it in and demand your money back. Carry it in a quart can of used Diesel drain oil and if they refuse to refund your money, accidently spill the filter and oil all over their counter or preferably the managers desk and walk out.

Anyway, that's what I would do. You have to teach these incompetents a lesson so thay don't screw the next customer who might not be as alert as you were.

I got some tires once and I always watch what the so called mechanics, IE high school dropouts, are doing to my car. It looked like he fell asleep on the air ratchet because he kept hammering on the lug bolts so long. After he put the car back down I got out the original equipment lug wrench out and asked him to loosen the lug bolts with it. Guess what, he couldn't loosen one out of ten with the lug wrench, he had to use the air ratchet to loosen them. I then had him retighten the lug bolts using the lug wrench. Imaging getting a flat along way from home and not one lug bolt could be loosened to change the tire.

I talked to the manager, high school graduate but college dropout, and he had a "I don't give a crap attitude" Unfortunately I didn't have any oil to spill but I never did any business there again.

P E H

[gsxr]

PEH is right - that is the WRONG filter, do NOT put it in the car! Please! Get a real one, from the dealer if necessary (this time.) They're something like $12-$15 from the dealer. Or delay your oil change, a few hundred more miles won't hurt anything.

In the future, plan ahead and buy your service parts from a reputable Mercedes e-tailer like IMPCO or Rusty (Wholesale Parts, 800-741-5252). Rusty just had a special on OEM (Hengst, Knecht, Mann) oil filters for your car, $5.95/each, free shipping, no tax (except in GA). Can't beat that! And he can even drop-ship them from SF, CA so you'll get them in 1-2 days via UPS Ground.