Can I do an oil change without changing my filter or taking off the cap to the housing assembly. Long story short, mine's held together with a locktited C clamp and I don't want to disturb it. The filter is new but the oil is old. Is there anything wrong with just warming up the car and draining the oil or it is totally necessary that I take that cap off?

It is better than nothing!

At worst you will get a partial oil change because the filter housing might not drain. Just be careful to not overfill it when you are adding the new oil.

Get that housing replaced/fixed soon, before the filter gets clogged.

Jim

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1995 S350D, Green with black leather interior.
Bought January 2008 w/ 233,xxx miles.
I did 22,000 miles during the first year of ownership.

You should be fine in the short run. When the filter clogs it *should* allow oil through a bypass, but then you're running on unfiltered oil.

There are a couple guys parting out 617s on here you should be able to find a housing cheap if there aren't any junkyards nearby.

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

Well the filter is brand new. There's a long story about how I stripped the bolt and had a crazed mobile mechanic make it impossible to remove the bolt. The C Clamp has held on so far and I am able to change the filter. It's just something I would like to avoid until the next oil change.

Better to replace the housing unit, a pain, but still...

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83 SD

84 CD

Many brands of cars have a factory recommendation to change the filter every other oil change, check your book. Given your filter is new I would not worry about it at all. At worst you would be X miles into oil life by leaving some old oil in.

How many quarts does you car hold?

Unless your Oil is really scummy to begin with leaving the Oil Filter in an changing the Oil should be OK.
But, with your Oil Filter Housing issue I can't imagine why Changing the Oil is more important the Fixing the Housing.
If your setup comes loose on the Oil Filter Housing you could loose your Engine.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Ah, I remember that thread. Yeah you're fine.

__________________
$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment