W 115 Oil Filter - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Antony · #1 12-30-2002, 07:06 AM

I've a '72 220 d with a diesel and cannot find the oil filter. Believe it or not, I'm actually somewhat mechanically inclined. Any help will be appreciated.

#2 12-30-2002, 08:29 AM

I seem to remember the filter being on the drivers side rear and you get to it from under the car... Its the old type with the center screw... Oil down your arm.. Kind of a real mess to change.. Inside as I remember you will find a filter.. and a plastic screen Disc type thing that you need to clean... Be sure it has no holes in it..If it does you will also need to replace it.... As odd as it sounds.. the oil that goes thru the screen is for the engine.. and the oil thru the filter goes back to the pan... Odd I know.... Be sure to put it back together as it came apart.. and be sure the new o ring is in right..

Ken

JimSmith · #3 12-30-2002, 10:10 AM

Antony,

Ken has that right. The filter is located on the driver's side, inside the front suspension. It has a bolt on the bottom that you undo, and once it is loose oil starts running or dribbling out, and it usually ends up running down your arm. Not pleasant under any circumstances, but really unpleasant if the oil is hot. I recommend finding your local do it yourself shop and getting it on a lift.

Once the bolt is loose a few turns, the cannister gets loose and more oil will run out from the top unless you are very patient and let it all run out the bottom while you hold the cannister up against the seal at the top while you remove the bolt. When you take out the cannister you will not be able to just pull it straight down, you will need to cock it a bit. There is a two part filter, the main filter which is the white (after you clean it- I used gasoline and replaced the thing every 4th or 5th oil change) nylon part that goes on top, and the bypass filter which is the perforated metal can on the bottom. When you put them back in they fit over the bolt, and you have to leave the bolt hanging out the bottom of the can a bit. There is an O-ring that fits over the lip/rabbet on the top of the cannister that gets replaced and lubed. Clean out the path through the suspension, then carefully feed the canister with the filter elements and the bolt in it up through the suspension. I found by fitting the rabbet and O-ring to the mating surface on the oil fitting before trying the thread the bolt in worked best. There is a lot of play until the rabbet engages in the oil supply fitting and you can tighten the unit up with the O-ring not seated. Another unpleasant experience.

Overall the oil filter design on these cars is incentive enough to get a W123. I believe another member on the site installed a fitting to drain the oil out, which I would do if I owned one of these cars today. Good luck, and I hope this helps, Jim

P.E.Haiges · #4 12-30-2002, 10:46 AM

These filters are a PITA to change as explained in earlier posts. My '74 240D is similar and I could never get the filter can out of the car, there isn't enough room between the frame and the engine. If you run the front of the car up on ramps, you will have enough room to change the filter. I used to do it on the grass so I didn't have to clean up the spilled oil.

I found it makes it easier to get the can out of a 220D if you put a jack under the oil pan and lift up the engine slightly.

The filter is a dual filter, ful flow (disk) and bypass (cartridge) and that is why some of the oil goes to the engine and some goes bach to the oil pan. The later MB Diesels are also dual filters but they incorporated the 2 filters into one and put the filter housing near the top of the engine which made it the easiest filter to change with out spilling any oil.

P E H

Antony · #5 12-31-2002, 07:06 AM

The reply's that are posted on this board never cease to amaze me. Thank you for the somwhat ominous information about my filter change.

Palangi · #6 12-31-2002, 11:09 AM

Changing this filter is very messy, but not really difficult. Use disposable latex gloves. Otherwise your hands will really get slimed. Pay attention to which way the prefilter goes on top of the filter.