Anyone have experience changing oil with the topsider?
I sucked out the oil from the dipstick and removed the filter, then pulled the oil out of filter housing. I only got about 6 qts out....I might have been down a quart so I would expect 7, does the engine hold that much oil in the top end?

Question: Should I fill the oil filter housing with any oil ?

When filling I put in 7.5 qts....it seems very full. Does the Topsider leave a half quart someplace? Is this normal....this is the first time I have attempted an oil change in 7 years....always have the dealer do it....

Been using Mobil 1 15W-50 for last 4 years.

Upon starting it made alot of noise for a second then was fine. ( I assume this is because there wasn't oil in the filter housing to be pumped to the top end)

I did notice the pressure is reading 1.6-1.8 bar at warm idle and 3 bar above idle. It was running 1.5 and 3.0 but would drop down off 3.0 pretty easily....this seems to be a common characteristic of the 119 motor.

Pressure is constant, not fluttering.

Thanks for any info.

__________________
Bryan Harter
1992 500E Smoke Silver
2002 CLK55 AMG Cab Silver/Black
2001 Harley Fatboy - Pearl White
2004 F150 FX4 Silver/Grey
1969 GTO Liberty Blue
1956 F100 Black

Let us know how it works out! I'd lovee to save some $$$ on oil changes.

Be careful not to over-fill. The oil level should be half-way between the two lines on the dipstick.

Tom
92 500E

I have been using the Topsider for years on my 500E (another 500E owner turned me onto it)...works very well as long as you do it when the oil's hot (duh)...I did it once sorta cold and it took forever. Every third change I drop the plug and let it drain all nite...takes a while with the Mobil 1. All the oil never seems to come out of my motor either, but it always seems to take about 8 quarts.

I don't put new oil in the filter case, probably a good idea. Maybe I'll try it next time. I really don't notice too much extra noise on start up after an oil change. And I don't believe my car has the upgraded oil return check valve that is associated with the oil filter housing. No problems here at 150K.

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Jim

1992 500E
2007 CLK63
2003 Audi RS6
2001 Audi allroad

I use a vacuum oil remover for my E500, 560SEC and E320T wagon and it works just fine. I have never filled an oil filter and have never noticed any noise upon startup after draining. I always do it when the oil is warm/hot.

Cheers,
Gerry

Thanks Y'all !
I think the drain every third change is a good one.
I dropped the pan when I first bought it, just to see how things looked and it was pretty much free of gunk/etc. Mechanic was very pleased with the overall shape of things then and when doing the timing chain at 112k.

I have to say the Topsider is nice, I would prefer something larger by a half gallon or so. I've seen a tall white/opaque plastic unit for sale at a few places but got a deal on the Topsider so decided to give it a try....basically it pays for itself in 2 uses. Wish I would have bought it back when I had the Mastercraft....it would have saved me alot of $ in oilchanges with the dockside dealer.

__________________
Bryan Harter
1992 500E Smoke Silver
2002 CLK55 AMG Cab Silver/Black
2001 Harley Fatboy - Pearl White
2004 F150 FX4 Silver/Grey
1969 GTO Liberty Blue
1956 F100 Black

I've been using the topsider for oil changes in my '94 E500 for over 5 years, not evacuating the oil filter area. Pulls out 8 quarts +a tad more on occasion. I change oil in 1500 mile intervals using 15W40 Penzoil LongLife and have no noise at start up- OE oil filters.

Oil pressure behavior is same pre and post topsider use.

-fad