Had my first maintenence session with my [new] 97 C230 this weekend.

Replaced the front brake pads >> I was impressed by the Mercedes engineering >> as it was the easiest brake job I've ever done,,, everything came off and went on so smoothly..

Wanted to do an oil change but for the life of me >> could not remove the oil filter cap on top of the engine. Tried a strap wrench - but there was inadequate room to really have a go of it. Looks like about a 77mm socket of sorts would be the easy way to get it off.

Is there a specialty tool for the oil filter for a 97 C230?? if so >> where can I get one??

Asked a local garage that specializes in Mercedes what kind of oil they use and they noted Castrol 10-40 (non-synthetic) works for them [location = Northern VA] // I've used Castrol in my Porsche 911SCand 73 BMW Tii and never had any lubrication type probelems >> thoughts??

here is a link to a company who sells the tool, you can also buy it from your local mercedes dealer, they can order it for you.
Ray
mercedessd@cox.net


oil filter tool

There was another thread on this subject recently with many suggestions. Supposedly there is a decent one available from Walmart for cheap. Use the "search this forum" button. As far as oil, Mercedes now requires Synthetic only for this engine, but that is because of their insane (IMHO) FSS system or I should say, it's insane recommended oil change intervals which range from 10,000 miles to 14,000 miles. They initially recommended standard oil and it turned out that the FSS then stood for "Flexible Sludge System" instead of Flexible Service System. I imagine that if you change you oil more frequently then regular oil would be OK.

Mike

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

Thanks for the Oil filter wrench lead

ordered it >> and it's on the way

I am very pleased... impressed... thankful for this site

Wealth of MB knowledge... willingness to share... makes things so much better!!

I subscribe to the "oil gets dirty" philosphy ratherthan oil looses its lubricatoin cabability // ergo even on my 911 with a 11.5 qt oil change >> I change at 3000 miles //

I suspect I'll do the same for the C230 >> use regular Castrol 20-50 summer //10-40 winter and change every 3000 miles

Sounds like a good philosophy. I had planned to switch to synthetic, but now I'm not so sure. I like the Rotella T for the C230, as the 7qt supply is still amber when I change it, at 5K.

I figure for a southern climate, 15W40 year round is fine.

FYI: http://www.whnet.com/4x4/oil.html

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2007 C 230 Sport.