Today , This guy at jiffy lube said that he hand-tightened my oil filter on my 300e, is this ok?.. He said that if he used a oil wrench to tighten it may dent it and it would then be useless, I am sure he was just lazy, What should I do?. I have only drove about 15 miles to my home, Do I need to buy a wrench and do it myself?. Damn lazy kids..I am sure the engine will jiggle it loose. Or is this kid right?..thanks
Also, I went to change my air filter, and when I raised the metal lid up , I broke off this rubber piece connecting to the engine, it looks to be a breather tube or something, it connects from the top of the metal air filter lid to the engine, anyone know what it is called?..or part #..thanks

just an FYI - I drive a 1986 300e - 177,456 miles

Shag,
I don't know if this is the "correct" way to tighten the oil filter, but I do it by hand also. I have never had a problem or leak or anything of the sort.

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

I have always hand tighten the filter. The worse thing you could do is over tighten it and strip the threads.

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Mike

So I guess its ok to be handy.

But I feel using a wrnech does a tighter job, though using hands would be much much easier.

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... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.

Been tightening by hand for years. Tighten 3/4 turn after
gasket barely touches. Start up after putting oil in and check for leaks.

Gary

a wrench to tighten the oil filter - you will regret it.
Jim
'85 300D
'95 E320
'97 CRV

Well,
I guess the kid knew something, I will be checking for leaks, thanks.!

My rule of thumb is to tighten it as much as I can with one hand on it, which is usually about all you can get on one anyway. This seems to be about the right torque and I have never had a problem with leaks or anything. You aren't supposed to use a wrench to put one on. They are just to get it off.

The breather hose goes from the top of the air breather to the top of the valve cover. You can look up the part on FastLane above.

And, yes you only tighten the oil filter by hand. In fact, my last oil change I was able to remove the filter by hand also.

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• 2001 E320

Was at a quick oil change center and when I changed my oil in my Landrover the oil from the filter had sprayed underneath my vehicle, so I will never use them again, yes they had hand tighten it too!

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2000 Ford 7.3 Powerstroke 4x4
2006 Mazda Tribute
1983 Black 300 D (donated to charity)
1993 Teal 300 D (160K) Sold
"I love the smell of burnt diesel fuel in the morning, it smells like ....VICTORY"

Semper Fidelis
USMC 1973-1976

Every spin-on oil filter I ever installed has instructions to "tighten 3/4 to 1 turn after gasket contacts surface". Believe it or not, overtightening is more likely to cause leaks because it can distort the seal.

The part Shag needs is:

Breather Hose, Part # 103 094 10 82 From FastLane - $10.27

FYI, all part numbers used by FastLane are Mercedes part #'s.

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Scott Longston
Northern California Wine Country...
"Turbos whistle, grapes wine..."

Hey Longston,
You said:
"Every spin-on oil filter I ever installed has instructions to "tighten 3/4 to 1 turn after gasket contacts surface".

The Germans must have left this out on Mann Filters p/n
W 719/13 guess they are saving ink by not putting this
or any other instructions on box.

On filter 1)Apply film of oil on gasket, 2)Fit filter and
tighten by hand, 3)Fill up oil and run engine, 4)Check for
leaks, If necessary retighten.

3/4 to 1 turn works also.

Heh, heh just couldn't resist commenting on your comments.


Gary

But did you notice that my Mercedes doesn't use a spin-on filter?...:p

The Germans must assume that by the time you are doing oil changes on Mercedes-Benz, that you are proficient enough in doing them that you would know that?

Besides, do you know how many languages they'd have to print that in?...

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Scott Longston
Northern California Wine Country...
"Turbos whistle, grapes wine..."

Trust me, DO NOT USE a wrench to tighten the oil filter. I learned the hard way. I tightened it with a wrench and last week I wanted to change the oil myself and couldn't get the filter out. This was on a 92 190E 2.6. I had to take the car to a lube place and they drilled a hole across the filter with a thin rod and got it out. It came out in two pieces and luckily for me, there was no damage to the threads.
smk_texas
92 190E, 2.6 97K