If you are a Mobil 1 user changing your oil once or twice per year then getting under the car is no hardship. If, however, you are a short interval changer, doing it every other month or so, vacuuming is the better option.

I typically change oil every 2,700 miles since convenience and opportunity always present themselves before 3K miles. The color of the oil and cleanliness of the filter suggest the engine is not suffering because of it.

As for changing 50% ATF at the same time, I began doing that when a transmission tech told me he’d be out of business if people changed their ATF more frequently.

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2008 E350 4matic / Black/Anthracite

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Gone but not Forgotten:
2001 E430 4matic, 206,xxx miles, Black/Charcoal
1995 E320, 252,xxx miles, Black/Grey
1989 260E, 223,00 miles, Black/Black

I'm a short interval changer and I've never "sucked" oil out in my life. Draining from underneath is just no problem.

As Arthur said, the worst thing to do is NOT change it. Of course, it's not a good course of action to ignore inspection of everything else under the car either.

I just can't think of any chore in my life that's simpler or easier than simply draining the oil out of my car. I'm sorry, but I just don't get it.

Call me what you wish.

I am NOT a frequent ATF changer though. Maybe that's because I refuse to drive cars with an automatic. Maybe that psyche matches my oil change psyche, you know change gears AND oil the manual way. KISS (Keep it simple.)

I say if it makes you feel smarter than everyone else because you suck oil, then you should definitely go for it. I'm definitely not in my young days (just turned 60) but I haven't let my age get in the way of expending effort either.

I don't think anyone is implying they are smarter. It's just easier, cleaner and more convenient for us than getting under the car.

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2008 E350 4matic / Black/Anthracite

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Gone but not Forgotten:
2001 E430 4matic, 206,xxx miles, Black/Charcoal
1995 E320, 252,xxx miles, Black/Grey
1989 260E, 223,00 miles, Black/Black

Aint that the truth!!

I have older ramps - no rubber stops. I have found some old carpet tiles with a rubber base. Sit them underneath the ramps to stop them being pushed back.
I'm 60 and don't mind getting underneath the car. A friend of mine has a hoist. Every few months or so I put my cars up on it and go over the underneath with a very bright torch.

I bought a Mity Vac last year and it's great. I have the hand pumped version, but it's really not that hard. Once you have it pumped up some, you can stop and it will just suck that old oil right out.

It's not as clean and tidy an operation as I had hoped, but it's easier than crawling around under the car.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Some people are just resistant to change . . . .

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

In your opinion....... I find a drain pan and a wrench about as easy and convenient as anything I can imagine. Messing around with some contraption is about as inconvenient as it can get. As far as cleaner goes, I can pour the oil out of my drain pan into an old oil jug for recycling using a funnel without making a mess.

Now days, I usually change oil with a vehicle on my two post lift with a five gallon container that has a tube and funnel. It has a cap that I remove to pour the drained oil into an old jug for recycling. Sometimes if the lift is tied up, I push a pan underneath and drain it on the floor or driveway as I used to.

There is no resistance to change here. I have changed LOTS of my methods for doing things, but this one doesn't need change. It's only changing oil, it's not building a rocket ship for a trip to the moon.

Whatever works for you is great!

Exactly -- which is why I wrote, " It's just easier, cleaner and more convenient for us than getting under the car" -- with "us" being the folks who use these "contraptions."

I use a 5qt container with a hose and a pump handle. It has a cap that I remove to pour the drained oil into an old jug for recycling, using a funnel without making a mess.

You use a five gallon container that has a tube and funnel. It has a cap that you remove to pour the drained oil into an old jug for recycling, using a funnel without making a mess.

You stand up with the car in the air. I stand up with the car on the ground, however, I must bend at the waist from time to time, whereas you don't. Therefore, I concede your way is better.

(And isn't a lift just a big ol' contraption?)

__________________
2008 E350 4matic / Black/Anthracite

------------------------------------
Gone but not Forgotten:
2001 E430 4matic, 206,xxx miles, Black/Charcoal
1995 E320, 252,xxx miles, Black/Grey
1989 260E, 223,00 miles, Black/Black

Yep, and this contraption lets me easily do a COMPLETE inspection of everything under the car every time it goes on it for a job that must be done anyway. The 60 seconds it takes to get the car in the air pays off BIG TIME as opposed to the contraption that only accomplishes something that is already done in a quick and simple manner even without a lift.

And your're right, my contraption does lead to more work than your contraption, because I rotate tires and do quick visual brake inspection, visual inspection of everything else underneath such as looking for leaks, as well as pull and shake tests on this and that. So I think my contraption offers a little added value, don't you?

Larry, I'll swap you my Mity Vac for your lift . . . .

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Yes. Your contraption is a game-changer. I want one.

__________________
2008 E350 4matic / Black/Anthracite

------------------------------------
Gone but not Forgotten:
2001 E430 4matic, 206,xxx miles, Black/Charcoal
1995 E320, 252,xxx miles, Black/Grey
1989 260E, 223,00 miles, Black/Black

Draining the oil is one thing, what about swapping out the old oil filter?

Can't be done from above on my car.

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Question Authority before it Questions you.

Then you have no choice. The filter can't be done from below on mine.

The M103, M104, OM602, OM603, and many other Mercedes engines have the oil filter on top.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I agree with all the reasonings of doing an oil change from under the car, as it was made to be done. But one thing that has not been addressed yet is the suction created inside the engine. Since I am totally ingnorant of this inane idea of sucking through a dip-stick tube, I have no idea how much suction is created while extracting oil the lazy way. I would be concerned with the suction pulling on seals, etc.

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Don't Chrome them; polish them