Do I have to use a Topsider to perform oil change? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Gilly · #16 05-09-2002, 01:07 PM

This gets a little tricky. Keep driving it and check back with how it progresses. I am guessing that the FSS will extend it out more than this, but not right away, or maybe not by actually "increasing" miles, but by retaining them. In other words, right now, it looks like it'll be due at 11,000 (7000 miles on it now, plus the 4000 that it says it'll be due), but it actually is going to "hold on" to that 4000 mile figure for awhile now (not start taking miles off right away. Keep an eye on it. I think it only goes in 100 mile increments, so drive it 100 or so miles and tell me if it then reads 3900 miles or not.
Gilly
ps I think what you are doing with your truck is fine, I don't try to force my views onto other people. I try to be a good German and follow the company line, so to speak. Or at least try understanding why they do what they do. But no dipstick? Geez.
I do think it is wiser to get a good long use out of your oil, better for our non-renewable resources to use the "new" oil as long as possible without causing engine damage.

ML Dude · #17 05-16-2002, 08:21 PM

Hey Gilly,

Maybe the FSS is not as smart as we think, I've driven a hundred miles on the new oil and FSS now reads 3900mi until service is due. This means that FSS does not know the difference between oil that has been in the engine for 7K or 100mi. It's still counting down to the A service.

Since I'm running fresh Mobil1 15-50 with a new filter and a complete drain (it took 9L to fill), FSS should give me what another 7-8K miles until an oil change is required?

On another post I state that I have never trusted leaving the oil in my engine for more than 4K miles or six months, whichever comes first. But I know many people who are trusting FSS and I think we will only know the results of that trust circa 2005. Then we will have a picture if engine repair frequencies have risen or not.

I agree with the idea to conserve oil, and I think if I was trading the car in after 3-4yrs, I wouldn't care if FSS is reliable or not. But, when I select a car, hopefully it's a keeper...

Gilly · #18 05-16-2002, 09:30 PM

Keep watching it, it'll be interesting to post what happens.
Gilly

#19 05-17-2002, 07:18 AM

When I did my first oil change, it did not seem to change the mileage to the first FSS A Service.

They are already learning about the effects of the FSS. What they already learned is that if you follow the FSS recommendation with Dino oil, the engines are getting nasty inside. That's why about a year or so ago, MB started providing Mobil One for their free oil changes. Before that I was planning on taking my own Mobil One and leaving it with them for the change. Now I don't have to do that, they provide it.

Mobil One or not, I feel much better changing the oil twice as often as the FSS system says. Even Mobil One is cheap compared to one of these engines.

Have a great day,

ML Dude · #20 05-17-2002, 12:35 PM

I drove another hundred miles and FSS is giving me 3800 until next service

bluerhino · #21 05-17-2002, 03:39 PM

Got new topsider today and somewhat disappointed by the result. I assembled them together as per instruction, place the plastic tube in oil (dipstick) tube of warm engine but took five attempts to completely drain the oil.

I had to initially pump 25 times to pressurize the cannister, release the plastic clip and the suction starts working. However, after 30 minutes the suction stopped working, I again pumped 15times and waited for another 20minutes. And since it's not empty still, another 15times then another. I also had to restart the engine in between to keep it warm.

It seems that topsider IMHO is pure hype, not worth the effort. I would not recommend this poorly designed product to anyone. The concept is good but the result isn't.

sixto · #22 05-17-2002, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bluerhino
I also had to restart the engine in between to keep it warm.

You did WHAT? I hope you added as much oil as the Topsider had removed to that point.

I've read that more than a couple of Topsiders arrived with a loose suction fitting. That would be the nipple crimped/swedged on the plate that attaches to the can and receives the plastic hose. If that fitting is lose, you won't have sufficient vacuum to empty the sump in one go. The manufacturer sent me a new fitting at no charge.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
81 300SD

oupa300e · #23 05-17-2002, 03:58 PM

BlueRhino, don't be disheartened by your first attempt. It takes a bit of practice and a few tries to get it just right. 35 to 40 strokes is more like it for the initial pressurization. If you need to pump some more before all the oil is out, don't forget to tighten the clip before pumping - 15 strokes is about right on a partially filled receptacle. Try again before abandoning the old Topsider. I get the engine quite hot, and then let it stand for 30 minutes before sucking the oil out. Also, remember to loosen/remove your oil filler cap before applying the vacuum. Good luck!

#24 05-17-2002, 04:07 PM

Completed the "not topsider" oil change last weekend sucessfully. Climbed under my C320, pulled the 2nd belly pan off (6 screws), dropped the drain plug and drained everything out. (Watch out, most catch container's don't catch 8.5 quarts of oil, I had a second on handy just in case, good thing.) Put everything back together, changed the filter insert and put in 8 quarts of Mobil 1 15W50.

Ran car to normal operating temp, parked on level ground, and checked oil via the dash cluster. The mechanism which remotely checks the oil must be pretty accurate, as it didn't state I was a quart low, but it did notice that I was shy of full and stated to bring the car in on time for the FSS interval. I suspect it thinks car is burning oil, which probably aint a great thing (it obviously isn't), but at least I'm more secure now not having a dipstick in my car.

bluerhino · #25 05-17-2002, 07:26 PM

Hi Sixto,

Thanks for the concern. But I did not hesitate to warm up the engine since at that point only 1 1/2 liter has been drained out (that slow!!!).

I also checked the gaskets, etc. and they are all in good working condition. The topsider, based on my experience, is not worth the money. I will try again in a month or so, but I see nothing that will improve its performance. The effort and the time (wasted) consumed just to change the oil using topsider is just not worth it. Of course, I based this on my experience today and others may have varying results but I was really disappointed and also surprised that a product with such poor performance (based on my actual use of it) are getting excellent feedback.

So to others planning to purchase this product, please lower your expectation as this is not what is seemed to be.

Oh I forgot to mention the difficulty in connecting those tubes that soap, water & wd40 seemed useless. The muscles on my fingers are still sore just to connect those tubes. They are a pain to connect and attach to the unit.

They will do the job, yes, but the hours wasted and the aggravation might make you rethink about doing the old fashion way.

blackmercedes · #26 05-17-2002, 10:25 PM

I have no problems with my LiquiVac. I pump 45 times before initial drain, then about 15 more does the final trick.

I take the container to the corner gas station, and it's recycled.

The only time it gone rough was when I did four cars on one day. Dad's a cardio patient, and not allowed to "pump." (According to him, anyway...) So I really got a work out!