Oil change how to....

[95s420]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the past help! This forum rocks...

Anyhow, this will be my first attempt at changing the oil on my 95 S420 and was wondering if anyone had done this job before. I have a few questions:
1. Where is the oil filter located?
2. Does the oil filter cover require a special tool to remove and if so who sells it?
3.How many oil drain plugs are there? I assume ther is only one but I have found a few of my vehicles in the past had two. Don't want to miss one.

Thanks in advance!!

[ako]

95 S420,

Here are answers to your questions (Changing oil on the M119 engine):

1. Oil filter on the M119 engine is located below the flexible air duct. When facing the engine, this air duct is located to the front left of the engine.

2. No special tool needed. You only need a 13mm socket to loosen center screw and remove screw together with oil filter cover.

3. Only one drain plug. I believe it's also 13 mm. Need to remove sound encapsulation to access drain plug.

Other Tips (You may also want to do a search on changing oil):

1. Make sure you change the oil while engine is hot. But be careful, hot oil may scald you.

2. When old oil flow has diminished to an occasional drip, reinstall drain plug with new metal sealing washer and tighten plug to 40 Nm (30ft-lb).

3. Need to change two rubber o-rings in the oil filter cover and housing. Lubricate with new oil and install new O-rings.

4. Install new filter cartridge with large rubber seal on cartridge pointing down.

5. Install oil filter cover and tighten center screw. Tightening torque is 20 Nm (15 ft-lb).

6. Refill crankcase with oil. I think oil capacity is 8 liters (8.45qts.) Pls. check your manual.

7. Allow engine to run for a few minutes to circulate new oil, then check for leaks at drain plug and oil filter. Stop engine, wait 2 minutes, then recheck oil level.

8. Reinstall flexible air duct and sound encapsulation.

You're done!

R.V.

[95s420]

It all sounds very straight forward. One question though, does anyone know for sure whether the 95 s classes came with a lower engine cover (noise encapsulation I believe you called it)?? I do not seem to have one. My BMW 740IL had one so I wonder if the one for the S is missing.

Thanks again!!

[royaiii]

I beleive you mean a belly pan cover. The car should have one. One precaution is to make sure than you can take out the oil filter cover and put it back in. Sometimes, it is a really snug fit and I think it has something to do with the motor mounts. Otherwise it is a no-brainer. Don't overtorque anything as you will pay dearly for the mistake.

[daddiojiggy]

there is a 'beely-pan' cover but it only covers the front of car under the rad and such.it does not cover the oil plug and so there is no need to remove

[400E]

Ako described the process down to a "tee." I would add that it is easier to drain oil from above using a "Topsider" or equivalent. If you do a search on the "T" word you'll see a lot of controversy over draining from above or below. Keep in mind that MB designed these (and most other) engines specifically to have oil drained from the dipstick. It saves you from having to remove the noise encapsulation panel (the true description for what is colloquially called the belly pan), and also keeps you from having to mess with the drain plug. Sometimes they strip and then you have a new annoyance to deal with. With a "Topsider" you do everything from the top of the engine -- after all, that's why those fine engineers put the oil filter housing in such a place that you get to it from above, too!. Also, you drain the old oil right into a reservoir which you transport it to the recycling center-- no fuss, no muss.

Do follow Ako's rec's about using a torque wrench for the top of the oil filter housing (and drain plug, if you do drain from below).