Now that I have your attention, look here.

I still prefer pulling the encapsulation panel in order to "look around".

It's interesting to hear that the top-sider doesn't really remove that much more oil - 3 oz......

Very interesting indeed. I have also seen a few ounces of oil left in the oil pan after draining via the drain bolt. But with your illustration here AND even an additional the rearward tilt of the car I am amazed.

BTW, I like the idea of using the golf tee to keep the remaining oil in the tube from dripping out.

One concern: I saw that you cut your tube at a 45 degree angle. Wouldn't you get more oil out by reducing that angle? Yes it may "catch/suck" against the pan bottom more easily but a reduced angle would ensure a lower level of oil remaining.

When sucking the oil out the I reach that gurgling sound I usually will lift the tube slightly and reinsert. Seems to get a bit more oil.

As always, thanks for the great pictures and explanations for us DIYers.

Haasman

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'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

Nice article Thomas.

What happened to Bertie and Winston?

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Has anyone seen Larrybible?? He ain't gonna like this!

I'd like to see how the tube is positioned when in the oil pan.

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Rick

'85 380 SL (sold)
'85 Carrera Flatnose
'71 280 SL Signal Red/Cognac

Paul - Bertie has been added by special request - see slide 8. Unforgivable oversight on my part.

Haasman - the factory suction method attaches the suction device to the TOP of the dispstick tube (based on the illustration in the W126 Maintenance Manual) so it can only suck out to the base of the dipstick tube in the oil pan. After that it's sucking air. The Topsider method sucks out to somewhere below the top and bottom of the slash cut (if you use one) - the bottom is, of course, actually in contact with the base of the oil pan. (I realize you know this as a Topsider user). The slash is some 3-4mm in vertical height.

I don't know the clearance between the bottom of the dipstick tube and the base of the oil pan, but the Topsider will be as good or better, by definition. I suppose you could measure this by comparing the length of the disptick with the length of Topsider tube that is inserted to the base of the oil pan.

For everyone who uses a square cut Topsider tube there will be an 'expert' who will tell you that you should use a slash cut, blah, blah, blah.

I actually am coming around to thinking that a square cut makes better sense as if it contacts the base of the pan it cannot be perpendicular to the pan (and allegedly stuck as a result) for the oil dipstick tube is not perpendicular to the pan, and it's the oil dipstick tube that determines the angle of the Topsider tube.

Further, even were the Tospder tube to get stuck because of a perfect suction to the bottom of the pan you would immediately know this as no oil would come out.

Now I'm going blah, blah, blah.....

Not meaning to be nitpicking, but in frame 1 you refer to the remainig 7 oz. of oil constituting half a quart , or 5.2% or the recommended 8 liter fill. Actually, at 32 oz. per quart it's only about half that; less than 1/4 of a quart or 2.6% of the refill amount. It still seems that sucking is better than draining. Does anyone know the amount left behind in an '86 300E with the 3.0 liter straight 6? How does the Topsider compare with the MityVac Fluid Evacuator ( http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/MIT-7201.html ) - $53

or an electric pump

Cheap - ( http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&langId=-1&catalogId=4006970&PHOTOS=on&TEST=Y&productId=16818&categoryId=1546 ) - About $50 - 5.7 gpm

Expensive - http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&memberId=-2000&partNumber=356149&prrfnbr=9418&outlet=&prmenbr=201? - About $100 - 3.75 gpm

Gary

It amazes me how much trouble people will go to in justifying their desire to keep their little fingers clean.

It does not matter how you change your oil, just change it.

Have a great day,
Change oil hot and change oil often.

Larry,
Not only are my fingers clean using a Topsider, but so is my driveway, not to mention the drain pan I would otherwise have to use (and then clean up). Until you use one, you don't realize how nice it really is to just suck that nasty old oil right into the receptacle you'll use to take it to the recycling center.

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Steve
'93 400E

Just my own personal experience.... I changed the oil in my 126 a little bit ago. I DRAINED it, had it up on jack stands and then I also took the pan off for a gasket (and powdercoated the pan)....and there was hardly anything left in the bottom of the pan. Not near what the picture of 7oz looked like. Of course there was a little something, but not near enough to warrant buying a $50 pump.

Also I go to college and don't exactly want to be lugging this extra piece of equipment around.

I don't doubt that the Topsider works just fine and the ones that have it love it. Nothing wrong with that. But for me at this time, draining is better

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'86 420SE Euro
904 Midnight Blue, Gray Velour
Dad bought it new, now I own it.

"A Mercedes-Benz is like a fine wine, it only gets better with age."

mbtjc,

Not to harp on this, and if you're happy with the gravity drain method. by all means keep doing it, but if you're already lugging around a drain pan (which you have to clean out after you change your oil), it would actually seem to me to be no more equipment to lug around. The receptacle that comes with a Topsider is a 2-gal. round gas can, and doubles as both the draining receptacle and the transporting vessel. 2 for one; can't beat that! Can also be used to drain excess tranny fluid, brake fluid, and PS fluid. Actually 5 for one!

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Steve
'93 400E

Point taken. However....

Plastic drain pan (which also works as receptacle and transportation vessel)=between 5 and 10 bucks.

Topsider=50 bucks.

More of a cost/benefit comparison for me. I think by me spending $50 on a Topsider vs. a cheap plastic drain pan, the point of diminishing return will have been greatly surpassed.

As far as the excess fluids...if you don't put too much in it in the first place, you won't have any excess will ya?

__________________
'86 420SE Euro
904 Midnight Blue, Gray Velour
Dad bought it new, now I own it.

"A Mercedes-Benz is like a fine wine, it only gets better with age."

Firstly, let me state I agree with Larry, "change it hot and often". I use the gravity drain approach but am interested in the topsider approach mainly to get the old oil directly into the recycling container. Not having to remove the plastic under tray on the newer cars would also be nice. 400E mentions a clean driveway too. This is fine but, can anyone tell me how you remove an M103 oil filter without some oil leaking onto my previously clean engine (and the ground below)? Strangely, the same filter can be removed from the same location on my M102 without spilling a drop. My M116 in the SLC is the worst. I have to drain the sump, the separate oil cooler and remove the oil filter element from its canister which then should be cleaned out before fitting the new filter element. All very messy.

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107.023: 350SLC, 3-speed auto, icon gold, parchment MBtex (sold 2012 after 29 years ownership).
107.026: 500SLC, 4-speed auto, thistle green, green velour.
124.090: 300TE, 4-speed auto, arctic white, cream-beige MBtex.
201.028: 190E 2.3 Sportline, 5-speed manual, arctic white, blue leather.
201.028: 190E 2.3, 4-speed auto, blue-black, grey MBtex.
201.034: 190E 2.3-16, 5-speed manual, blue-black, black leather.

I don't understand what the big fuss is all about with the topsider doubling as the transportation receptacle. The drain pan I use (again, under $10) has a slightly sloping top with a screw in cap in the middle. Uncap it, drain your oil in it, cap it and you're ready to go. On the side it has a pouring spout with a screw on/off cap so you can easily empty it into wherever you deposit your old oil.

__________________
'86 420SE Euro
904 Midnight Blue, Gray Velour
Dad bought it new, now I own it.

"A Mercedes-Benz is like a fine wine, it only gets better with age."