The beleaguered fast oil change industry had to do something to counter the horror stories of loose drain plugs and being the highest consumer of short blocks in the automotive industry ...

…so as they say in marketing, here is a new differentiator: Safe Oil Changes!

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)

A great idea, especially for us MB owners with Aluminum oil pans. Mine got stripped nearly smooth, and took some creative thinking to sidestep $400 in labor to replace the pan...

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Scott

1987 300e - The 200,000 mile TurboTechnics rocketship.

Gee Whiz Boss! Was that torque spec in Newton-Meters, inch-pounds, or foot-pounds?



Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

So I'm doing my best to understand how using a torque wrench prevents one of these bozo's from CROSS THREADING the drain plug.

The last thing I would do is leave one of my cars in the hands of these people.

Have a great day,

Do it yourself and do it right - or at least go to a reputable garage where you have some history with the mech.

btw, some of the horror stories I've heard about those places include NOT tightening the drain plug at all. You can have the right tools, but if you forget to use them ......

Brian

Good one. Dyne-Centimeters, I think.

Will the torque wrench ensure that they use the correct filter (Honey, what is that puddle on the driveway?) and the proper quantity of oil (Excuse me sir, does your oil pressure gauge work?) even when their "super" duper computer has the wrong info?

Never again!

But it's below zero out, and I have a coupon... No! No! and No!

I wonder what sort of supreme competence led them to start handing out torque wrenches in the first place. Brilliant marketing spin, I suppose...

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1986 300E 5-Speed 240k mi.

I really like that spiffy 7 dollar torque wrench they use. Those things are about as precise as a Bulldozer! I would loan him my new $400 digital Snap-On Wrench, But I need it for every nut and bolt on these cars.
That is a good selling point however, I will tell everyone that I am a "Safe Technician" and not a "Overtight'in Jim-Bob."

Sorry about that last post. For some reason the computer posted the message before I had finished.

To finish. If you think the quick change oil boys are bad just check out the air pressure gauge at your local tire shop. If they work on trucks, as many do, the chances are good that the pressure is up around 175psi, and there is not a torque wrench in the place. A 1/2 in. torque wrench at 175psi can lock a lug nut on to the point that no wrench you have in the car at 2am on a lonely road in the rain will get that nut off. I speak from experience.

I had the tires on my 450slc balanced in San Antonio last week and it took the lad longer to find the torque wrench than to balance the tires. I don't think he had ever used one.

Hey Kip - if you use the edit button within your post, you can fix it or delete it - you'll see the options.

Yes, you bring up the other common torque problem - lug bolts. That's why I always take loose wheels, not the car. Two benefits to that - I do the torque right of course at 80 foot-pounds, and they can't demand that I buy H-rated tires for the car. I never tell them what car the wheel is from, I just tell them what tire and size. They're not happy, but they sell you the tire. Otherwise, they are prevented by policy from selling you anything speed-rated lower than their computer says they have to put on the car.

Just my opinion.

Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

I didn't know that about not selling you tires that are less than what their computer calls for. The only other car I have ever had that would require special tires was a 280slc that I brought back from Dubai in 1983. I didn't have to buy tires for it, but I think that had I had to no tire store in S. Texas would have been aware of such speed limits. Hell, I don't think that there was even speed classifications on tires then.

That is comical.

Too funny.

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ASE Master Mechanic
asemastermechanic@juno.com

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
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Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

I would let my WIFE change my oil before I let any of those outfits touch my car!

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dtf
1994 E320 Wagon (Died @ 308,669 miles)
1995 E300 Diesel (228,000)
1999 E300 Turbodiesel ( died @ 255,000)
2006 Toyota Tundra SR5 AC 4X4 (115,000 miles) rusted frame - sold to chop shop
2011 Audi A4 Avant (165,000 miles) Seized engine - donated to Salvation Army
BMW 330 xi 6 speed manual (175,034 miles)
2014 E350 4Matic Wagon 128,000 miles
2018 Dodge Ram 21,000 miles

Got a good chuckle outa that last post, all respects to your wife.

Hey now! There are some people working at these places that ARE competent (for instance...my self). Not that I'll be working there forever, but I have to pay for a (college) education somehow.

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Daily Driver: 02 E430 4MATIC
In the family: '03 E500 // '04 ML500 // 64 220SE

Take a closer look at the picture... Maybe they do have tq wrenches, but they sure don't know how to use one!!!

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RM Smith
1988 560SL

"Where is it again that we are going, and why are we in this handbasket"?