Just changed oil in the 300D wearing latex gloves!! 'Can't understand why I didn't start doing that years ago! 'Bought a box of 100 (XL) at drug supply store this morning for $5. 'Did the whole job and didn't get even a speck of black anything on me; my hands ar usually black when I finish this job, and it usually takes several days to get them back to normal. This time, I finished up, pulled the gloves off, and my hands are still clean - 'haven't washed them yet. 'Glad I got XL; any smaller would have been to tight, too hard to get on, etc., but I'm not really "that" big a guy - just average.

BTW, I do try to keep the engine compartment reasoanbly clean.

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Wilton Strickland
Goldsboro, NC
91 350 SDL. 81 300D

Wilton:

I'm with ya pal. I wear them for everything now -- cleaning the engine bay, painting, cleaning the bathrooms, etc . . . Anything involving getting the hands dirty, I'm wearin' the gloves.

Brian

I generally don't wear gloves unless I'm working directly with gasoline or diesel fuel. I know it's good measure, but when reaching in tight spaces, I prefer to have complete "feel" of the fastener. Anyhow, glad to hear you guys are taking precaution. Used oil is, in fact, a carcinogen. BTW, one tip for when you're changing the main fuel filter underneath the car on gasoline models is to tie a shop rag around each wrist to prevent fuel from running down your arm and burning you in your underarm area, etc..



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Rgds,
Aaron Greenberg
MB technician
Precision Motorcars, Cincinnati, Ohio
'67 250SE Cabriolet
'77 450SL
'80 300SD
'85 380SE
'89 420SEL
'93 300E 2.8
'74 Jensen Interceptor Mk.III
'81 DeLorean DMC12
'85 BMW 745i Turbo

I'm an automotive tech and I started wearing gloves two years ago. In the winter (I live in Vancouver B.C.) my hands don't dry out and crack and my fingernails stay clean. Btw there are nitril gloves for those of you who react to latex.

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Chris Muc
Auto Tech
'87 300E 338,000 km

I have to wear latex gloves occasionally at work to preserve latent prints. Whenever I do, my hands sweat to no end. If I could find a way to beat the sweat I'd be wearing them for the dirty work on the car. Any ideas how to beat the sweat?

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Mike Tangas
73 280 SEL 4.5

Mike, I did notice that the insides of the gloves were soaking wet with perspiration when I removed them - better that my hands are wet with that than black oil, of course.
When I read your post, my engineering mind went into design mode and thought, "drain hole", but, of course, immediately rejected that - if the sweat can find a way out, the oil can find a way in. Surely, physicians who wear these all the time have found a way to handle the sweat, wouldn't you think?



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Wilton Strickland
Goldsboro, NC
91 350 SDL. 81 300D

Mike, how about coating hands with petrol. jelly before putting gloves on? Would a coating like that keep the hands from perspiring so? I'll have to try it next time. What about baby oil on hands? We know somebody has already solved this!

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Wilton Strickland
Goldsboro, NC
91 350 SDL. 81 300D

My problem with the sweat is that once my hands get sweaty, the glove slip around. Once the glove start to slip, I feel like I have no control as far as grip or feel. I guess, with a handy supply, the easiest cure would be to change the gloves often. They aren't expensive, but the hassle of stopping in the middle of what your doing to change would be a pain. Of course, Murphy's Law, you'll need to change after you've spent untold hours getting everything to line up, and letting go means you have to start all over.

I guess I could get used to that.

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Mike Tangas
73 280 SEL 4.5

I have worn these for over 7 years and I swear by it. I will wear them 90% or more of the time. I use the diamond grip latex gloves. (unpowdered)

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Benzmac:
Donnie Drummonds
1992 500E (very soon I hope
1981 280GE SWB
ASE CERTIFIED MASTER AUTO TECHNICIAN
SERVICE MANAGER FOR 14 BAY FACILITY
MERCEDES SPECIALIST 8 YRS
PARTNER IN MERCEDESSHOP.COM

Petroleum jelly or baby-oil is not the answer. Your hands are going to sweat inside latex no matter what you cover them with.

However, surgeons use a trick by blowing corn starch lightly into an unpowdered glove. This will not stop perspiration, but will greatly inhibit the 'slippage' inside the gloves and keep your hands slightly drier.

Powdered gloves actually increase the amount of sweat from your hands far more so than unpowdered gloves. The powder is there to allow easy removal of the gloves.

Also, dont buy the cheap ones... the Diamond-Grip gloves that Benzmac mentioned are excellent. Also check out the local suppliers that supply hospitals or clinics.

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William
76 240D - 545K miles
78 300D - 200K+ miles

This post couldn't have been better timed!

I was planning on changing the oil on my '85 300D this week. I work on machines that spray ink and I use them for that. I'll just take a few home with me.

Good idea! I love this place!



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FrankieZ
84 500SEL EURO 87K
85 300D 267K (and still goin' strong)

Very good question. If you sweat a lot give a little sprinkle of talc powder, cheap. The latex are a necessity once you use them, working for Boeing for a year got me hooked. Also great for house work.
For the hot surfaces I use the "Mechanix" gloves, they are leather palmed with a nylon backing, sensitivity and breathability is great and you can handle anything within reason without burning yourself, time will tell as I just bought them but they seem like no DIY garage should be without a pair (PepBoys, Schucks, etc). Good Luck.

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96 C280

I think I'll read the side panel of the glove box at work, see if they are powdered or not, and bring a few home. Even though the engine compartment looks reasonably clean, once you get into the hidden recesses, 27 years of drips, road spray and general crud have really built up. I'll see how the work gloves do when I pull the steering pump completely out. Just getting it loose and the belts pulled, left my hands looking like they used to when I was crawling 'round inside a Detroit 12v71 for a few hours. Three scrubbings, and I'm not even close to clean. If everyone is swearing by them, I can get used to them. Thanks y'all.

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Mike Tangas
73 280 SEL 4.5

Mike,

Sounds like you might need a pressurize steam cleaning machine, but that might best be done where there is proper runoff drainage, i.e. local car wash.

This post is amazing. I never knew so many people wore gloves, even the professional tech's.

I have a neighbor who wears gloves doing anything. I don't mean latex gloves, but just plain old ugly leather work gloves. I swear he could overhaul a watch with them on. He can pick up and start a 1/4 inch nut, no problem. I thought that he was a one in a million.

I never wear gloves except for rough jobs like hauling wood, brush, fixing fence(the barb wire hurts otherwise). Of course, most of the time, my hands look they've been through a meat grinder, and I'm sure that anyone I shake hands with, immediately take me for a corn husker.

I don't know if this old dog can learn such a new trick. Since I don't have any watch overhauls coming up soon, maybe I'll give it a try.

Gloves, wow,
Larry