Hi,
new owner of a 1971 w114 coupe.
what oil should i use?
i want to do basic stuff first, spark plugs, cables, oil change.

i am not sure what oil and what coolant to use.
Thank you.

I would just ask anyone at the counter of your auto parts store for advice on this.

I just flipped through the owners manual for the old 1971 6.3 and while it gives a lot of info on what should be changed and when it says nothing about what to use or what grades.

This is because, or so I was told long ago, that during that era you were expected to bring your car to the dealer for service.

I can see this. The thought of a 6.3 owner, or any Mercedes owner, doing their own service would have been a strange thing in 1971. At least in the U.S.

The good news now is that all oils and coolants have improved so much that the only real care you must use in choosing which to use depends on if you have a gasoline or diesel engine, and if you have a diesel the average counter person can advise you on this as well.

Please be advised that spark plug wires of that era are unique to Mercedes. I am sure you can buy a kit somewhere, but to do it right you should buy the wire, plug caps and rotor plugs individually. Your Mercedes dealer will have all of these items, or can get them, and the wire is just cut to length and the proper ends are screwed in to the ends of the wire.

The brand name is Beru, and the wires are designed not only to carry current to your plugs but also to reduce static on your radio.

When changing plugs ALWAYS use thread lube when installing them. Otherwise the steel plug body will seize into the head and they will be almost impossible to remove.

Good Luck!

Castrol GTX. Probably 20/50 at this point, unless you have a low mileage engine you can use 10/40. This is what the haynes manual recomends and what I have always used.

Standard advice is to use mecedes coolant, I pick it up at my local import parts store, but you can get it at the dealer if your local store does not carry it. I have used regular prestone in previous mercedes without any issue, but I change the fluid often. I never understood what is special about Mercedes anti-freeze, besides the color. I have heard it has some special anti corrosion compounds in it, but I think they all do.

thank you guys.
i have 92.000 original miles so 10 40 should do.
i was told i should use rotella which is for diesels but i have gasoline engine.

everywhere i asked i got offered oem bosch wires, no one ever mentioned Beru.
Are bosch good.

Bosch are fine. Peach parts sells plug wires, that is where I got mine.

Oh, a reminder to use anti seize when installing plugs or just about anything, I love that stuff. It is worth pulling them back out to put some on if you didn't already.

On page 59 of my '72 250C owner's manual (M130 engine), there is a table recommending 10W40 year-round, and 20W50 at temps down to 32C.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Thank you

Somebody just mentioned on one of the Benz forums that anti-seize is actually bad for the spark plugs as it inhibits the proper grounding. I've known people to use it for years as well but it's something to keep in mind.

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Maybe if this was a low-voltage, high current circuit, or you go nuts and slather way too much on the plug.
I've never heard of any actual problems with using a bit of the stuff, but I've seen too many seized plugs in aluminum heads otherwise.
Including the one that snapped off in my Mom's '70 VW Squareback many years ago, and required engine removal!

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Since the edit function has apparently been deleted for my previous post here on oil specification, I wish to post a correction -
My owners manual actually allows for 20W50 at temps down to 32F - 0C.

Happy Motoring, Mark

__________________
DrDKW

I'm using rotella on the 77 440SEL and "I think" it's great.


Edit: Using Rotella T Triple protection 15W-40

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1972 W108 280SE 4.5
1977 W116 450SEL
1981 E12 528i BMW