If you are a Mobil 1 user changing your oil once or twice per year then getting under the car is no hardship. If, however, you are a short interval changer, doing it every other month or so, vacuuming is the better option.

I typically change oil every 2,700 miles since convenience and opportunity always present themselves before 3K miles. The color of the oil and cleanliness of the filter suggest the engine is not suffering because of it.

As for changing 50% ATF at the same time, I began doing that when a transmission tech told me he’d be out of business if people changed their ATF more frequently.

__________________
2008 E350 4matic / Black/Anthracite

------------------------------------
Gone but not Forgotten:
2001 E430 4matic, 206,xxx miles, Black/Charcoal
1995 E320, 252,xxx miles, Black/Grey
1989 260E, 223,00 miles, Black/Black