I think almost any solvent would work and if you have gasoline readily availible sure. I don't know what is inside the filter and what their lifespan is. All I have really heard is that they are a far superior filter. Until someone with more info on this than me pipes in I would say just clean it out and then refill the oil bath. As for oil weight I don't know the correct answer either but if you have a gasoline car and some extra 10-30 around I would use that just as it is cheaper. But I'm not sure if a heavier oil will actually make it work any better or worse.

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76 300D 130K "Stella" (Sold )
74 240D 299K (Donated to Highschool For Senior Project WVO)
83 300TDT 290K (My one and only)
Sanford, NC

You can clean the filter element with gasoline, just make sure all vapors have evaporated before you restart the engine. Any engine oil is fine, whatever you use in the engine. I remember that there was a replacement interval listed in the maintenance guide, but I don't remember what it was. Might have been 60k or so. Fact is though, nobody ever replaces them.

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Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



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