I still think pulling the plug, even though is it a PITA when you reach my age or older, is the best way to go. It's the only way to get the bits that have settled to the bottom of the pan.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

I use one on my little Sea Ray because I can't get my beer inspired belly anywhere near the drainplug That was my excuse for buying one, now I use it on all kinds of stuff.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Kerry says, "Never jacked up my MB's to change the oil."

Yes, but that's only because you don't have one that has the plastic belly pan.

Steve

Yeah, the plastic pans are a PITA! They do keep road debris from wreaking havoc though. They can be misleading if you have a slow fluid leak though.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

Some of the engines that have the oil sucked out of them via the dipstick cost more than a new E320 CDI. If removal via the dipstick is good enough for the oil on an $80k custom Merlin its sure good enough for my 20 year old 603.

Btw I do drain mine via the plug, until I put the belly pans back on in the spring. After that its not worth taking them off, suck it out. Without the belly pans on the 603 its real easy, just reach under the car with a 13mm wrench the plug is right there, no jack or stretching needed.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Yes, it's true. This can be done and it's better than not changing the oil at all. For a thorough change, with the engine at full operating temperature, pull the drain plug and let it drain overnight.

Good luck.

I've got a little red hand pump that came with a long thing black tube. I bought it to put tranny oil in my Toyota truck, but I guess the long black tube is to put down the dipstick hole? Anyone use a little handpump or are "extractors" and "topsiders" all electric? Never even thought about doing it this way...

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1985 300TD-euro 352,000 mi
1974 240D (1?)52,000 mi - has a new home now

There are powered extractors, and there are hand pumped vacuum extractors. You pump them up and create a vacuum. The tube has a clamp. Once you reach the specificied number of pumps you stick the tube in and release the clamp.

The tube needs to be fairly thin in diameter. The plastic needs to be somewhat heat resistant. You don't want to melt the end on the pan. Also the end of the tube should be cut at 45 degrees or so. This is to prevent the end of the tube from sealing to the bottom of the pan.

Steve

I think I read somewhere to change the oil while it's hot so you have a high enough drain velocity to keep solids in suspension.

With that in mind, I choose to change my car's oil using the drain plug. When I change the oil in my boat I have no choice but to use a top-side changer. I try to stroke the pump as quickly as possible to avoid dipping below the "settling velocity".

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Neil
1997 E300D - naturally aspirated
280,000 miles (as of November 2015)

I remembered incorrectly...

I found the following quote in my book: ..."warm oil drains more easily, and the contaminants will be suspended in it..."

So velocity shouldn't matter as long as you change the oil while warm.

Oh well, I just got a good forearm workout and the oil change was really quick!

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Neil
1997 E300D - naturally aspirated
280,000 miles (as of November 2015)

heres mine.I call it a mini sucker.

I built it out of a small pressure tank from an old under sink RO filter system.
the vac is applied by the salvaged A/C compressor which I had for my veggie sucker.
the line is that cheapo stuff that depot sells . i have 3/8 od on it, and can reduce to 1/4 od for the volvo.
I reckon I'll pull the plug annually.
Lying on a concrete floor when it is sub zero is no fun.

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1984 123.193 372,xxx miles, room for Seven.

1999 Dodge Durango Cummins 4BTAA 47RE 5k lb 4x4 getting 25+mpgs, room for Seven.