I wouldn't use any Fram product. I had a Dodge 3500 with a Cummins in it and it's common knowledge that using Fram filter will result in scuffed pistons.

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I choose to be happy, even when the Mercedes is being awkward, lol

i tried one of those....total POS....oil does not drain...it drips.....waste of your time....i was hopin i could run the hose thing into an old container....just too damn slow and still messy....got to be to stupidest thing ever....

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1987 300TDT
1981 VW MKI Caddy 1.6 diesel, waiting on engine swap
1983 D-50 Power Ram 4x4 "Mitsubishi" 2.3 turbo diesel
assorted gas powered crap and motorcycles

RIP: 1984 300TDT, 1982 300TDT, 1984 190D 2.2, 1992 300D 2.5, 1987 300TDT, 1982 Maxima LD28, 1983 Maxima LD28, Isuzu C223 P'ups X3, 1983 Holiday Rambler 6.2 Banks turbo diesel, 1984 Winnebago LeSharo 2.1 TD, 1985 Allegro 6.5

I have had these on all my cars until I went to the dipstick sucker. My Dodge Ram still has one although I don't use it anymore.

They are secure and reliable. The overriding advantage is that they make the oil change a lot cleaner. Remove the dust cap and screw on the hose with special connector by hand. The oil flow starts when the hose is fully inscrewed.

However the Benz is designed for dipstick sucking. The dipstick tube runs all the way to the lowest point in the crankcase and can be used directly, without inserting a plastic tube. Even cleaner, and if you have an oil filter accessible from the top of the engine you can carpet your garage with white shag.

I'd never use one for the simple reason that it's one more complication in a system that already needs to be more idiot-proof than it is. There's nothing more important than keeping oil in an engine, and I for one am not willing to risk a sudden oil loss even from a supposedly good product. Anything can fail, given the right conditions. I figure the conditions for a drain plug bolted directly in to fail are more unlikely than the half dozen scenarios I can imagine for a quick drain to fail at an inopportune moment. Just not worth the risk for me personally, but I know a lot of people have gotten away with it.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

+1 for the Fumoto. No worries on low clearance, it it'll hit the Fumoto it'll rip your crossmember off. I've been personally using the Fumoto on everything from my street rides to competition rally vehicles to vintage construction equipment. The nipple version makes changing the oil on our 1949 Caterpillar D6-9U a snap, and that's a lot of oil!

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Joe Black
Get yellow fever at ACME!

Just the MB's: '82 300DT (stick), '81 240D, '80 300SD, '80 300D, '81 240D Manual

Depends on the car, on a W123/W126 617 engine the bolt is up a bit and at an angle, minor risk but still a risk if something scraped along the pan.

On the M102/M103 gasser the bolt is horizontal and slightly above the bottom of the pan, so not much risk at all.

All depends on the setup of the pan and plug. I'd consider using it on the M103 with its aluminum pan and horizontal setup, but I would not use it on the 617 engine....especially since the pan is steel and so easily replaced.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)