Fluids & Filters - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 05-12-2002, 11:07 PM

I need to change the fluids and filters in my 300D. What type of oil should I use.
I live in Texas, so it is primarily hot. Also what oil filter should I get & where to get one? The same goes for the fuel filter.
Robert

Billybob · #2 05-13-2002, 12:33 AM

You can get all the filters on this site click on the FastLane button at the top of the page! Most will recomend OEM, Mann or Hengst oil filters. Oil is a highly debatable topic but first and foremost it should be changed regularly, most will argue that it should be a diesel rated oil most importantly, high quality conventional or higher quality synthetic especially if you plan to own/maintain the car for the long run.

Fuel filters are available and cheap, a couple extras are good insurance to have around if and when you get a bad tank of fuel.

Eventually you will want to change the rear differential fluid, the power steering fluid and filter, the transmission fluid and filter, and the brake fluid, all of these systems will benefit from the the use of high quality products and should be looked at as an investment in long term maintainence and performance of a vehicle you can depend on. Good Luck!

The Warden · #3 05-13-2002, 03:03 AM

For most automotive diesels, IMHO 15W-40 diesel oil is best. However, if it's just about always hot, it might be better to use a straight-30 weight or maybe even a straight 40 weight oil. However, I cannot strongly enough recommend that you use an oil that is rated for a diesel engine. Just about all oils have a "SJ" or similar rating (it's like "SH", "SI", "SJ", etc; they're sequenced by what the standards were at the time the oil was rated by the American Petroleum Institute). However, those ratings are for oils that are made for gasoline engines. Diesel engines will have a "CH" or similar rating, and are designed to handle the higher soot content (soot is what makes diesel oil coal-black 5 minutes after you pour fresh new oil into your engine). In my experience, it's rare to see a "C" rated oil in any weights other than 15W-40, 30, and 40.

Hope that helps some...good luck!