1985 Mercedes Input Needed

[Zoridog]

I just bought an older M-B 300D Turbo. These engines run north of 300,000 miles without overhaul on a regular basis. The manual says a 5000 mile OCI is recommended. It holds about 7 quarts of oil and has a huge oil filter (that costs $15-20).

If I stick with conventional oil, can I do oil filter changes every other oil change? I plan to sample the oil at 5000 miles. Would the need for an oil filter change show on the report? I plan on maximizing OCIs to get as much out of the oil as possible.

 

[Trav]

I would just change it.The filter holds almost a ltr of oil thats 15% old oil in with the new if you dont.
Don't forget to change the O ring on the bottom of the filter cap through bolt,it prevents oil draining back into the pan.

Remove the filter through bolt while the oil drain plug is still out for the above reason.

 

[Oldwolf]

You can buy the Purolator filter for your car at AZ or MB for $7. I bought the better Wix filters for mine at NAPA for $5 on sale (40% off annual sale). I also buy Mahle filters online sometimes for $8-9. $15-20 is way too much for a filter. Also, use a HDEO like the great and inexpensive Delvac, Delo, or Rotella 15W40 in the warm months. In NJ you may need to run a synthetic 5W40 in the winter though.

I usually change mine just a little less than 5k, sometimes 4.5k miles. Yes, you should probably change the filter every time but once in a while not changing it would be OK I suppose. At least take the filter top cap off so that the old oil drains to the crankcase prior to changing the oil only.

 

[dnewton3]

I suspect a large filter like that can go 10k miles if you use a quality brand like some of the upper end stuff (Wix, P1, M1, Bosch, etc). I would not try it on a low-cost filter.

 

[eljefino]

I got a wicked deal on champ filters for my 240d from amazon.com. They also did well on air and fuel filters.

Conversely, advance still has some nice coupon codes for buy online, pickup in B&M.

They are concerned mostly with soot loading, and modern HDEOs can hold more than 25 year old stuff. So you could stretch a little. The fancy filter has a bypass and full flow section all in one unit.

 

[bullwinkle]

I would stick with filter changes every OC, and try to get the oil filter cartridge that has the bypass section in the top (not pleated, metal w/small holes). The modern HDEOs are much better than they were in the '80s-but I would still keep a close eye on the soot numbers-my '82's previous owner used the wrong oil & pushed his OCIs too far out, causing stuck rings, blowby, and worn cylinder sleeves. If your '85 really only has 75K, that must be a real museum piece!

 

[Zoridog]

Autohaus AZ has the Bosch filter for $6.66 plus shipping. I could live with that in a pinch. I'll check the local Autozone.

Yes, 75,000 original miles. Garage kept and driven by a retired woman. I bought it from her widower (93 yrs old). That's the good news. Bad news was he was an old farmer. He bought used tires (10 year old tires were just replaced) and the air filter had to be 10 years old. Just repaired a fuel leak that rotted the motor mounts. Needed parts and labor totalling $4000. I pick it up from the mechanic tomorrow.

 

[Zoridog]

I have a stock pile of 15w40 that I was using for the motorcycles. The Delo 400 ($8.50/gallon at Wally Mart) and 12 quarts of SuperTech CI-4 rated oil.

Originally Posted By: Oldwolf
You can buy the Purolator filter for your car at AZ or MB for $7. I bought the better Wix filters for mine at NAPA for $5 on sale (40% off annual sale). I also buy Mahle filters online sometimes for $8-9. $15-20 is way too much for a filter. Also, use a HDEO like the great and inexpensive Delvac, Delo, or Rotella 15W40 in the warm months. In NJ you may need to run a synthetic 5W40 in the winter though.

I usually change mine just a little less than 5k, sometimes 4.5k miles. Yes, you should probably change the filter every time but once in a while not changing it would be OK I suppose. At least take the filter top cap off so that the old oil drains to the crankcase prior to changing the oil only.

 

[Oldwolf]

Well then you are nearly ready for an oil change!

 

[Falcon_LS]

Congrats on the car, the W123 is one of the best Mercedes' ever made IMO.

As for the filter, can you buy Hengst filters? These are excellent filters, albeit a little expensive but not as expensive as OE (about $10-12 over here).

 

[Zoridog]

I couldn't believe my luck. When I started dating my wife 15 years ago she said wanted to own an "old style" Mercedes someday. I saw this car about a block away from my house and asked the wife "Do you still want a vintage Mercedes?" Sold!

I guess in your part of the world those W123s are still used as taxis.
Originally Posted By: Falcon_LS
Congrats on the car, the W123 is one of the best Mercedes' ever made IMO.

As for the filter, can you buy Hengst filters? These are excellent filters, albeit a little expensive but not as expensive as OE (about $10-12 over here).

 

[Falcon_LS]

There are quite a few W123s on the road, although taxis are mostly Crown Victorias and Camrys. By law, a vehicle operating as a taxi cannot be older than three years. Still, the W123 is amazing and definitely over engineered!

 

[fdcg27]

I am envious!
I liked my two 123s, and am always on the lookout for another.
I have seen a few for sale in the past eight months, but most were terminally rusty.
I did see a decent 230 (not E) with 140K for reasonable bucks, but it sold before I moved on it, no surprise.
A gasser 123 would be a gas, since even the five cylinder turbos are s-l-o-w, although I did like my diesels.

 

[bullwinkle]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
I am envious!
I liked my two 123s, and am always on the lookout for another.
I have seen a few for sale in the past eight months, but most were terminally rusty.
I did see a decent 230 (not E) with 140K for reasonable bucks, but it sold before I moved on it, no surprise.
A gasser 123 would be a gas, since even the five cylinder turbos are s-l-o-w, although I did like my diesels.
Not as slow as a 240D!

 

[fdcg27]

NOTHING is as slow as a 240D.
Still, I did like the diesels.
I liked the sound, the smell, and the simplicity.
Get it running, and you didn't even need the electrics to work.
A purely mechanical beast, although this is true of the five cylinder turbos as well.

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
I have covered many many thousands of miles in MB diesels of old both 240D and the 5 cylinder versions - Owned and Company supplied. Used as intended they can be great long distance cruisers and I have done many long distance trips at 90mph for hours on end!

 

[Zoridog]

My folks live in Florida 1300 miles each way. I usually make the annual trip in a Toyota RAV 4 but this year I'll be going in style and comfort!

 

[Camu Mahubah]

Wow you spent $4000 already on getting this car road worthy? Wow! You mean $400 right?

 

[bullwinkle]

Originally Posted By: Doug Hillary
Hi,
I have covered many many thousands of miles in MB diesels of old both 240D and the 5 cylinder versions - Owned and Company supplied. Used as intended they can be great long distance cruisers and I have done many long distance trips at 90mph for hours on end!
I'm with you on that one, Doug-even in the weak condition that the 300D is in (low compression/blowby)-it will run down the highway at 75+ all day long with no problem-it's actually my 17 year old son's car, if it survives him it'll get an engine rebuild/resleeve & paint job (virtually no rust/southern US car originally).

 

[Zoridog]

No, $4300 to be exact. Fuel lines, shocks, tires, ball joints, steering shock, motor mounts, return lines, fuel filters, air filter mount, valves adjusted, leaking gaskets fixed, etc. It would have been road worthy for about $800 but the other stuff was still needed to get it running happily. I'm married so theoretically I only paid half that amount. And, I'd rather have a cool car than new living room furniture.

Us married guys get to buy a ton of stuff we don't want. It's nice to get something we do want once in a while.

Originally Posted By: Camu Mahubah
Wow you spent $4000 already on getting this car road worthy? Wow! You mean $400 right?