Mercedes is one of the most expensive cars to repair and maintain. As a result, some people prefer doing some service maintenance by themselves. But can you change the oil in a Mercedes-Benz yourself?
Yes, you can. Changing the oil in a Mercedes is straightforward as long as you have the right tools and products. However, it’s also important to know that changing oil by yourself can void the warranty. Nonetheless, it’s very affordable as a simple Mercedes oil change at the dealer may cost you at least $200.
Tools needed for a proper oil change in a Mercedes
If you decide to make a Mercedes oil change yourself, you will have to use the same oil and filter used by Mercedes-Benz dealers. Mercedes recommends Mobil1 European Car 0W-40 full synthetic oil. Nonetheless, you can still use another brand as long as it’s full synthetic oil.
Aside from buying the right oil, you need to know how much quartz you need for your engine. For instance, the Mercedes E320 is a 6 cylinder engine, meaning it needs 7 quartz of Mobil1 full synthetic oil. On top of picking the right oil, you also need to select a quality oil filter.
Mercedes-Benz recommends a fleece oil filter. This filter is more durable than other types of oil filters on the market. It will give you at least 10,000 miles, which is excellent. On top of having the right oil and oil filter, you need other tools to help you open the hood and change the oil.
Some of the tools that you will require to get the job done include a 13 mm wrench or socket, a 74 mm oil filter wrench for Mercedes-Benz for 3/8-inch ratchet, jack stands with a fantastic rating, and an oil drain pan that holds up to 8 plus quartz.
Procedure for changing the oil in Mercedes yourself
Open the hood
The first step is to open the hood so that you can access the oil filter. You will have to pull the hood release inside your car to open the hood. Pull-on the handle on the driver’s side of the car until you hear the hood release.
You can now go ahead and open the hood from the outside by pulling on the triangle-shaped hood latch release.
Lift the car off the ground
Next, lift the car off the ground by using the car jack that it comes with. Always ensure that the car is parked on a flat surface and add a jack stand for support.
Remove the splash shield
Using an 8 mm wrench, remove the splash shield, which is black plastic below the engine. It is usually held in place with about 4 to 6 bolts, depending on your Benz model.
Drain all the oil
When you’re done removing the splash shield, get rid of the oil drain plug. For this procedure, you will need a 13 mm wrench to turn the bolt counterclockwise. After loosening the bolts, allow the oil to drain for about 10 minutes.
Remove a section of the engine cover
Next, remove the front section of the engine cover. Additionally, remove the plastic cover by simply pulling it up and away.
Get rid of the oil filter
Take the oil filter tool and remove the worn-out oil filter. Pull out the oil filter gently and make sure to change the rubber O-rings.
Set up a new oil filter
When you’re done removing the worn-out oil filter, replace it with a new oil filter. However, you need to ensure that just one of the black lines is visible and not both. Besides, you should always change O-rings when you change the oil filter. Tighten the filter using a torque wrench.
Install oil drain plug
If you have a new oil drain plug, replace it with the old one. Besides, you should also use a torque wrench to tighten the drain plug.
Add new oil
Fill in the right amount of oil and examine the oil level. Afterward, allow the car to sit on a level surface for about 15 minutes before re-examining the oil level. Avid overfilling or underfilling the oil. Add oil if it’s less and reduce if it’s more.
Reset the service reminder on your Benz
Return the engine cover and remove the car jack. Ensure the oil level is within the minimum and maximum range. Finally, reset the service reminder. Check this in the car’s user manual.
FAQ
Do you have to go to a Mercedes-Benz dealer to have an oil change?
No, you don’t have to. You can visit an independent mechanic with the right tools or do an oil change yourself. Nonetheless, going to the dealer has some advantages as they perform extra services and you can never void your warranty.
Why is Mercedes oil change so expensive?
The main reason why Mercedes-Benz oil change is so expensive is because of the bigger oil capacities. Aside from that, Mercedes also recommends the use of full synthetic oil, which is one of the most expensive. On top of that, Mercedes dealers charge a lot for an oil change compared to other car brands.
Why you shouldn’t change your own oil?
The main reason why you shouldn’t change your own Benz oil is that you can make a costly mistake. A simple mistake, such as not tightening bolts well enough can make your car develop a leak that could harm your engine and lead to costly repairs. Besides, it will also void your warranty.
Conclusion
Now that you know what procedure to follow to make an oil change in your Mercedes-Benz, you don’t have to spend a lot of money at the dealer, unless you’re worried about voiding the warranty. But if you use the right tools and products, as well as follow the right procedure, nothing will go wrong.
Changing oil by yourself saves you money and time that you could have spent at the Mercedes dealership. But if you’re not confident enough to do the oil change, visit the nearest Mercedes dealer for an oil change.