Ok... So I am new to this and want to do what I can myself. First I would like to know how to change oil on a 1985 300 turbo diesel. Is there a link that tells all. grade of oil to use, filters to replace etc ?

Oh and the previous owner ran Pensoil 20 / 50 in it.

Also I found 85 Plus diesel enhancer in a box at his home. What do you all think of this stuff. I have always felt that additives were trouble causers.

Thanks,
Whynot2

You will need a jack and jack stands to do it safely.
Get 8 quarts of oil. I like Rotella. And a good oil filter, I like the dealer filter. Make sure it has a copper crush washer for the drain plug and the LARGE rubber oring for the filter.
Get the car up to normal operating temperature to get all the solids in suspension for the change.
Jack the car up and place it on jack stands.
Place the drain pan under the drain plug. It's located at the aft drivers side of the oil pan.
Open the plug and allow it to drain until it stops dripping.
Remove the two top nuts on the oil filter housing. Remove and clean the top/shaft assembly. Check the 2 small orings on the shaft. Replace if old and warn.
Remove the filter into a pail or something so you catch the drips.
Oil the rubber parts of the new oil filter. I just use old oil.
Insert the new filter. You will have to move the heater hoses to the side for removal and insertion.
Install the new Oring into the filter top. Oil it first.
Insert the top and TORQUE the 2 top nuts. Get into the habit of torquing all your bolts and nuts on a Mercedes. It can save you money down the line. Over torque something and it can fail. ( don't ask how I know)
Torque numbers oil drain pan bolt 40NM
Torque numbers filter top nuts 25NM
Install the new copper drain plug crush washer and install the drain plug. Torque the drain plug
Put in the new oil. Start with 7 quarts and after checking the fill then add as necessary.
Run the car and check for leaks at the drain plug and oil filter top.
Stop the engine, allow the oil to drain , about 10 minutes, and check the level. The bottom fill mark is 2 quarts low. Do not add oil over the top mark.

No additives, just good oil

Dave

__________________
1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

If you're skinny you don't need the jack-stands, just a furny-pad to keep your ass clean

__________________
1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).

I find ramps easier and possibly safer than a jack and stands. The drain plug might not be at the lowest point with ramps, though.

I remove the oil filler cap before draining to allow complete venting while draining. This is practice stems from the days before good crankcase ventilation so it might be unneccessary these days.

I put my hand in a plastic grocery bag then unfurl the bag over the oil filter as I draw it out. I've yet to make a mess.

Sixto
93 300SD 3.0

I use 85+ in my '85 running B100. I've always been suspicious of "snake oil" but this stuff does seem to make an improvement in my fuel economy (2 ounces in the fuel tank per fillup). I need to finish the experiment by going back to pure B100 and see if the mileage goes back down.

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Check that the two(?) o-rings on the shaft that goes through the oil-filter are still supple. If they feel like hard plastic, they should be replaced.

Sixto
93 300SD 3.0

Costco sells Chevron Delo 400 in a 6 or 8 gallon case for a good price.

What are we up to in Diesel oil ratings - CF? CG?

Sixto
93 300SD 3.0

CJ is out now. Much is still CI4+.

__________________
2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

Skip on the dealer oil filter or any german filter for that matter. Get the fram CH2930. here is why.

http://24.14.137.240:8080//benz/oilfilter/oilfilter.htm

there is junk inside alot of the oem filters. Ive used only synthetic oils, i like mobil and amsoil as they both use the same base stock to make their synthetic oils.

I have Amsoil 15w40 synthetic in the diesel and mobil 1 5w30 synthetic in the gasser. But its all up to you whether you want to use dino or synthetic.

__________________
Current:
05 E320 CDI
07 GL320 CDI
08 Sprinter
05 Dodge Cummins
01 Dodge Cummins

Previous
2004 E55 AMG
2002 C32 AMG (#2)
1995 E300
1978 300D
1987 300D
2002 C32 AMG(blown motor :[
1981 300SD
1983 300SD
1987 300SDL
2002 Jetta TDI
1996 S420
1995 S500
1993 190E 2.6
1992 190E 2.3
1985 190E 2.3 5-Speed

If getting the Fram filter make sure its stamped "made in Turkey" otherwise it has the cotton gin in it.

The local places here do not have the turkey filter.

Dave

__________________
1970 220D, owned 1980-1990
1980 240D, owned 1990-1992
1982 300TD, owned 1992-1993
1986 300SDL, owned 1993-2004
1999 E300, owned 1999-2003
1982 300TD, 213,880mi, owned since Nov 18, 1991- Aug 4, 2010 SOLD
1988 560SL, 100,000mi, owned since 1995
1965 Mustang Fastback Mileage Unknown(My sons)
1983 240D, 176,000mi (My daughers) owned since 2004
2007 Honda Accord EX-L I4 auto, the new daily driver
1985 300D 264,000mi Son's new daily driver.(sold)
2008 Hyundai Tiberon. Daughters new car

Pep Boys stocks them around D/FW, however they are usually off to the side somewhere, not in numerical order with their other filters.

__________________
Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

Ive never had a problem finding them. And some guys on this forum claim they are disapearing. But i often go to kragen when there is a sale on mobil oil (like today) and often see them on the shelf with the "made in turkey" label on the filter.

__________________
Current:
05 E320 CDI
07 GL320 CDI
08 Sprinter
05 Dodge Cummins
01 Dodge Cummins

Previous
2004 E55 AMG
2002 C32 AMG (#2)
1995 E300
1978 300D
1987 300D
2002 C32 AMG(blown motor :[
1981 300SD
1983 300SD
1987 300SDL
2002 Jetta TDI
1996 S420
1995 S500
1993 190E 2.6
1992 190E 2.3
1985 190E 2.3 5-Speed

G'mornin',

Mr. Morrison, has pointed you in the right direction......including replacing the oil drain plug after completing the filter change......!!!

The rest is pretty much personal preference, as far as oil and filters go.....personally I prefer the Mann filters...but you can get your filters from Phil, the sponsor of this website....and his stuff always arrives in a timely fashion....and will be correct for your car.....as well as relatively reasonably priced.....

Any Diesel rated oil will do.....I use Shell Rotella T 15W40...the other majors are....Chevron Delo 400, Mobil 1, and AmsOil......just assure that whatever you choose is Diesel rated.....

The only thing that has not been mentioned thus far is.....note or photograph the Vacuum lines that pass very close to the oil filter cover, and will be somewhat disturbed after an oil change....you will probably have a bit of a vacuum problem after you change the oil the first couple of times....just use your notes or photo to assure that the vacuum lines are all in the proper places and are tightly connected.....

and don't force anything....the oil filter cover will go back easily once it's lined up.....

SB

__________________

Diesels:
'85 300D, "Max, Blue Benz", 155K, 27.0 MPG
'84 190D 2.2, "Eva, Brown Benz", 142K, 40.2 MPG
'77 240D (parts car)
'67 Eicher ES 202 Tractor "Otto" (2cyl, Air Cooled, 30HP)
Gassers:
'94 Ford F-150, "Henry", 170K (300 Six) 17.5 MPG
'85 190E 2.3, 148K....Parts Car
'58 Dodge W300M Powerwagon (Flat Fenders) Less than 10 MPG