Delayed gratification (waiting to change oil)

[Benzadmiral]

Hey, all,

It's been 4 months and ~3200 miles since my last OC, and I'm all set to do the deed . . . but I can't!

Here's the problem. Since my car has a belly pan and is designed for oil extraction, and since I don't have anywhere to store ramps, etc., I use a Topsider to draw the oil out through the dipstick tube. On Sunday, I was all set up, but the Topsider's bicycle pump handle was sticking.

Instructions said to pop some oil down the tube to lube the leather seals. Unfortunately I used contact cleaner (idiote!

). That lubed the seals all right . . . to the point that the pump slides too easily, and I get almost no vacuum built in the tank.

I called AirPower America, who has parts. They have replacement pump tubes, $20 shipped. But they suggest I try relubing the seals with some oil first; it might solve the problem.

I can lube the pump tube tonight, but I can't test it on the car until this weekend. If it works, fine. If it doesn't, I'll have to wait for the new tube until the following week, and won't be able to do the oil change until the end of the month.

Can you say frustrating??!!??

Vent time over. But have any of you had a similar series of events that blocked/delayed your oil change session?

 

[oldmaninsc]

2 questions. First what type of car are we talking about here, and second, why are you changing your oil at 3200 miles?

 

[Benzadmiral]

My car is a 1997 MB C230, 84,500 miles. I do a lot of short-trip driving, only 800 miles/month. While our N.O. weather is rarely cold, it is damp, and I don't get a chance to do good long moisture-dispelling drives as often as I'd like. Also, trust me, viciously hot weather will be here all too soon, and my manual recommends a xxW-40 if temps consistently break 90 degrees.

Posters here have suggested that I continue doing what I've been doing, change oil 3 times a year (with conventional oil, of course; if it were synthetic I'd be going much longer). Right now the crankcase has a 60/40 mix of Havoline 10w30 and Chevron Delo 15w40.

I'm not thinking I *need* to change the oil this instant -- if I can't manage to arrange things until March, I know the car isn't going to die.

 

[m2200b]

I had a c280. If you had ramps, it easier to take off the 8-10 10mm bolts that hold the cover on for a conventional drain. You really do get a better look at that motor and transmission from the underside as far as overall maintenance.

 

[ARB1977]

Oh the joys of owning a truck with a mild lift. Make oil changes that much eaiser.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

I will be getting a topsider(or Pela) myself. Although I can change my oil without ramps, Having an oil filter on the top of the engine makes it king of silly and messy to do the pan drain method. If I crawl under it will be to inspect the shafts. The ball joints and rack can be inspected from the side.

 

[Black_Thunder]

i guess i wouldn't worry about it so much, i'm a 3,000 miler myself but if one of my vehicles goes over a bit i guess i dont' worry about it.

 

[ARB1977]

The only reason im waiting is because im thinking on doing my oil analysis on six month old Amsoil Series 2000 since this is the first so called harsh winter my truck has been through and ive been doing alot more city driving.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Hey, everybody,

I followed instructions, eye-droppered some Delo 15w40 down into the pump shaft, and worked the handle. Seemed good. Hooked everything up and drained my power steering reservoir as a test. No problems; with any luck the pump will be good to go. . . .

 

[RacerE7773]

Quote:

---

i guess i wouldn't worry about it so much, i'm a 3,000 miler myself but if one of my vehicles goes over a bit i guess i dont' worry about it.

---

Same here. It's what I was brought up to in regards to oil changes.

 

[Benzadmiral]

On Monday I drove the car for about 20 minutes, running errands, then parked and let it cool a little (part of the Topsider instructions) while I changed clothes, got everything ready, and locked the cats in the bedroom.

Lubing the Topsider seals with engine oil proved to be a much needed bit of maintenance. The oil (the car's blood) suction went easily, as did the drain of the power steering fluid (its bile; if you ever smelled the MB fluid, you'd understand why I call it that). Actually 3650 miles/4.5 months OCI. It took 4 quarts of old Havoline 10W-40 (bought on sale at AA in Dec. '06; thanks, BITOG!), a leftover quart of Chevron Delo 15w40, and a pint of TropArtic 5w30 to top off/use up the stash. Car runs super smoothly.

I wasn't worried that the car's oil pan was going to explode if I didn't change the oil right away. I just was looking forward to the fun of doing it, that was all. . . .