Where to get a oil change - can I just go to a Jiffy Lube equivalent

[RichardPercival]

Sorry in advance if this seems a dumb question, but I can't see info on what kind of engine oil to use in the Tech Manual only info on how to change it.

I do not have the space in the city to change my own oil. So my question is - can any garage/oil change place do this or does it have to be some kind of specialist? Would a JiffyLube throw up their hands and not know what to do with a W113?

I read that old cars should still use the manufactyrer recommended oil rather than more modern lighter oils but don't know if a regular garage would know this or indeed have an appropriate oil? I realize these may seem basic questions but having never had a car before more than a couple of years old which was under warranty and dealt with by the dealer, I'm completely clueless.

As I have now had my Pagoda for 11 months and have driven 2000 miles in it, it seems time to change the oil. What do other people (who don't change their own) do?

[DavidAPease]

Rich,

Most modern mechanics (especially at a place like "Jiffy Lube") will probably only be familiar with spin-on type oil filters.  Our are quite different; see the diagram here:

    https://www.sl113.org/wiki/Engine/Lubrication

Getting the rubber seals or o-rings wrong can crack the housing or (perhaps worse) cause the filter to be bypassed entirely.  I would not trust this job to anyone who didn't specialize in older Mercedes.

           -David

[Pawel66]

You will find hundreds of thousands of threads here on oils. For me it boils down to two parameters:
- 20W50, which is factory specs; will turn out to be mineral, not synthetic
- ZDDP content around 1600, which in Europe means Valvoline VR1; in the US many more options, I guess

As for the oil change - I do it at home, just ask a real mechanic to help me get rid of the old oil.

Since you have a good write up on oil change, you can probably take it and go to some good service and take them through the procedure. You would have to bring your oil and your filter most likely. The peculiar thing is the thick seal check and replacement.

I did it several times on other items: scheduled a visit at Mercedes dealer and worked with the mechanic with BBB in my hand and all the materials in my boxes (e.g. yellow plated screws) on whatever we needed to do. Of course any spare parts used that I could buy from them, I bought form them.

I am not a mechanic, but from what I can tell the particularities in our cars (different than modern standards) are:
-  replacement of the seal ring on the filter housing bolt
- oring replacement in the filter housing
- checking the thick seal between the filter element housing and the filter base

I think that is all that is different.

Enclosing the pictures from front exhaust pipe replacement session. BTW the fender apron you see on the car I brought with me .

[rwmastel]

Richard,
As a full member, you have access to our membership roster.  Sort it by location and find other members in NYC.  Contact them and see if you get replies on your question.

[Pinder]

Pawel your car in sliver looks very nice.

[AndrewB]

I second that - beautiful car Pawel !

[Pawel66]

Thank you!

Dark blue, 245 interior, colors are datacard specs.

Proudly exhibiting our logo on the windshield . Our badge is next to the license plate in the front, just on the other side, you cannot see it.

[rwmastel]

Let's get back to helping Richard find a classic Mercedes shop in the concrete jungle of NYC.

[Jack the Knife]

I'd recommend Wolfgang's in Tenafly.

[Chris Long]

Plus 1

[john.mancini]

Hi Richard,
Avoid Jiffy Lube and similar “quicky” service stations. Hopefully someone near you can help you out. Finding a member close by was a great suggestion. Let’s see if someone in our group comes forward. Best of luck,
John

[john.mancini]

Richard, one other thing, I use LiquiMoly 20W50 in my 230SL. Don’t use synthetic oil. And I run it on Ethanol Free gas.

[zoegrlh]

Also I put a bottle of ZDDP to oil at oil change, I also use E free gas.

[Jowe]

Recommended oil specification in the Maintenance Manual: https://www.sl113.org/wiki/Restricted/ServiceManual

[RichardPercival]

Thanks all for the thoughts and advice (Pawel your silver SL does look fantastic)
I had called Wolfgang in Tenafly back in July and he couldn’t fit me in til after Labor Day but I finally have an appointment on the 28th and will ask him to do the oil and filter change. In the meantime the oil level was getting dangerously low - there is never oil under the car but we have done a couple of several hour journeys and 2000 miles this year and much more heavy traffic than I’d like. I also didn’t tighten the oil pipe to the gauge cluster enough after redoing the knob on the center cluster and so gave my legs a good dousing while driving the next day 😂. Anyway have topped up with 2 quarts of  Valvoline VR1 in the interim and levels look back to healthy again. Hopefully the loss since the spring is not indicative of anything very bad, but Wolfgang can hopefully give a full appraisal at last!

[rwmastel]

You've had your car about a year, you're not doing any service yourself, and you're asking for help finding a shop.  How much and what service has been done under your ownership?

During your appointment slot with Wolfgang, have the oil level in the mechanical injection pump checked, and then replace that oil.  It's a separate reservoir on the 230SL.  It might be pushing it, but you could ask for a compression test (rings) and leak down test (valves) as well, to confirm the health of the engine and make sure you're not losing a lot of oil that way.  Oh, and a valve adjustment might make the leak down test more accurate.  I would call him Monday to discuss how much he can schedule in.