1998 to 2005 Mercedes-Benz Engine Oil Change Guide

This guide provides tutorials on changing the engine oil and oil filter on Mercedes-Benz M113 and M112 engines. This guide applies to all Mercedes-Benz models that end with 320, 430, or 500.

The 320 is a V6 engine, and the 430 and 500 are V8 engines, but the oil change procedure is the same for both. The only difference is the oil capacity for the V8 is higher.

What you will need

• 0W-40 Synthetic Oil1
  • Recommended Modil1 0W-40
  • Castrol 0W-40 Full Synthetic
  • Royal Purple SAE 0W-40 High-Performance Synthetic Motor Oil
• Oil Filter
  A fleece oil filter should be used for 10,000 oil change intervals.
  • Genuine Mercedes-Benz Oil Filter
  • Mercedes MANN OEM HU 718 Oil Filter
  • Mobil 1 Performance M1C253 Oil Filter
• Oil Filter Wrench
• Tools
  • 13mm socket
  • 10mm socket
  • Screwdriver
  • Ratchet

Procedure

1. Jack up the vehicle and secure it with jack stands.

   

   Remove engine splash shield. It is held in place with eight 10mm bolts. Some models use 8mm screws or plastic retainers. Watch the following video on how to remove an engine undercover (under shield).

2. Locate the oil drain plug. Here is a close-up picture of the oil drain plug on this Mercedes-Benz. Some models have bolts in the middle of the pan towards the rear. Remove the 13mm oil drain bolt.

3. 

   Carefully remove the oil drain plug.

4. Allow the old oil to drain for at least ten minutes or until there is no more oil dripping from the oil pan.

5. Replace the drain plug washer.
6. If you install the drain plug without a washer, it will leak oil. Reinstall the oil drain plug.  
7. Reinstall the drain plug and torque it to specification.
8. Locate the oil filter on top of the engine of your Mercedes-Benz. Use a filter wrench to remove the oil filter. 

9. Remove the old oil filter. Install the new filter on your M112 M113 and tighten it by hand: lastly, torque it to 25Nm.

10. Locate the oil filler on top of your Mercedes engine. 

11. 

    Add the recommended engine oil. Check the oil level after you add 80% of the oil capacity. 

12. Add oil as necessary to bring the level between the MIN and MAX marks on the dipstick. Don’t fill the engine with oil above the maximum mark on the dipstick.
13. If your Mercedes-Benz doesn’t have a dipstick, you must check the oil level via the instrument cluster.

If your Mercedes-Benz does not have an oil dipstick, check the oil level via the instrument cluster using the steering wheel buttons.

An alternative method that is faster and doesn’t require raising the vehicle is to use an oil extraction pump. You can remove the oil via the oil dipstick tube with an oil extraction pump.

Oil Capacity

1. M113 V8 models, including 430 and 500, require 8 to 8.5 liters (about 8.5 to 9 quarts).
   M112 V6 models, including 240 and 320, require 7 to 7.5 liters (about 7.4 to 7.9 quarts).
2. Make sure you install a quality filter. A fleece filter is recommended. Cheap oil filters degrade quickly and cannot filter debris for 10,000 miles.

Applications

The M112 is one of the most common engines used on almost all Mercedes-Benz classes from 1997 to 2007 that end with 240 or 320. For example C240, C320, E320, CLK320, ML320 etc.

The M113 engine is a V8. Models that have this engine end with 430 or 500. For example E430, E500, ML500, R500, G500 etc. This engine is installed on E, C, CLK, SL, CL, R, ML, GL, and G classes.

The instructions are the same for both engines, with one exception. The oil capacity for the V8 and V6 engines is different. Check oil capacities in the next section. A complete list of applications is found at the end of the tutorial.

Use an oil with the right MB approval

Mercedes approves oils against its own specification sheets rather than by viscosity alone, and the approval number is what you match. It is listed in the owner’s manual and usually printed on the oil filler cap. An oil that does not carry the right MB number is not equivalent, however good the brand, because the approval covers the additive package rather than how thick the oil is.

For engines of this era a full synthetic meeting the specified Mercedes approval is the sensible choice, and these engines are not fussy beyond that. Where owners do get caught out is by buying on viscosity alone, or by using a low ash diesel specification oil in a gasoline engine because the bottle happened to say Mercedes on it.

Do not reuse the seals

These engines use a cartridge filter in a housing sealed by O rings, and a new filter kit includes replacements for a reason. Reused O rings are by far the most common cause of an oil leak after a service, and because the housing sits high on the engine in the V between the cylinder banks, the resulting leak runs down over everything underneath and looks far worse than it is.

Seat the new O rings properly in their grooves and do not overtighten the housing cap, since many are plastic and will crack. Fit a new sealing washer on the drain plug as well, and torque it rather than going by feel. Stripping the thread in an aluminum sump turns a routine service into a sump replacement.

Check the level the way the car expects

As the article notes, many of these models have no conventional dipstick and report the level electronically through the instrument cluster instead. That reading is only valid under specific conditions, generally with the engine at operating temperature and the car parked level, so a figure taken cold or on a slope will mislead you.

Fill short of the stated capacity, run the engine for a minute to fill the filter housing and galleries, switch off, wait several minutes for it to drain back, then check and top up in small increments. Overfilling is not harmless on these engines: the crankshaft whips the excess into foam, foam does not carry pressure, and the consequences look exactly like running the engine low on oil.

Finally, reset the service reminder once the work is done rather than letting it keep counting down from the previous service. A full system scanner that supports Mercedes can perform that reset and read the oil level and temperature directly, which is both quicker and more reliable than working through the cluster menus.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much oil does a Mercedes M113 V8 take?

About 8 to 8.5 liters with a new filter. Add most of it, run the engine, then top up to the full mark on the dipstick.

Can I use any synthetic oil in my Mercedes?

Use an oil that carries the MB approval listed for your engine in the owner’s manual. A good brand without the right approval is not the same.

How often should I change the oil on these engines?

Follow the service indicator or your maintenance booklet. On older, high mileage engines, many owners change it sooner to keep the engine clean.

Related Guides

• Mercedes-Benz M278 V8 Engine Oil Change Guide
• How to change Diesel Engine Oil on a Mercedes-Benz OM651 2.1L Easy DIY
• Mercedes-Benz M274 2.0T 4 cylinder Engine Oil Change
• Mercedes-Benz M272 M273 Engine Oil Change

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