Removing under body shroud

[jstkrsn]

Am trying to remove the middle shroud to get at the oil drain plug. What tool is used to remove the three fasteners on both sides? Anybody know? Does it snap out? Unscrew? what tool, torx? It's bigger than a 15 and smaller than a 20.

 

[TEF]

Someone on this forum did a great job documenting all the fasteners involved in removing the two-piece fairing under the engine. It has detailed photos. I've also removed mine using his posting and don't recall any special wrenches or tools or any kind. With the exception of one odd larger-sized push fastener all the others were smaller push fasteners. As I recall, the smaller fasteners all looked alike, but were of different lengths depending on their location. Since an oil change was so difficult because of these fairings, I removed them only once. While off, I cut holes under drain and filter, constructed aluminum covers for both holes and re installed fairings. My first oil change before cutting the holes, had $40.00 in labor for taking the fairing on and off. I decided I was not going to pay that for each oil change over the life of the car. Relative to the first generation, it's one of the few things on the newer model that was changed for the worst.

 

[jimmygez1961]

TEF i would love to see pics of what u have done

 

[kn5owa]

The way to go on the middle panel is to leave it alone and suction out the oil with a Mity-Vac or the equivalent (the "Mercedes way").

Much easier and safer. I still have to remove the front panel on my 5.0 for the filter swap, though.

 

[glennk]

The way to go on the middle panel is to leave it alone and suction out the oil with a Mity-Vac or the equivalent (the "Mercedes way").

Much easier and safer. I still have to remove the front panel on my 5.0 for the filter swap, though.

+1. A guy on YouTube (MercedesSource) goes into great detail. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPflVUzVxJ8

 

[jstkrsn]

See thread by ntx_v8 for answers to this question.

 

[sidewinder1]

same guy in that video actually recommends topsider which i bought for $40. don't mess with those covers its way more trouble than its worth to go through for an oil change. One thing from that video is he has the topsider higher than the engine so it is only using vacuum to draw the oil. i would recommend sitting it on the ground so that way it uses both vacuum and siphon effect to draw the oil out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65MMnubY4DA&t=19s

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_390306_390306

There are coupons floating around for $10 off $50.

 

[Mark_888]

I have written posts on this forum several times over the years on the subject of oil extractors. I would not recommend any of the hand pump units (I tried two of them without much success and they turned out to be a waste of money). Instead, I highly recommend the MityVac 7300, which requires an external air compressor to create continuous suction. Any size air compressor will work, even the cheapest ones.
https://www.amazon.com/Mityvac-7300...e=UTF8&qid=1498419495&sr=1-4&keywords=mityvac

 

[sidewinder1]

I have written posts on this forum several times over the years on the subject of oil extractors. I would not recommend any of the hand pump units (I tried two of them without much success and they turned out to be a waste of money). Instead, I highly recommend the MityVac 7300, which requires an external air compressor to create continuous suction. Any size air compressor will work, even the cheapest ones.
https://www.amazon.com/Mityvac-7300...e=UTF8&qid=1498419495&sr=1-4&keywords=mityvac

Can you tell me what problems you had with the hand pump units? Was it the topsider and if so what was the issue? I looked into the mityvac but seems too expensive and bulky so i went with the topsider. I've researched on youtube as well as on the web and seems mostly positive reviews.

- - - Updated - - -

speaking of underbody cover...i took the car into the dealer last time for engine mount replacement and they forgot to reinstall the rear cover and the front cover was only attached with the side clips with front clips missing. I only found out when i was rotating the tires and when i went back to the dealer the service adviser was skeptical that they had forgot to put it back on but they found it in the shop somewhere and put it back on. make sure to check under the body when you go in for an oil change or any service that requires them to remove those covers.

 

[kn5owa]

make sure to check under the body when you go in for an oil change or any service that requires them to remove those covers.

Much easier said than done - many, many fasteners of varying types are utilized to retain the splash guards.

MityVac? Well worth the money. Also, the holding tank is calibrated at 2 qt. intervals. The more info you have, the better off you are.

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[Mark_888]

Can you tell me what problems you had with the hand pump units? Was it the topsider and if so what was the issue? I looked into the mityvac but seems too expensive and bulky so i went with the topsider. I've researched on youtube as well as on the web and seems mostly positive reviews.

Yes, one of them I tried was a Topsider, but don't remember the model number. The problem is that the suction depends on the hand pump, and is not as strong as one that is operated by an air compressor. On a hand pump extractor, as soon as one pumps out about 95% of the oil, air gets into the tube at the bottom, and suction is lost. In order to get 100% of the oil out, one needs to move the tube around a little bit at the end (sort of like a vacuum cleaner), and continuous suction is required for that, which can only be supplied by an air compressor (unless maybe you have 2 people, one operating the pump all the time, and another one moving the tube around). Also, eventually the hand pump piston will start leaking and no longer create sufficient suction in my experience.

MityVac has many different models (many with hand pumps like the Topsider), but the only one I would recommend is the 7300 which uses an external air compressor.

I saw those videos on YouTube, and they never actually show the guy using the extractor from start to end. They are basically faked videos IMO. But if you have a Topsider and are happy with it, then its not for me to tell you whether you like it.

 

[sidewinder1]

well...i guess i will see how it does on my next oil change. regarding the after 95%, there is plastic clip that pinches the tube to build up vacuum in the tank so technically it only needs one person. As to longevity, if it works 10 times its only $4 per oil change and i can deal with that

 

[Mark_888]

regarding the after 95%, there is plastic clip that pinches the tube to build up vacuum in the tank so technically it only needs one person.

My experience with hand pump units is that when about 90-95% of the oil is removed the tube is no longer submerged in oil, and at that point air enters the end of the tube and it loses suction.

I like to move the tube around a lot at the end to make sure I get all the oil. One of the knocks against oil extractors is that they don't remove as much oil and containments at the bottom of the pan as pulling the drain plug. I think that is a fair complaint of the hand pump units, but in my experience (with a little skill) I can get more oil out the pan using an oil extractor connected to an air compressor than if I pulled the drain plug. But not everyone may care whether they get that last 5-10% out.

 

[silberma]

Can anyone advise if independent oil change shops charge more because the Genesis has underbody shrouds?

 

[Mark_888]

Can anyone advise if independent oil change shops charge more because the Genesis has underbody shrouds?

Most of them charge the same for all oil changes regardless of car, but you can check with them. If you do use an independent shop, I would bring an OEM oil filter with you and give it to the shop.

 

[G-78284]

Why do people hijack threads instead of answering the question? You still have to change the filter even if you suck the oil out. If you can't answer the question, DON'T RESPOND!