Oil Changes - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

Brian7 · 08-12-2007, 04:51 PM

Does anyone know about changing the oil on the Smart cars? Maybe an earlier model would be similar to what we could expect. Will they be "only at the dealer" oil changes? Any discussion or light on this would be helpful.

chandler · 08-19-2007, 07:13 AM

get a conversion kit to have your mechanic install an oil pan with drain plug and a spin on/off oil filter adaptor. I got the oil pan kit off ebay from a place in canada for $99 (George @ SMART Pieces For 4/2...look on ebay for item no. 320142393474, MCC SMART Fortwo Car Oil Pan With Magnetic Drain Plug...or look for the sellers items, his ebay sellers name is "gjzika". I think he's still listing them...even gives a $25 rebate for your original oil pan if you return it cleaned.

I got the oil filter conversion kit from SmartieParts.com (steven@smartieparts.com) also out of Canada for $121.00 + shipping.

Putting these two aftermarket items on your SmartCar will make the oil change so so much easier and you can do it in the confort of your living room easy chair

lhoboy · 08-19-2007, 09:10 AM

What causes the OEM design to make oil and filter changing to be so difficult that it requires a mod for do-it-yourselfers?

jonnysan · 08-19-2007, 10:22 AM

I looked closely at the US version when the road tour came to my city and I thought I saw a very conveniently mounted spin-on oil filter right on the bottom and very easy to get to.
I didn't see the drain plug nor was I looking for it really. I just assumed that it would be in a convenient spot. If the pan doesn't have one, this guy is going to remove the pan and install one in a very convenient spot....after the warranty is over, that is.
Insofar as warrantees are concerned, you can change your own oil as long as you use the OEM oil filter and their recommended oil viscosity and brand, change it at the recommended intervals, and most importantly...save your receipts to prove all of the above. An oil changing log right in the back of the owners manual is the best place to keep track of the change intervals, dates, etc. I went thru all of this with my local HOnda dealer and my new (in 2000) S-2000. It may be different with MB, but I doubt it. Ofcourse, anyone attempting to change his own oil who doesn't really know how to should seek reliable training or just take it to the dealer. Forgetting to tighten the drain plug would and could be pretty disastrous to engine health.....

lhoboy · 08-19-2007, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnysan

Ofcourse, anyone attempting to change his own oil who doesn't really know how to should seek reliable training or just take it to the dealer. Forgetting to tighten the drain plug would and could be pretty disastrous to engine health.....

Believe me, I've had more "qualified" service technicians leaving things loose (including drain plugs, twice) than I have ever done. (I 'm not counting the lug nuts my pit crew left loose on the racecar, but that's another story

).

RocketJohn · 08-20-2007, 08:12 AM

no no no... if there isn't a drainplug, you just need to get a tool that sucks it from the dipstick port... no removing oil pans...

for example let me post more than once so I can post a link...

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