Overfull oil (617.952) how much is too much? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

networkboy · #1 09-27-2006, 10:56 PM

While I realise that as a general rule of thumb being at the middle of the dip-stick is ideal I appear to have accidently over-filled the oil (about a qtr of the span between the two notches over the full mark). Is this enough to be an issue? and assuming that it is, what's the best way to remove about a cup to pint of oil without a huge mess?

Thanks all,
-nB

pawoSD · #2 09-27-2006, 11:06 PM

Take a tube and stick it down into the dipstick tube and suck some out with a little vacuum pump or something. Or crack the drain plug a little and drool some out in a controlled fashion. (Messy but it'd work) Other than that, not sure. I'd not run the engine with that much in it, it could run away/die. Next time just put in 6.5-7 qts and then run it a while and check the level again, it rarely takes more than 7-7.5qts to fill these engines.

yellowbenz · #3 09-28-2006, 12:11 AM

Check out the thread on runaway diesel.

Kevin
1979 240D manual
1984 190D manual

pawoSD · #4 09-28-2006, 01:40 AM

By the way, being that high on the dipstick means you're probably more like 1/2 to 3/4 of a quart over the max, not a cup or pint. Take out 1/2 a quart then check the level again.

MBeige · #5 09-28-2006, 03:01 AM

Just to confirm, you checked the oil when the engine was warm? I used to check the oil when it was cold...somebody told me to check it when warm so I read the manual and there it was...

If you checked it when cold and filled it up, it should be ok as long as the warm engine oil level is at max.

firemediceric · #6 09-28-2006, 07:54 AM

I don't have the owners manual for my "81 300 SD. I looked at the oil dip stick and reasoned that the top notch indicated "Full" and the lower notch indicated "Low."

Am I wrong?

I changed my oil and refilled until it was up to the top notch. I have since added half a quart to keep it at that level.

When the engine is cold, should the level be between the two notches?

t walgamuth · #7 09-28-2006, 08:06 AM

on 617s and 616s i have never found them to be very sensitive to "too full" oil. i always try to keep them at the top mark. i occasionally have gotten a bit too much in. in my experience 1/4" above the top notch has never caused a problem.

i have had about 17 of this family of diesels.

now my 350sdl with the 3.5 liter 603 engine was a different story. i accidentally overfilled it and found that on the highway the temperature of the engine went up over its normal level. i slowed down 5 mph and it went back down. and when i got home i drained out a half quart or so to bring it within the marks.

tom w

Hatterasguy · #8 09-28-2006, 12:56 PM

When I first changed the oil on the 617 I added 8 quarts thinking it was about the same as the 603, wrong way overfilled! It burned it off though.

networkboy · #9 09-28-2006, 04:19 PM

So I'm thinking the run-away issue won't be a problem as this engine appears to have minimal blow-by. Should I just let the car burn it off?

Read OK when I filled it (cold oil), read a touch high after warming it all back up.
-nB

firemediceric · #10 09-28-2006, 04:47 PM

So the level on a cold engine should be right in the middle of the two notches?

DslBnz · #11 09-28-2006, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firemediceric

So the level on a cold engine should be right in the middle of the two notches?

Level and a "warm" engine should read between the two notches (MIN and MAX).

When cold, it may read considerably higher. Ideal time to change and check the oil is when the engine is fresh from a highway romp.

Hatterasguy · #12 09-28-2006, 08:07 PM

It should be somewhere between the two notches, doesn't matter where in between. Some engines will burn down to half way and then stop, others will not. See what your car does.

Just and FYI if you are using synthetic oil like Delvac 1/Mobil 1, Amsoil, ect you need to check it in the morning. It takes so long to drain down that if you check it say an hour after shut down, you will get a false low reading. Checking it when you stop for fuel, forget about it, it will always read low.

bottom feeder · #13 09-28-2006, 08:18 PM

When I check my oil cold, without wiping the stick with a rag first, the level reads way too high. But after I wipe it, the level is just right. What causes this?

networkboy · #14 09-28-2006, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Checking it when you stop for fuel, forget about it, it will always read low.

That must be what burnt me

Was ok at the change, seemed hecka low at a fuel stop so I added a bit.
-nB

MBeige · #15 09-28-2006, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DslBnz

Level and a "warm" engine should read between the two notches (MIN and MAX).

When cold, it may read considerably higher. Ideal time to change and check the oil is when the engine is fresh from a highway romp.

When I check mine cold, it's a 0.5cm above the full mark. When I check it warm, it's exactly at the full mark. The manual says to check it at warm and fill up as necessary. I believe this is the correct method.

When I used to check mine cold, I noticed my idle was at 1.5 always. But when I check the oil level when the engine has warmed up a few hours later, it will read much lower than it should be since I checked it cold at first and confirmed from there that it was full.

So, I changed my habit and now I check it warm. With that, my idle is now 1.75-1.8 and when I check it at warm, it's right at the full mark. My idle speed is still the same, 600rpm but the idle oil pressure went up to 1.75 in comparison to when I used to check it cold. Oil viscosity is also the same, 15w-40.