Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-01-2007, 11:12 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Southeast
Posts: 1,848
When's the proper time to check your oil?

Correct me if I'm wrong...

You're supposed to check your oil when your car has been turned off and parked for a while, on a flat surface. Letting it sit for a 1/2 hour or so allows the oil to drain out of the engine and into the oil pan so you get a correct oil reading, right?

The reason I'm asking is, I was driving around last week, haven't really checked my oil since the last oil change 4,000 miles ago, and I got the red idiot light that came on, on the dash, saying the engine was low on oil.

Thanks,

Jeff 1991 300d, 111k

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-01-2007, 11:27 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 154
You are quite right, though I think ten minutes is usually enough of a wait.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-01-2007, 11:44 PM
F18 F18 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 677
Usually 10-15 minutes is enough time to get hot oil drained back down into the pan/sump. Personally I would check oil at least once a week......even new cars will use a quart of oil between oil change intervals......we are talking about aging MBs that are 10-20 years old here.
__________________
FRED

Daily Driver: 98 E300TD 199K
Hobby Car: 69 Austin Mini
Past Diesels: 84 300SD, 312K
87 300SDL, 251K
94 Chev. K-1500 6.5Ltr.TD, 373K
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-01-2007, 11:48 PM
pawoSD's Avatar
Dieselsüchtiger
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 15,438
Yep, depending on how far I drive in a week I check it every 1-2 weeks....mine uses about 1.5qts per 5000 miles.
__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-02-2007, 03:14 AM
ForcedInduction
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
In a perfect world, every day before you start the engine.

Since it's not a perfect world, I usually check mine every two weeks when I get fuel.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-02-2007, 04:11 AM
MBeige's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SoCal
Posts: 3,746
Quote:
Originally Posted by ForcedInduction View Post
In a perfect world, every day before you start the engine.

Since it's not a perfect world, I usually check mine every two weeks when I get fuel.
But before you start the engine all the oil is in the pan. It would therefore read higher than it should be.

Oil level should be checked with the engine at operating temp on flat ground, and after shutting it off for a few minutes. It's in the owner's manual.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-02-2007, 11:46 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Out in the Boonies of Hot, Dry, Dusty, Windy Nevada
Posts: 9,652
I always check mine in the morning before I start the eng. unless it`s pouring down rain. when we are on a trip hammering down the road, I always check after potty stops, fuel, coffee etc. It`s also gives you an oppertunity to do a visual under the hood for other problems.
Just a good habit, maybe it`s just habit from work when I was an equipment operator.
I hammered this into my daughter when she was learning to drive. forget to check the oil? then car doesn`t go anywhere. But DAD!! you don`t understand!! too bad. now she is 34 and really on top of her maintenance
she is now more in tune with what BS the shops are trying to do to her.

Charlie
__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-02-2007, 12:40 PM
vstech's Avatar
DD MOD, HVAC,MCP,Mac,GMAC
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mount Holly, NC
Posts: 26,835
Quote:
Originally Posted by charmalu View Post
I hammered this into my daughter when she was learning to drive. forget to check the oil? then car doesn`t go anywhere. But DAD!! you don`t understand!! too bad. now she is 34 and really on top of her maintenance
she is now more in tune with what BS the shops are trying to do to her.

Charlie
SWEET!!!
I gotta enforce this policy at my house! wifey has killed 2 cars by not checking the oil... arrrgh! of course, this will mean I gotta go out and check the stuff each day myself..... but the little girl can start out right!
__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-02-2007, 02:13 PM
Magoo's Avatar
Grease Collector
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 333
Quote:
Originally Posted by charmalu View Post
I always check mine in the morning before I start the eng. unless it`s pouring down rain. when we are on a trip hammering down the road, I always check after potty stops, fuel, coffee etc. It`s also gives you an oppertunity to do a visual under the hood for other problems.
Just a good habit, maybe it`s just habit from work when I was an equipment operator.
I hammered this into my daughter when she was learning to drive. forget to check the oil? then car doesn`t go anywhere. But DAD!! you don`t understand!! too bad. now she is 34 and really on top of her maintenance
she is now more in tune with what BS the shops are trying to do to her.

Charlie

Note to self...
__________________
'83 300D Turrrbo 295K miles
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-02-2007, 08:16 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 463
Not trying to hijack the thread--this is somewhat related. Is it true that sometimes there are "bubbles" that can cause a false reading. It seems to happen to me. I always check four or five times a week at operating temp to make sure the oil cooler is full and is doing its thing, and certainly with car at level. But lately, I have been getting inconsistent readings on the dipstick. Not by much--maybe 3 or 4 mm on the stick, but it's aggrevating because I'd really like to know how much oil if any I'm using between oil changes. BTW, how low do you have to go before the light on the dash comes on?
__________________

1998 E300D, 287k, barely broken in.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 10-02-2007, 08:20 PM
MBeige's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SoCal
Posts: 3,746
I keep a rag in the engine compartment just to wipe off the oil on the dipstick, dip it again and measure from there. That way you can get a clean slate to start with rather than just base it on the current measurement which will probably be off.

I used to check my oil in the morning then I found out that if the oil in a cold engine was at the max line, then it will probably be a half a centimeter low (or less) when I check the oil again when it's warmed up. So if you check it in the morning, make sure it's just a few millimeters higher than the max reading when it's cold (maybe up to half a centimeter) then from there you'll get a warm reading of just at max or slightly below.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 10-02-2007, 08:42 PM
94mgm's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 172
Quote:
SWEET!!!
I gotta enforce this policy at my house! wifey has killed 2 cars by not checking the oil... arrrgh! of course, this will mean I gotta go out and check the stuff each day myself..... but the little girl can start out right!
It is YOUR resposibility as a husband to check her oil! BTW i check everytime i get fuel which is every 5 days.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 10-02-2007, 08:59 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,263
Quote:
Originally Posted by MBeige View Post
But before you start the engine all the oil is in the pan. It would therefore read higher than it should be.

Oil level should be checked with the engine at operating temp on flat ground, and after shutting it off for a few minutes. It's in the owner's manual.
This is exactly what my manual says. It reads a bit high after sitting overnight, but the manual doesn't say to check it then.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 10-02-2007, 09:39 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Sunrise, FL
Posts: 2,053
Quote:
Originally Posted by 94mgm View Post
It is YOUR resposibility as a husband to check her oil!
NOT GOING THERE

MUST RESIST

NOOO DON"T DO IT
__________________
81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 10-02-2007, 09:43 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: CT, USA
Posts: 472
3:30 AM is the proper time to check your oil. But, that means that only Carramow has proper oil readings.

I apologize in advance for the stupidity of this post.

Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:35 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page