Dumb question. Are you measuring "cold" with engine running or off? With engine off my 300SDL shows fluid way above top mark, but correct level while running. It scared me first time I looked at it with engine off.

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Joe Myers

'83 300D (light blue)
'82 300TD (off white - parked)
'87 300SDL (silver)

'75 300D (black - sold)
'76 300D (beige - totaled by pizza delivery car)
'82 300D (metalic blue) sold

Whats up H-town...My indy tried to tackle the same job this past weekend, only to find had the wrong filter and gasket, (bought from good MB online store) sales guy on phomne swore it was right part after the fact BLAH!

Is your pan the 4 boly one with the 1 hole and little neck on the filter?

We decided to put the pan back on and refill with some extra on hand fluid(so i could get around) woke up next day river of fluid in driveway..gasket must have left a small piece that was brittle..SIGH..Today I am going to dealer to get the damn right part....

I was measuring the fluid cold with the engine off. Do you think I ought to measure the level cold, but with the engine running for about 2 mins?

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

You cannot measure it with the engine not running. The results are meaningless. The cold level when running will be a bit lower than the level when hot........maybe 3/8" below the min line.........nothing to be concerned about.

Owners manual says to check dipstick while engine is running.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

I'm trying to measure the cold level, which is 10mm below the min mark.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

10mm=.393" below the low mark.

Or 1cm.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

.........the point is that it's normal.........you're chasing a "non-issue".........