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 07-20-2008, 01:41 AM
Jeremy5848's Avatar
Registered Biodiesel User
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Sonoma Wine Country
Posts: 8,402
How much is 1 quart of oil on my dipstick?

From time to time we get questions from folks who want to know what the indicators on the engine oil dipstick are, how much oil to add, etc. To provide some visual clues, I decided to photograph the dipstick of my 1987 300D Turbo (W124, OM603), add exactly one quart of oil, and then photograph it again. I took an additional photo after returning from the NorCal Diesel Drive.



As expected, it looks like the range between the "MIN" and "MAX" marks is about 2 quarts. It was hard to get a good picture of the dipstick with a hot engine because the oil kept wanting to run off of the dipstick. This is non-synthetic oil, BTW -- Chevron Delo-400 15W-40.

Does Mercedes use this two-quart range on all of its engine dipsticks? Even gassers?

Jeremy

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Last edited by whunter; 11-25-2011 at 12:32 AM. Reason: attached picture
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-20-2008, 01:42 AM
pawoSD's Avatar
Dieselsüchtiger
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 15,438
No.....on the 617 diesel the distance between the min and max indents on the stick are approximately 1 quart.....
__________________
-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
  #3  
Old 07-20-2008, 02:34 AM
Cervan's Avatar
Crazy mechanic.
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: olympia washington
Posts: 1,809
looks like you need another half a quart?
__________________
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-20-2008, 04:14 AM
ForcedInduction
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
One quart is between the marks. You might find that you loose less oil if you maintain the level midway between the marks instead of right at the top notch.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-20-2008, 05:11 AM
Cervan's Avatar
Crazy mechanic.
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: olympia washington
Posts: 1,809
Quote:
Originally Posted by ForcedInduction View Post
One quart is between the marks. You might find that you loose less oil if you maintain the level midway between the marks instead of right at the top notch.
I have heard this but i havent found this to be true with my 616.. even if i overfill it by a quarter inch. it wont burn it off..
__________________
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

As long as they would add one additional commandment for you to keep thy religion to thyself.
George Carlin (Wonder where he is now..)

1981 240d (engine donor 1983 240d) recently rebuilt engine hurray! - No more.. fought a tree and the tree won.

pearl black 1983 240d 4speed (Converted!@$$%) atleast the tranny was rebuilt.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-20-2008, 12:55 PM
Jeremy5848's Avatar
Registered Biodiesel User
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Sonoma Wine Country
Posts: 8,402
The oil is due to be changed in another thousand miles anyway.
__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-20-2008, 03:25 PM
280EZRider's Avatar
No Dumping
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Southern Oregon Valley
Posts: 1,599
The most accurate oil-level check is to let the car set overnight, level ground, and check the level next morning.

To know the accurate 1-qt-down mark, you'll need to add the new oil during change, minus one quart and the filter-amount, and then let it set overnight and check it in the morning. (Obviously a different method from the AT fluid check, which has to checked at op temp).
__________________

Don't Chrome them; polish them
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-20-2008, 03:58 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Walnut Creek, CA & 1,150 miles S of Key West
Posts: 4,874
My 99 uses the same dip stick. Its manual says the upper and lower fill marks represents 2L, or 2.1 qts.

The tech forum techs claim oil is to be checked at operating temp immediately after shuting off.
__________________
Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-20-2008, 04:55 PM
280EZRider's Avatar
No Dumping
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Southern Oregon Valley
Posts: 1,599
Quote:
Originally Posted by TMAllison View Post
The tech forum techs claim oil is to be checked at operating temp immediately after shuting off.
I suggest checking the oil as per the forum and then again after the car has set overnight. I think you'll find that gravity is a slow force inside an engine, especially when oil can find cozy places in a head.

Good seeing you yesterday!
__________________

Don't Chrome them; polish them
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-20-2008, 05:23 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 18,350
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boretown Merced View Post
Has anyone here experienced constant inconsistent readings on the dipstick for an OM617?
I used to get very inconsistent readings on the 616 in my 307d.
__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 07-20-2008, 05:45 PM
Hatterasguy's Avatar
Zero
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Milford, CT
Posts: 19,318
On the 603 and AFAIK the 606 it takes two quarts to go from min to max.

Everyone says your supposed to keep it in the middle.
__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 07-20-2008, 05:46 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Walnut Creek, CA & 1,150 miles S of Key West
Posts: 4,874
Quote:
Originally Posted by 280EZRider View Post
I think you'll find that gravity is a slow force inside an engine, especially when oil can find cozy places in a head.

Good seeing you yesterday!
That was the point; the fill level at the sump is engineered to be filled with that oil pumped up there doing its job.

Filling and then checking cold 24hrs later would provide for a false full reading; in addition to being a highly impractical method for checking the fill.

I enjoyed meeting you as well; your 77 was hands down the nicest condition car there on a age adjusted basis IMO and was cleaner than most on a non adjusted basis too.
__________________
Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 07-20-2008, 05:53 PM
sd300td's Avatar
huh?
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,116
Quote:
Originally Posted by pawoSD View Post
No.....on the 617 diesel the distance between the min and max indents on the stick are approximately 1 quart.....
I don't think his engine is a om617. But good to know regardless.
__________________
1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 07-20-2008, 10:28 PM
pawoSD's Avatar
Dieselsüchtiger
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 15,438
Quote:
Originally Posted by sd300td View Post
I don't think his engine is a om617. But good to know regardless.
I only mentioned that because he asked if it was the same for all diesels...


I get pretty consistent readings on our cars....in fact, I've found that if they are filled at or ever so slightly above max, they don't seem to loose it as fast. Probably all in my head. Driving slower seems to result in less oil consumption too.
__________________
-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
  #15  
Old 07-21-2008, 01:11 AM
ForcedInduction
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Quote:
The most accurate oil-level check is to let the car set overnight, level ground, and check the level next morning.
No, the oil should not be checked with the engine cold. It must be checked with the engine at full operating temperature and 10 minutes after it has been shut off to get an accurate reading.

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 08:48 PM.


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