If you have to change the valve cover gasket it is easier than the oil pan.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

If true, the dipstick would always read 3/4 quart high when measured 10 minutes after shutdown. The fact that it never reads high is evidence that the 10% figure is hugely inflated. I could research it if warranted.........

In most cases, the oil will appear low when checked one minute after shutdown due to lack of complete draining from the head. The effect of the increased oil temperature is thereby concluded to be minimal.

It is, most definitiley, an extreme example. For it to happen, the volume of oil would have to have been measured at the factory at just under 15* C. Since I have no idea what they measure the volume at (sneaky #$%#^), I claim that it is possible for the oil to expand by 10% if it reaches 140*C. I found one TCE value for oil that allowed this expansion. I cannot make great claims with it since I have no data for it. I did find an Excel spread on a lubricant company's website (in their forums, but I doubt they would allow erroneous info to remain, true?) for 15w-40 along those temperature lines. Unfortunately, that math also assumes the strange circumstances that I mentioned. I will post the link again.

As you are well aware, the math for thermal expansion is quite elementary.... if you have the right data. Perhaps with your resources you can finally end this. The biggest problem I encountered was the vast gradient in TCE values for oil due to the range of additives and the synth / dino issue.

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http://forums.noria.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/616604995/m/624100436

there was another one with a range of TCE values.. but it is eluding me at the moment.

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Brian,

You may also be neglecting the level at which oil sits when it is full. If it is still within the boundaries of the lower pan, then the expansion will manifest linearly on the dipstick. If, when 'full' it rests at the upper limit of the pan, expansion occurs into a much wider region.

Recall the TSB for the OM 603 about proper oil level. Why do think that was released? Just an assumption. But it required that an entire quart be removed from the full oil capacity.


...its not really a full quart - its .8 of a quart. I am being dramatic to enforce its plausibility.

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ok, it looks as if I have to disconnect and unscrew a bunch of things apart from just the cover bolts. Hopefully I can put them back where they are supposed to be. I noticed the valve adjustment instructions on dieselgiant and am tempted to do it and scared I'll screw it up.

Dont be afraid you'll mess up. Its really an easy job. The first thing you should do is to take a few pictures with a digital camera of all the linkages, bowden cable, and breather hose that you will need to remove to get to the valve cover. I did this when I did my last valve adjustment and it sure made it very easy to put back together.

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'83 300D 198,000mi Howard
'03 Saturn Vue CVT 75,000mi(wifeys)