How often do you check the engine oil level ?

I know someone will ask:
My personal vehicles average every 200 - 400 miles for checking the dipstick, with many variables.

.

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1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

Not often enough. That may change however, pending successful development of an oil level warning system. I built a coolant level warning system which is going through beta testing currently. The engine oil level warning will be a lot more challenging than the coolant warning I developed.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

The engine type is important data for this poll IMO.

My 617.952 I'd check weekly cause it dripped some and like most, consumed some oil. The 606.962 usually went 16-18K between changes and consistiently needed one qt added at 8-9k miles. I expect the Bluetec will be similar to the 606.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

When driving a known vehicle.....only at fill ups.


EDIT: I check the oil during a pre-purchase inspection. On a newly purchased car, I check it every time I drive it if I see drips underneath.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

This.

I am finally to this point on the 280E. I have not needed to add any oil yet... Knock on wood.

Depends on the vehicle. With my 420 I don't really need to check it between the 5k changes, it burns none and loses none. My 300SD I check around once a month, as it leaks some (minimal, less than 1 qt per 5,000 miles) My 601 I check around every 2,000 miles or so....it doesn't seem to lose/burn much of anything either. Wifes TDI can go 10k without needing to be touched.

Brother's E320 is tight as a drum too, he's put 3k on it since buying it and the oil level is unchanged and its transparent clean. Amazing. We decided in a 7-8k change for his.

__________________
-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)

I loves it I do - I checks it all the time! I smell it and sniff it and fondle it and loves it and loves it and loves it...

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Really just depends, Roy. Might be months when I only drive the car a couple hundred miles a month. Or, every day or two when running cross-country, or driving locally a few hundred miles a week. The answer is every few hundred miles for me, regardless whether my diesel car or diesel truck.

My 606 had a low oil indicator light, as does my 648 - so I'm covered w/o popping the hoods/bonnets. The 648 doesn't have a dipstick, so that is done in the instrument cluster check system.

I usually check it when I get fuel which is about every six days it doesn't burn or leak but its good habit. Ill fuel, pop hood, check, start car stand there and stare at running motor for a few seconds then get in and drive off. Almost once a week im under the hood poking at something so I usually pull the stick and look then too. I guess its a habit from working on old beater trucks. The other reason i look when fueling it to see if the filter has water in it. Clear filters are awesome.

I check it a few times over the OCI. My car does not burn / use oil, plus there is the low oil level warning light.

I do always check the level before a long trip.

-J

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

Oil is good, Oil is great, It's the fluid WE all appreciate!

I check it when I refuel, I check it when I open the hood for any reason, and I check it when I'm buying a car, and pretty much anytime I feel bored...

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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!

Hey Stretch, I think you are getting your sites on the internet mixed up again !! This is PP ~ all about diesel MB's, not the XXX site that you were chatting to that little blonde on!!!!!

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

Oil change on what date? How many miles and what weight?
For ever and ever so much debate!
Makes us peachers bloody irate.............

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1991 300d 2.5 Turbo OM602

Methinks Smeegle likes his oils he does...

__________________
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!

I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them, but here's a plan:

the important plan
is to verify
the oil is maintained in time.

__________________
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!