Which is the correct reading on my dipstick? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pj67coll · #16 09-06-2015, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mannys9130

I found on my 190 that if I wipe the dipstick, insert it, and pull it out quickly (like right away) the measurements disagree side to side. Putting it back in, counting to 5 slowly, pulling it out, and holding it parallel to the ground made both sides very close.

What I do is pull the stick, clean it then insert and remove after a second, and the sides disagree. So I tried your method of counting to five and then pulling it, same thing. So then wiped it and re-inserted, counted to ten, pulled it, same thing. No change on my car, the sides of the dipstick give the same unequal reading. Very odd.

- Peter.

dieselbenz1 · #17 09-06-2015, 04:07 PM

Very odd indeed!
Do you wait 10 minutes after the engine has been shut down and are you parked on level ground?

mannys9130 · #18 09-06-2015, 06:14 PM

For shiggles you should make sure your car and driveway are level. This is odd.

tyl604 · #19 09-06-2015, 06:59 PM

Could it be that the dipstick is being pushed over to the side when it hits the oil pan? So it is in the oil on one side and is pushed against a wall or something on the other side? This sounds a lot like the earlier comment to see if there was a large dent in the oil pan.

pj67coll · #20 09-07-2015, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyl604

Could it be that the dipstick is being pushed over to the side when it hits the oil pan? So it is in the oil on one side and is pushed against a wall or something on the other side? This sounds a lot like the earlier comment to see if there was a large dent in the oil pan.

The phenomenon is the same wether the engine is hot or cold, has just been shut down, or ten minutes later or, in the case of the pictures I took, the the next morning.

A dent in the pan affecting the dipstick would make sense, except as I said. I have been under there to look and couldn't see any sign of one.

- Peter.

neversayDIEsel · #21 09-07-2015, 12:27 AM

I've always assumed when this happens on a car, it's because the side of the dip stick has dragged against the inside of the tube on the way out, rubbing off the oil... I always go by the highest side, clearly the oil was high enough to reach that mark.

MBeige · #22 09-07-2015, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

The phenomenon is the same wether the engine is hot or cold, has just been shut down, or ten minutes later or, in the case of the pictures I took, the the next morning.

A dent in the pan affecting the dipstick would make sense, except as I said. I have been under there to look and couldn't see any sign of one.

- Peter.

Peter, is the dipstick coated unevenly with any solvent/substance that would prevent the oil from adhering to the metal? I find it truly strange to be consistently inconsistent when reading both sides.

What happens if you flip the dipstick 180 degrees, and take a reading the same way you do? Do the readings stay on the same side or do the readings also flip sides?

dieselbenz1 · #23 09-07-2015, 08:27 AM

Maybe try inserting 1/4 inch poly tubing several inches longer than the dip stick. Mark the top, seal the top with your thumb and check. It would be real eerie if the inside of the tube looks like your dip stick.

On another topic for those cars without a dipstick which rely on a sensor if the sensor goes out of calibration how would one ever realize it?

tyl604 · #24 09-07-2015, 09:42 AM

I also wondered about cleaning the dipstick so that any coating would be removed.

pj67coll · #25 09-07-2015, 01:38 PM

There's no coating on it I can see and I'm not sure how I could clean it to be sure. As for the other comments. I take these levels in my garage. It's level. I, might try to use some poly tubing as suggested to see what effect that has. It's an interesting idea.

- Peter.

tyl604 · #26 09-07-2015, 05:53 PM

Is the dipstick bent? Or where it enters the pan - if there is some kind of fitting there, could the fitting be on sideways, backwards or otherwise be bent??

pj67coll · #27 09-08-2015, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyl604

Is the dipstick bent? Or where it enters the pan - if there is some kind of fitting there, could the fitting be on sideways, backwards or otherwise be bent??

Stick is straight. I'm going to give it another close look this weekend and see if I can find anything.

- Peter.

Maxbumpo · #28 09-09-2015, 11:34 AM

Frequent topping up may lead to excessive oil consumption. I'd recommend that Peter let the oil level drop to the add mark (the bottom mark) and then only add 1 qt of oil, which should bring the level back to the mid-point.

I also agree with checking that the red-handle dip stick is correct. Let me see if I can find anything...

Here is a quote from the late Dr. Marshall Booth on the topic:

-------------------------------------------------------------------
In November 1995 Mercedes issued Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 00/57A to emphasize that oil level should NEVER exceed the MAX mark, should ideally be midway between the marks on the dipstick and should not be frequently topped up (add oil ONLY when required - when it drops to the ADD mark). This applies to ALL Mercedes engines.

For most models designed/released after 1995, the problem was eliminated by eliminating the dipstick and having an ADD warning appear when the level reaches the ADD point.

Earlier (in 1991) Mercedes retroactively reduced the recommended oil quantity (from what was listed in the owner's manuals and workshop manuals) in ALL OM60x diesel engines by half a liter (1 pint) in TSB 00/86a, 01/21a.

……

Mercedes has made it abundantly clear that the optimum level for the oil is about midway between ADD and MAX. Experience has shown that in MOST Mercedes engines (gasoline AND diesel even dating back to the '50s), oil consumption when the oil level is at/near the MAX mark is MUCH greater (sometimes 2-3X) than when the oil level is lower (between the ADD mark and midway toward MAX). The MAX mark should be just that - the MAXIMUM amount of oil that should EVER be in the engine. The MIN or ADD mark should be when it's appropriate to add additional oil to the engine - and then only enough to move the level to the midpoint on the dipstick.

Mercedes has cautioned (TSB 00/57 dated 11/95 and referring to ALL models) that "...the customer should refrain from frequently 'topping off' the engine oil."

They further state that "Ideally, the engine oil level should be around halfway between the MAX and MIN marks on the oil dipstick."

Mercedes has NEVER addressed the fact that if the oil level is brought to the MAX
mark even a few hours after shutting the engine down when using Mobil 1 engine oil (or other group IV/V synthetic oil blends), the engine will be frequently be overfilled by between 1/2 and 1 qt after the oil has drained into the pan! This is NOT an issue using conventional oils, but there are almost NO conventional oils that meet the highest recommendation for engine oils recommended for use in Mercedes engines. The ONLY way to insure that the oil level is not TOO high when using Mobil 1 oils seems to be by checking the level in the sump after the engine has ben idle for at least 6-8 hours. Once it's started, somewhere between a pt and a qt will NOT be measure using the dipstick (but will be within the engine lubricating it - the oil in the pan is NOT lubricating the engine). This apparently is a characteristic of group IV/V synthetic oils and will seldom be evident using the cheaper, inferior and more common group III "synthetics."

Marshall
__________________
Marshall Booth
"der Dieseling Doktor"
'87 300TD, '84 190D 2.2, '85 190D 2.0, '87 190D 2.5 turbo

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Maxbumpo · #29 09-09-2015, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Dipstick handle is red, as was my previous I think. What should it be?

- Peter.

According to the 1993 version of maintenance job 0101, it should be red.

ah-kay · #30 09-09-2015, 11:56 AM

I read this thread with interest. You have enough oil as long as it is between the min and max mark. Nothing will hurt if the engine is over-filled a tad or even run low a lad. This is not space shuttle. There are other important issues to be concerned about in an old car.

I always measure the oil the next morning after the car has been sitting for 1 night to let all the oil drip back into the sump. The only thing I find annoying is the oil warning light on the OM603 engine comes on way too early. Your car don't have an oil warning light so just keep an eye on the oil every week.

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