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 09-12-2018, 07:22 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Former New Jersey resident, transplanted to Atlanta
Posts: 465
2005 E320 CDI oil level message while driving

Hi guys

My wife has been using my 2005 E320 CDI while I am repairing her 1999 E200D

While driving on the highway a red message displayed briefly “ Reduce engine oil level OR reduced engine oil level”.

She is as unable to discern whether it said reduce as in remove done if the engine oil OR if it stated Reduced engine oil meaning that the oil was low,

That said, I changed my own oil about four months ago and have not until yesterday receive and oil level alerts.

Now, I attempted to research what the oil level should be if using a dipstick and found varying opinions. So prior to draining the old oil I used a curtain rod to measure the existing oil level and marked it at approximately 6 1/2 inches.

This morning prior to rushing off to work I did the automatic oil measuring procedure that displays on the dash and it said ok.

Nevertheless, my intuition told me to add about a quart and so I did,

She drove the car today, received the same message in red and after pushing the reset button later received 3 of the same message but this time in white.

I got home tonight, removed the cover and used my homemade dipstick that was previously marked st about 6 1/2 inches and in my opinion it it over an inch lower which should equate to at least a quart of oil low,.

My common sense tells me based upon the dipstick reading that the oil is a bit low despite what the car is stating.

I gind it hard to believe that the oil level sensor is telling me to remove oil when it appears to be lower on my homemade dipstick

Any advice Wilber greatly appreciated

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-12-2018, 07:28 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Barrington, RI
Posts: 5,874
The message is REDUCE engine oil, as in your level is too high.

Do you know how to measure the oil level (i.e. the actual numerical value) via instrument cluster? If so, let us know what the value is. If not, I can tell you how to do so.

FYI on my CDI my reading is 7.5 quarts after having been brought to operating temp and then sitting for three hours.
__________________
14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-12-2018, 07:54 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Former New Jersey resident, transplanted to Atlanta
Posts: 465
Never noticed if the exact value was displayed in numbers, what I did see is that it said the level is ok

So, I suspect that my question is what numerical value is normal and how might I see the current value?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-12-2018, 07:57 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Former New Jersey resident, transplanted to Atlanta
Posts: 465
Also, should there be a measurement that can be used for a dipstick???.... How would I know that the system is malfunctioning and not properly reporting the oil level?

I would not want to reduce the oil and risk damaging my engine

Also, for the last four moths since I changed the oil this message hadn’t displayed, so how could the oil level have gone up since the last oil change?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-12-2018, 08:39 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Barrington, RI
Posts: 5,874
From memory....when looking at outside temp, turn key to position 1....click button on left three times, 12.x v will display....arrow up or down to oil measurement screen....turn key to position 2. After a few seconds level will display.

Anywhere in the 6.8 to 7.5 range should be fine.

There is an oil measurement tool you can buy if you have questions about the accuracy of the computer reading.
__________________
14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-12-2018, 09:07 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Greater Metropolitan Beaverdam VA
Posts: 2,877
Your "intuition" was wrong when it told you to add oil.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-13-2018, 08:34 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Former New Jersey resident, transplanted to Atlanta
Posts: 465
Yes Rocky, my intuition was really wrong...…. Would not be the first time!!

I attempted several tried to get the actually quarts value via the display, I was able to get to the point where it showed "Quarts _ _ " but once I hit most left "square windows symbol looking button" it would only display the following "Service Overdue 11,634 miles".

I used my topsider oil changer and removed approximately a quart and a half.

Any suggestions???
__________________
Currently Driving
2006 E320 CDI
1999 E300 Turbo Diesl
2002 ML500
1995 E320 Station Wagon


MBs I've owned
1997 E320 Assassinated by Pine Tree
1987 300E Wife Killed Engine
1981 300D Stretch Limo Total Loss
1970 250 Coupe 212,000 mi.
1974 450sel 184,000 mi.
1974 240D 377,000 mi.
1977 300D 204, 000 mi.
1979 280se God Only Knows!
1983 240D 130,000 mi.
1972 220D 280,000 mi.
1983 300SD 244,000 mi.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-13-2018, 08:37 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Barrington, RI
Posts: 5,874
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigdaddybenz View Post
Yes Rocky, my intuition was really wrong...…. Would not be the first time!!

I attempted several tried to get the actually quarts value via the display, I was able to get to the point where it showed "Quarts _ _ " but once I hit most left "square windows symbol looking button" it would only display the following "Service Overdue 11,634 miles".

I used my topsider oil changer and removed approximately a quart and a half.

Any suggestions???
After you see Quarts __, you need to turn the key to Position 2...don't push the button anymore.

If you want to PM your cell number, I will make a video and text it to you.
__________________
14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 09-13-2018, 08:43 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Barrington, RI
Posts: 5,874
Just saw your comment about the red message....it must have been significantly overfilled.

I wouldn't monkey around with your curtain rod anymore...just use the computer to measure the oil.
__________________
14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 09-23-2018, 05:27 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Oberlin, OH
Posts: 641
My E320 CDI has gone 9k miles since last oil change. It was reading 6.5 quarts and I was getting no low oil warning and standard oil ck. reading said "level OK". I suspect 6.5 quarts may be close to low level and 7.5 quarts may be full level.

I am going to drive to 10k before next oil change so I added 0.5 quarts. I am using the new 0w 40 M1 designated "FS".
__________________
-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 09-24-2018, 05:28 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Barrington, RI
Posts: 5,874
Quote:
Originally Posted by chronometers View Post
My E320 CDI has gone 9k miles since last oil change. It was reading 6.5 quarts and I was getting no low oil warning and standard oil ck. reading said "level OK". I suspect 6.5 quarts may be close to low level and 7.5 quarts may be full level.

I am going to drive to 10k before next oil change so I added 0.5 quarts. I am using the new 0w 40 M1 designated "FS".
I'm sure you're correct. When I changed my oil, it was slightly overfilled. When I removed a very small amount, it reads 7.4 or 7.5.
__________________
14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 09-24-2018, 03:52 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Oberlin, OH
Posts: 641
It is interesting that MB thought providing "OK", "add oil", "remove oil" was the only information the average driver really needed.

I am estimating my vehicle lost about .7-1 quart of oil over last 9k miles. I know I have a small leak around the filler opening assembly.....the gasket that seals that area. Some of my oil loss is from there.

__________________
-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991
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 08:59 AM.


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