Why does my 300e start harder when oil level not at max?
 

My 300e uses a little oil, it probably needs the front cam cover resealed at some point, but its only like a quart every 1500 or so. Usually I keep an eye on the level and don't let it drop below 3/4ths, but I let it drop from max to halfway between min and max and the car got quite a bit harder to start...i filled it back up and its MUCH better. its running 10w30 valvoline. It kinda freaked me out that I could maybe have been hurtin my baby by letting it drop, but i thought that was an acceptable level. Can someone tell me why this happens, and more importantly if it was bad for the car? Thanks for your input
Scott

Old world MB lore.... they use more oil fully topped than when running say, 1/2 qt down.... so lotsa owners run their cars 1/4 or 1/2 below the top to accomodate engine oil burning characteristics - it shouldnt hurt to run the engine between the grooves on the dipstik.

Regarding starting problems with 10-30 (dino?) Valvoline, maybe one of the engineers on this board can explain how lesser quantities of oil in crankcase might become more dense (gelling?) under cold Colorado temperatures than would greater amounts. With about 7 qt capacity, you are running it approx. 15% down, one quart low.

<edit: and give my regards to the flat-irons, also Tulagi's, the annual Red Zinger bicycle race through Boulder Canyon, and the Dark Horse Saloon, opposite Williams Village where I once tended bar..... CU class of '79 here, if i had not transfered after 2 years of arts and parties.

Hmm...idk why i posted this in the diesel forum...it must be late...oh well. Thanks for the advise dieseldog...i appreciate it...but bad news for ya...Tulagis just got shut down last couple months...its a big uproar around here...a lot of good times that will be missed.