3 QUARTS LOW!!! could there be damage?
 

Okay, after detailing our 1985 380SL with 130K miles today, I drove it around. I notice a little bit of blue smoke on the startup at one light. So I checked the dipstick, a tiny bit of oil was on the tip.

I added THREE quarts before it was up to the normal level!!! It seems to be driving fine, but...

My question is... before the new oil was added, could I have done damage driving the car when it is 3 quarts low?

PLEASE your help is greatly appreciated, I am just really concerned.

Eric

I doubt it hurt anything and the smoke at start-up is a sign of worn valve guide seals. Typical with that kind of mileage and age.

What's the oil capacity w/filter? I'm guessing you weren't even half-way low.

Don't know how many quarts of oil your particular engine calls for, but a lot of Benz engines call for 7 or 8 quarts. I seriously doubt you did any damage at all as these cars will probably run on 2 or 3 quarts.

Yeah, it's in your owner's manual. Nice SL BTW!

How was your oil pressure while you were 3 quarts down?

Rick, i was watching it. It was up at 3 unless i was decelerating (sp?). Then it would drop to just above 2.

I think she's okay. I HOPE she is at least.

eric

Why wasn't your oil light coming on? You need to check that out.

maheath, is there even an oil light on an '85 380SL?

Check owners man for oil light (I don' t recall). Maybe it wasn't low enough to trigger the light. Also, the oil pressure gauge will drop when the oil is hot and less viscous. It should be pegged when the revs are up, but when you stop at light and the motor is hot, it'll drop some. Oil pressure and amount of oil aren't directly correlated. You could have that baby topped off and run at 1.5 bar with the revs up -- eg bad oil pressure.

Thanks Ted!

I know that the 450SL takes 9.5 quarts...