I just did my second oil change on my car. I put in 8 quarts of oil, but when I checked the dipstick, the level was right in between the full and low marks. I even wiped it stuck in back in to make sure I wasn/t seeing things. I pulled the dipstick out and the oil was definetly half way between low and full. Anyone have any ideas on this one? My car is a '80 300SD. Also, yes I waited a few minutes after shutting her off to check the oil. Does my car maybe require 8.5 quarts?

Well, did you change the oil filter? If so this could be the problem. Anyway, If you haven't had problems in the past, just top it up and go your merry way.

Most of the MB engines hold ~7.5 L (7.9 qts) in the pan and an additional .75 L (.79 qts)in the filter.

When you pour your 2 gallons of oil in after the oil change, the filter will fill when you run the engine. That's why you're about 1/2 a quart low on the dipstick. As long as your level is between the min and max marks you're good to go.

Yes I did change the filter. Mike, I figured that if the specs. call for 8 quarts at an oil change, that would be including the filter. I have a Haynes manual which is for the W123, but with the same engine. It says the oil capacity for turbo-charged engines (with filter) is 7.9 qts. With every other car I have owned, when I did an oil change and put in the "with filter" amount, the oil level was always at the top mark on the dipstick. So it seemed odd that this didn't happen with this car.

A suggestion for you. When you're changing oil on this engine, it is very easy to replace the drain plug, then pour one gallon in the crankcase, then fill the oil filter housing about two thirds full of oil, insert the filter and clamp it all down. Then pour in the rest of the oil.

This will minimize the dry time on start up while the filter housing is pumping full of oil.

Good luck,
Change oil hot and change oil often,

Larry, you are right about filling the oil filter housing. Actually, I did that when I did the first oil change. It's easier to dump the oil into the housing than throught the valve cover. For this oil change,and I don't know why but, I didn't put any oil in the filter housing. I know that if the oil level is between the marks on the dipstick, the oil level is fine. However, I am trying to gauge this engine's oil usage and it would be easier if from the get-go the oil level was on the full mark.

Last month I changed the oil and filter on our recently acquired 1995 E420. The manual calls for 8 1/2 quarts of oil with the filter change and that is what we put in. When I checked the oil after the car was in our garage over night, the reading was half way between the minimum and maximum mark. My conclusion was that Mercedes allowed for a quart variation, plus or minus, before they felt anything was out of spec. Since 8 1/2 quarts is what the manual says that is what I am going to follow.