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  #1  
Old 11-14-2005, 12:35 PM
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Unhappy Did my maintenance person miss this, too?

Hi there, I'm new to this forum, and know nothing about cars, so I would really appreciate some feedback.

I have an '02 C230K Coupe with 61K on it. I took my car in for my first service b 3 months/2,100 miles ago. Last week a mechanic friend of mine told me I needed an oil change and pulled out the dipstick on my c230 and his a4. My oil was this seperated black/transparent black and his was this smooth honey color. I've done a bit of research and while some people say black is bad some people are saying that it's normal on their cars for the oil to be black so I'm confused. I have had some issues with the service dept. at mbaustin and don't want to look like a fool if I take it in and they say that's normal

Also, my cigarette lighter/car charger is not working. I took my phone charger out and when I put it back in, it felt kinda loose and wouldn't turn on. So I put the lighter back in and pressed it to see if it would pop back up, but now it's stuck and it's not heating up.

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  #2  
Old 11-14-2005, 01:17 PM
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Let's see-

First, Mercedes diesels the oil is black. My M103 engined 86' 300E has honey colored oil at every change. It has 90,000 miles on it now and it has gotten 3-5,000 mile oil changes or 6 months since new. My diesel is black after the first drive around the block. You cannot get all the old oil out so the liter or two remaining mixes and everything becomes black.

I'd guess you are either going with an extended oil change interval, or perhaps the oil was not changed last time. There have been dealers and independants which charge for oil and filter change- and only do part of the oil change or none. Some mark their filters and inspect to see if the filter was replaced before leaving...

Oil changes are very easy with an oil extractor. I would challenge you to start changing your own oil. Use Mobil-1 15W50 , 0W40 or 5W40 oil. I'd change it now and then again maybe at 3,000 miles or so. Get to 70,000 miles and get it on a program of 7,500 miles unless you are doing heavy city driving only- then perhaps 5,000 miles.

Michael
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  #3  
Old 11-14-2005, 02:02 PM
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Hi Michael, thanks for your reply. I don't believe my C230 is deisel, so it's safe to assume they skipped the oil change. Can't this damage my car?
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  #4  
Old 11-14-2005, 03:18 PM
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If you want to get into...

Take an oil sample and send it to the laboratory. Then go back to the dealership and raise hell.

I'd simply start changing my own oil- very easy.


Michael

if the oil is synthetic, I'd guess you could still be OK. I'd probably do a few Mobil-1 oil changes close together- say 3,000 miles. THe additive package will gently clean the engine out.
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  #5  
Old 11-14-2005, 08:09 PM
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on my 1998 C230, I do oil changes every 4K or so miles and the oil is always honey colored on the dipstick.

I didn't think your `02 C230k has a dipstick.
My `02 C with a V-6 does not. But your four may.
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  #6  
Old 11-14-2005, 08:10 PM
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continued from above.

I use Mobil 1 synthetic OW-40
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  #7  
Old 11-14-2005, 09:37 PM
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If you are using the recommended synthetic oil (Mobil 1) then it will be darker than conventional dino oil. It's the nature of synthetic oil to turn darker sooner than conventional oil. Considering that you cannot use the color of the oil to make judgments on. The best thing to do is open your oil cap and look for the presence of sludge. Look down into the engine, if the parts are still metal looking it's good. If maintenance has been lacking then the metal parts will have a reddish brown buildup. Consider having an engine flush done if you find the latter.
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  #8  
Old 11-14-2005, 10:02 PM
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I would belive a car with a Kompressor, which I think is what you have will get the oil darker faster than most cars. I think they would be more like a deisel having more blow by due to high compression or in the case of the kompressor boost. I havent worked on one of these so I cant be sure. But I have changed the oil on many MB diesels and after starting the car once you usually couldent even tell the oil was changed by the color.

I would feel the oil with my fingers. If it feels like it has reasonable viscosity it should be OK. But if you are in doubt, have it changed there the next time and check it imidiatly after the oil change. Then check agian after about the same milage you have now and see how the oil reacts. If it turns black in the same amount of time then they probably did it right.

John Roncallo
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  #9  
Old 11-14-2005, 11:38 PM
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Location: Ontario, Canada
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesreen
Also, my cigarette lighter/car charger is not working. I took my phone charger out and when I put it back in, it felt kinda loose and wouldn't turn on. So I put the lighter back in and pressed it to see if it would pop back up, but now it's stuck and it's not heating up.
Push in the cigarette lighter, turn the ignition on ( or start the engine ) & see if it will pop out then, after a few seconds.
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  #10  
Old 11-15-2005, 12:00 AM
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First for your cigarette lighter,your fuse is probally blows,some cell chargers blow fuses.Than for your oil change,supposingly how long did you drive beteen the last oil changes.If it was 14,000 km than the black oil is totally normal.But it kills your engine,oil in your engine is like blood in your vains..With out it u die,so the same with engine oil if ytou do those 14 k oil changes it will kill your engine.First what Mickel says is true,the stealership go make u pay for stuff that has never been done.If you are going to do your own oil changes stay away from the 0 weight oils,we use Motul 5/40 witch is a good oil and if you are using the synthetic wich should be used ,do not go the 14,000 km before the next one.We always do it 10,000km and if none synthetic oil is used go 5,000km and no more.So do not wait till the servise light comes on for the next servise,mark it down yourself and go for the 10 k all the time.Another thing you shoud do to at this milage is to replace the tranny oil if you have the automatic.I know the oil is not cheap but it will save you money in the long run
Harald
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  #11  
Old 11-16-2005, 01:11 PM
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I agree with Harald 100%..

Changing the trans fluid is a real good thing.



Michael
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  #12  
Old 11-16-2005, 08:33 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Pasadena, Ca.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by duxthe1
If you are using the recommended synthetic oil (Mobil 1) then it will be darker than conventional dino oil. It's the nature of synthetic oil to turn darker sooner than conventional oil. Considering that you cannot use the color of the oil to make judgments on. The best thing to do is open your oil cap and look for the presence of sludge. Look down into the engine, if the parts are still metal looking it's good. If maintenance has been lacking then the metal parts will have a reddish brown buildup. Consider having an engine flush done if you find the latter.
Hi Dux,
With the extended oil changes on the new cars, sludge builds up anyway, even if the oil is changed every 10k, or when ever the maintenance warning comes on. Sludge build up isn't a good indicator of regular oil changes in these extended service cars any more.
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  #13  
Old 11-16-2005, 08:34 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Pasadena, Ca.
Posts: 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nesreen
Hi there, I'm new to this forum, and know nothing about cars, so I would really appreciate some feedback.

I have an '02 C230K Coupe with 61K on it. I took my car in for my first service b 3 months/2,100 miles ago. Last week a mechanic friend of mine told me I needed an oil change and pulled out the dipstick on my c230 and his a4. My oil was this seperated black/transparent black and his was this smooth honey color. I've done a bit of research and while some people say black is bad some people are saying that it's normal on their cars for the oil to be black so I'm confused. I have had some issues with the service dept. at mbaustin and don't want to look like a fool if I take it in and they say that's normal

Also, my cigarette lighter/car charger is not working. I took my phone charger out and when I put it back in, it felt kinda loose and wouldn't turn on. So I put the lighter back in and pressed it to see if it would pop back up, but now it's stuck and it's not heating up.

Hi -
The phone charger blew the fuse for the cig. lighter. Look at your fuse chart and replace the fuse. This happens quite a bit.
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  #14  
Old 11-17-2005, 12:12 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 41
(Also, my cigarette lighter/car charger is not working. I took my phone charger out and when I put it back in, it felt kinda loose and wouldn't turn on. So I put the lighter back in and pressed it to see if it would pop back up, but now it's stuck and it's not heating up.)

You may want to check the fuse for your lighter. It happened to my car and that 's where the problem was. My indy MB changed it for me at no charge. What a nice guy!!! can't find too many of them out there
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  #15  
Old 11-18-2005, 11:56 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,177
I'll have to stand behind my assertion that sludge is a good indicator of poor maintennance. As part of my shops pre purchase inspection we check for it, if found we check the I/C and pull the FSS history. A sludged engine will always show 15-20k oil change intervals.

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