Oil Consumption SURVEY/Question
 

Hi,

Just wanted to get some feedback on oil consumption.

Mixed driving:

Used Mobil 1 Synthetic 0W30 Hot Climate driving Arizona.

Filled slightly above MAX line by 1/4 of quart.

I have 6500 miles on... since my oil change.

I notice oil level drop... Slightly above MIN mark.
When I filled it it was at MAX mark slightly above, now after 6500 miles of driving it is 20% above MIN mark (20% is between MIN MAX range on dipstick)

Please post your experience.

Thanks

1998 E320

I've been using Mobil 1 10W-30 for a long time. My C230 has 150,000 km's or about 95K-miles on her. Has not used one drop of oil yet. None.

I change the oil and filter every 7000kms (4500miles).

Merc1

I would be using a thicker oil such as the 15W50 in such a hot climate.

The 95 E320 wagon doesn't use any oil, none and it has 98k

The 91 300E has 215k and uses about a quart every 2,500

The 190e has 213k and use 1 quart every 5k miles.

Haasman

So can you distill out of this data the estimated consumption in miles per quart? Looks like about 3000 to me, which is perfectly normal.

Some are under the impression that an automobile engine should not consume any oil. This is absolutely false. Some oil has to slip down the valve guides and past the top ring to properly lubricate these moving parts.

Duke

My 1994 E320 wagon with 202,000 miles burns nor leaks any oil. The E300TD behaves like that too but only has 74,000 miles.

In the past, I never believed guys like Blackmercedes (above post), but now I do. I cannot see a oil level drop on the dipstick of my 99CLK430 after 5000 miles. I only have 37,000 miles on the car. I use Mobil 1 (0w40). I'm sure it uses some oil. Maybe if I went 10,000 miles between changes I would see a drop? I sometimes think; will this engine not last long because it doesn't use any oil? Then I forget about it.

My 1996 S500 Coupe has about 84K miles on it... using Mobil 1
0-40W... change at 4K intervals. I can't see any difference in the oil level between changes. I'm sure there must be some because the rear of the oil sump/pan is wet from a minor leak... but, too small to notice on the dipstick. Hope this helps.
KenP

First, I live in Arizona and would NEVER consider using 30 weight oil around here. These so-called economy oils make little or no difference in actual fuel mileage and sacrifice long term reliability. Major car companies (except the Germans) recommend these low viscosity oils so they can report a few tenths better mileage to the US government to help them with their Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) averages which permits them to avoid Gas Guzzler Tax.

Second, the oil you are using isn't on the the MB approval list. I suspect it's because of the rumor that Mobil 1 30 weight oils are not true synthetics, i.e. they are doing what Castrol did and that is using a petroleum base and calling it synthetic. 0W-40 and 15W-50 are true synthetics.

Third, the two Mobil 1 viscosities that should be used in Arizona are 0W-40 and 15W-50. Actually, 0W-40 could be used anywhere in the lower 48 all year round. In fact, I used 15W-50 Mobil 1 in Minnesota all year round because it has the pour point of a 10W-30 mineral based oil.

Go to Walmarts and buy 15W-50 Mobil 1 in 5 quart containers for the equivelant of $3.70 or so per quart.

I would also add that being a little bit low is way better than being a little bit high on the oil level. Being a little high allows the crank balancers to splash in the oil, which causes the oil to foam, which in turn lowers the oil's ability to lubricate.

That said, I've seen many engines that when filled to the full line will use just enough oil to drop the level mid way between the max/min lines, then not use a drop after. Most MB dipsticks have about a 2 quart/litre capacity between the marks.

1 quart usage in 3K miles is well within the acceptable limits for these cars. That is just about what I see on the 560 with 185K.

Follow this tip and I bet your oil consumption will drop: Do NOT fill to or above the Max mark. Only fill to about half way between the Min and Max marks.

And switch to M1 0W-40 or 15W-50 as Bud suggested. I've found higher consumption with M1 0W-30 (and it's not approved by MB).

I've also found much, much lower consumption with Schaefer Supreme 7000 20W-50 synthetic. Seems to be a great oil, if you can find it.

Help!!?? Unusual oil consumption
 

I have a 98 E320. So is it perfectly normal for it to consume approximately 8 quarts of oil every 5000 miles or so? Every time when the computer or dip stick shows the oil level at bare minimum, I would add about two quarts in there and it returns to normal. However, recently after showing the oil is at bare minimum and adding two more quarts of oil, today the computer asked me to add 1 extra quart after about 1000 miles or less. Is it normal? Could my piston ring or valve guide be the culprit of such excessive oil consumption? If so, what kind of test should I ask for when I bring the car to the dealer? Will MB warranty the repair based on the recent class action settlement? All your comments are welcomed and appreciated.

Re: Help!!?? Unusual oil consumption
 

No.

what kind of test should be done to find out where the fault is?

Oil Consumption SURVEY/Question
 

I use Castrol 15W40 in my 1984 300D Turbo Diesel. My daily drive has about 187,000 Kilometers now with no major engine repair yet other than regular recommended maintenance. I change the Oil and Filter every 5,000 kilometers religiously and no top up in between. I’m lucky to have a good one

Hi,

Just wanted to point out few things.

Changed oil with Mobil 1 15w50 put is 8.2 quart.
Drove the car so far 1000 miles and checked, no loss of oil, it seems in exact dipstick position.

Also, I changed the oil cap on this car, I noticed the oil leaking from the cap area, and the cap seems loose.

Another problem is, I have noticed on these 98 w210 is the plastic
oil filler neck looses oil and you can see the oil running down.

I will change that next, after changing the cap, so far it looks great.

Check your oil cap, and the filler plastic neck, easy DIY.

Are you in the US? If so, you may have some recourse under the class-action lawsuit that MB lost with regards to engines in FSS equipped vehicles. Your 1998 E320 is so equipped, and I understand it is covered under the additional warranty coverage MB has put in place.

However, your consumption, while very high, may not be "out of spec" enough to warrant coverage. This is a bone of contention, as I understand that MB considers anything below 1000kms' per litre (about one quart per 600 miles) "normal."

That said, your consumption is at about that point. If that much were leaking, I should think it would be easy to find. If not a leak, you'll need to have the engine inspected for sludge build-up, which can cause damage to the top and bottom ends of the engine.

Mike,

Since you did the chain, did you replace valve stem seals as well?

Just wondering, because I noticed that the 560 has started to use some oil. About 1 qt/3k miles. It does weep a negligible amount, but thinking it's time to replace the valve stem seals.

Thanks!

I am in California. I will be bringing down my car tomorrow. What kinda test should I ask for? A comression leakdown test, if that's what it's called. I am aware of the class action lawsuit, so I am worried that I might have oil sludge build up or damaged parts due to early MB recommendation on using conventional oil for 10,000 mile interval. However, I have switched over to the synthetic oil a long time ago. Could my excessive oil consumption be caused by the early MB recommendation of conventional oil?

Just to provide one more data element:
1989 560SL, 150K
1 qt per 3000 miles or so
using 20W50 dino Valvoline, high-mileage engine formula

Wondering... orig. valve stem seals?

Thanks!

>>Just to provide one more data element:
>>1989 560SL, 150K
>>1 qt per 3000 miles or so
>>using 20W50 dino Valvoline, high-mileage engine formula
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Wondering... orig. valve stem seals?

>Thanks!

AFAIK, yes; I have the last PO's records covering about the last five years, and it was mostly oil changes. No smoke, minimal drops on floor of garage.
I'd guess I'll want to do stem seals and head gasket in another year or so; the car will be laid up through Michigan's winter. Running beautifully now, and there seems no reason to rush it at this rate.

Thanks!

Interesting, mine smokes a bit at start-up. Think I'll do the chain/rails and v.s. seals soon. Motor ticks too, so guessing the rockers need att'n. Top ends of these motors are their "achilles' heel". :)

Merc 1,

I replaced my oil filler neck and that solved the oil leaking problem, just replacing the gaskets didn't work. The valve cover is bone dry again.

I change my oil every 6 months (3K miles) with no loss of oil on my 98 E320. I use to use Mobil 1 15W50 in the summer and Mobil 1 0W40 in the winter. Now I plan on using the 0W40 year round. On the 98 E320 the manual states that the engine oil capacity is 8.5 Qts. I found that using 8.5 qts tends to over fill the crankcase with oil expecially when the engine is hot. I've been using 8 Qts of oil which puts the level just under the max level with the engine hot. Keep in mind that there is a 2.5 Qt difference from the min to max level.

Using castrol and valvoline 15x40 in 89 300e, 182,000 miles with no oil loss between oil changes.l

1991 420SEL @ 135+K
 

Using 5K oil & filter change intervals, 8 quarts of Pennzoil LongLife 15W-40 (dino) puts the level square in the middle of the dipstick.

Have never needed to add more between changes as the level always remained well above the low mark.

p.s. 8 quarts between changes is WAY excessive, IMHO, but the oil should never go out of grade because of so much fresh oil being added. I would certainly go with a heavier weight oil than a 0W-30 in AZ.