Oil Pressure question

[pberku]

Lately I noticed that when I start my 95 E300D in the morning, It takes awhile (4-6 Seconds) for the oil gauge to peg at three. During this period you can hear the valve lifter clutter. So I know its starving for oil. I also noticed that when measured cold. my oil level has RISEN slightly. After this initial lag in oil pressure build-up the oil pressure is fine. If I start the car after a 2-3 hours of having been parked its also fine. Its only after extended periods, (more than a few hours) that this occurs. I am using Mobil 1 15W50 Synthetic.

AT first I thought its the oil filter, so I changed the filter, (Original Mercedes) as well as the two "O" rings on the oil filter shaft. No difference. Its as if the oil is draining out of the filter and back into the oil pan. Its acting identically as to what you would expect after an oil and filter change when it takes awhile for the pressure to build up again.

I suspect that this is the reason that my oil level has also risen slightly. The oil is draining out of the oil filter. Any suggestions as to what will cause the oil to drain out of the oil filter housing?


Thanks

Phil

[t walgamuth]

the oil is just draining out of your lifters and it is taking some time to fill them after it sits for a while. what is the oil pressure doing while it is building up? does it always have some pressure indicated? if the oil pressure is always at the specified minimum in the manual i guess i wouldn't worry.

the lifters will tick til they are full. that doesnt mean your bearings are without oil. if the bearings are dry you will hear deeper banging.

[mbonly]

This is only a wild guess, but I have read in the forum that theres a thermostat in or around the oil filter housing that allows oil to flow to the oil cooler after a certain temperature on the 124 cars, this thermostat could be sticking open and allowing the filter housing to drain completely, again just a wild guess but it might point you in the right direction. Another thing I noticed is at least here in NYC these fast lube places have really badly trained people working on cars, the other day one of them tried to fit a filter from another car in my car. The one he had was clearly taller and he had already put the cap on and was forcing the nuts in when I noticed so I told him to take it back out and the filter he had put in there was crushed, now imagine what that crushed filter would've done to my engine and how well it would've fit in there.