The phantom Gallon
 

I've run into a problem, when I was doing an oil change on my 300D.


I drained it out, and put the recomended (per manual) 2 gallons of oil in (Rotella-t synthetic this time)


Let it sit for a half hour (to let the oil drain down) and check the stick - it reads about an inch OVER the max. fill line. At this point I checked the jug I drained the old oil into - it wasnt even a gallon itself. This included a filter change, and everything as per DieselGaints instructions.


Where the hell'd the extra gallon go? - this oil aint cheap; I'd rather not waste any.

Getting only a gallon out is a sign of a serious problem. But the 617 we used to drive daily would never take quite two gallons of oil. 7 quarts did well, putting the level just above the minimum mark.

Did you drain the oil cooler?

The what?


heh, it's no w126 - I dont know my way around it.


This is after a drive to 7-11, so the filter has been primed, and I'm still getting a high reading. Was i supposed to let it drain on flat ground? I had it jacked up (w124's have a GREAT jacking system, btw) at the time (but not jacked up for the readings.)

did you drain it HOT?

My best guess there, only Benz I have any experience with is my W126 300SD

semi hot



then again, I DID nearly burn myself on the filter housing...

drain it hot and add 6 quarts.. then add in half quart increments until its just below the full line, i like keeping my level right in between the marks

as of right now it's about a half-inch above the "max" mark.


this is after draining a bunch out.

on this note:

is it normal for smoke to come out of the (valve cover) oil filler?


I know it gets hot, but DAMN.

With the engine running, you'll get some blow-by out of there. Unless the engine is fresh, that's to be expected.

I'm talking when the engine's not running.


it's the same on the gasser....



Can I drive it like this? the dipstick still reads high.

I'd suck a quart out of there, its not good to run a diesel high on oil. Bad things can happen. Optimum spot is just below the max mark. Usually takes about 7 qts like was mentioned earlier. What I usually do is add 6.5-7, run it 2-3 mins, shut it down and wait a couple mins, take a reading, then add a teeny bit if its by the min mark. If its ok, I leave it and go. :D

8 qrts or 2gallons is usually what the OM60x engines get. My guess would be that the dipstick isnt reading correctly, i remember when my oil housing gasket gave out and let a few quarts out of the engine the dipstick still read full!!

Even after it finally bursted and spewed out a good gallon of oil the stupid dipstick read full!! Soon after i poured in some more elf 5w40 and the dipstick read an inch over the full mark. Still drove it and recently changed it out with mobil 1 5w40.

I think you should be just fine. Drive it around a little more and just keep an eye on oil pressure.

5W40?? isn't that a bit thin??? I run 15W40 in the summer and 10W40 in the winter..