OIL FILTER EMERGENCY - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

nyko46 · #1 03-02-2020, 12:23 PM

My 2008 bluetec is given me a message to check oil level.
I know that is because the oil filter became defective not allowing the oil to flow free. The oil is a brand new oil changed on 02/29/20
As I need to drive home (around 30 miles) and there are no one auto parts store near by where I am now I thought to remove the oil filter and drive this distance without it just to get home.
Can it offer any harm to my engine?
I need to be back on traffic around 2:00 PM Central Time
Thanks

BWhitmore · #2 03-02-2020, 12:30 PM

Driving the car without the oil filter will destroy the engine. The oil flows through the filter when the engine is running and if the filter is not present the oil will be sprayed under pressure throughout the engine compartment. Within a few minutes the engine will have no oil.

nyko46 · #3 03-02-2020, 01:19 PM

What is the best alternative I'm this situation?

Diseasel300 · #4 03-02-2020, 01:30 PM

How do you know the oil filter is defective and blocking oil flow? If that were the case, it should be bypassing and still lubricating the engine, it will NOT give you a low oil level warning. Don't drive the car if you have oil problems, you'll wreck the engine and be screwed. A wrecker call to a shop is WAY cheaper than a new engine or car.

Skid Row Joe · #5 03-02-2020, 04:31 PM

If the engine seems to be running fine, just drive it. If not, have in towed. Don't drive it. Don't run engine without oil filter in place.

Mxfrank · #6 03-02-2020, 05:38 PM

Removing the oil filter won’t ruin the engine or cause oil to spray anywhere. This is a cartridge filter, not a spin on. As long as the cover is on the housing, it will work as though the filter was there. You should be safe for a short drive.

That said, I don’t see how a clogged filter could cause a low oil warning.

nyko46 · #7 03-02-2020, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mxfrank

Removing the oil filter won’t ruin the engine or cause oil to spray anywhere. This is a cartridge filter, not a spin on. As long as the cover is on the housing, it will work as though the filter was there. You should be safe for a short drive.

That said, I don’t see how a clogged filter could cause a low oil warning.

About oil spray I thought the same than you but my major concern was about the high flow of oil since the filter is not there to offer some resistance to flow. The oil was changed on 02/29/20 and also a filter.
Anyway I decided not to remove it and drove home very careful.
The reason of this question is because driving to work at 5:00 AM i got a warning: "Check Oil Level at The Next Refilling".
I then stopped the car and check it and it was at the minimum. I drove couple more blocks and got to work and then latter with the engine cold I checked again and it was showing between min. and max.

Diesel911 · #8 03-02-2020, 09:32 PM

Why I am a member of one of the Auto Clubs so I can have the Car towed if I have a issue.

If the filter is truly plugged up there is at least on my year and model a bypass valve built into the Oil Filter Housing that bypasses the oil filer altogether.

Removing the filter completely is not going to cause excessive oil flow but of course the Oil will not be filtered.

vwnate1 · #9 03-02-2020, 10:12 PM

?? Why not just top it up when you discovered it was low ? .

Skid Row Joe · #10 03-02-2020, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nyko46

About oil spray I thought the same than you but my major concern was about the high flow of oil since the filter is not there to offer some resistance to flow. The oil was changed on 02/29/20 and also a filter.
Anyway I decided not to remove it and drove home very careful.
The reason of this question is because driving to work at 5:00 AM i got a warning: "Check Oil Level at The Next Refilling".
I then stopped the car and check it and it was at the minimum. I drove couple more blocks and got to work and then latter with the engine cold I checked again and it was showing between min. and max.

When was the oil and filter changed last? How many miles ago?

Sounds like your car was low on oil. Not a "clogged oil filter." Why did that thought occur to you?

barry12345 · #11 03-03-2020, 01:50 AM

Why does anyone think this is an oil filter issue to start with?

barry12345 · #12 03-03-2020, 02:19 AM

Did you check the oil level yourself after the oil change? If not the oil could have been under filled or you have an oil leak. A drain plug could be suspect. You also seem to be confusing a low oil level warning with a low oil pressure warning.

pawoSD · #13 03-03-2020, 10:41 PM

Between min and max when cold is a pretty much normal oil level, though the newer ones like to be closer to max or it may trigger the low oil level alert.

That alert just means you can add roughly a liter, not that its at the edge of doom...there was still several liters in there. I think on the OM642 even at the "min" mark there's still about 6 liters in the sump.