CE750

I just had the oil changed after the 1000 mile break-in, and I used the maintenance menu to dial up the exact quantity of oil in the car, and came up with 6 quarts. I seem to recall the capacity is closer to 8, could the dealer have put in two quarts too little?

thanks

cdiken

BTW your're about 12,000 miles early on that first oil change, although that is not necessarily a bad thing.

KB

pratas

It siad 7.3L for E320 CDI from the Manual

CE750

thanks pratas, I can't find any mention of CDI motor in my owners manual (I got all documents for an '06 btw, even though my car is supposed to be an '05).

cdliken, it's just an old habit, I ALWAYS change oil after break-in period.

CE750

Should I be concerned if my dealer shows 9 quarts of oil sold for my oil change, yet my car show a 5.9 quart quantity? Do they flush oil thru the system? Or is there any other reason why 3.1 quarts is gone?

BudC

First of all, I believe your car takes 7.5 liters of oil. That's a hair under 8 quarts. I'd ask the dealer about it. I hope they didn't confuse your CDI with the gasoline V6 which takes 8 liters or about 8.5 quarts.

Did you go to Schumacher's or PMC?

Also, are you sure you are measuring the oil correctly. Let the engine stand for at least 5 minutes before measuring the oil. Obviously, you don't measure the level with the engine running.

CE750

thanks Bud... I used the maint menu (three clicks of the reset switch) to check the oil level both last night and this morning (in the morning it was after 10 hours of not running). I got 5.9 (not sure if L or Q)... as the number.

As for the dealer, he charged me for 9 Quarts.. my theory is that maybe he flushed a quart or two thru.. but is that normal? Also, can a car burn 1.5 Q in less than 500 miles? doesn't make sense, and there is no black smoke coming from the exhaust to indicate the oil is being burned.

I did it at Schumacher.

BudC

I would sure call Schumacher's about it. Something is wrong.

No they don't flush and you should not use any oil.

CE750

heading there this morning..

report back what I find.

CE750

well, just got back and neither the service advisor nor the mechanic had any idea how to access the maintenance menu on the car that I did to get the actual quarts. However, I showed them (they were impressed) and then we took the car in back and they hooked it up to a diagnostic machine which measures the oil in mm indide the pan. They came up with 36mm, (with 26-51 mm as the range) and added up to 45mm. Oddly, the car sill read 5.9 which doesn't make any sense, unless this reading isn't the total system quantiy but rather just what is being read in the pan... God knows, but we did agree to look at the level again with the diagnostic machine in 1500 miles (just before my 3000 mile free bee) and see if any quantity was burned off..

I wonder if anyone outside of Germany actually knows the answers to some of these questions...

BudC

Let's hope you haven't too much oil now. Also, did they explain how they could charge you for 9 quarts of oil when it actually takes less than 8?

Here's what I'd do. There should be a tube where they extract the oil (like a dipstick tube). Insert a flexible plastic tube down there until you hit bottom and then measure the oil level in millimeters.

I use the tube that came with my oil extractor device to do this. Go to a place like ACE's Hardware and buy a few feet of clear plastic tubing that will fit in the tube (1/4"?)

If the sensor in your engine doesn't match what you find, have them replace the sensor under the warranty. Since you haven't got a dipstick, you need to have an alternative way to measure the oil level that's accurate.

One of the reasons I was reluctant to buy a CDI was that no one in the Valley had the slightest clue about how to maintain them.

CE750

That is frighteningly true..

The 9 quarts is something I told the service writer that did my oil change was a bit irritating, but he said that they indeed add a minimum of 8.2 Quarts when they service the car, which charges as 9.

That said, the car was hooked up to a machine (costing $1000's Im sure) infront of my eyes where I saw both the quantity (and quality) of the oil, among many other parameters, and all is ok from that point. When I come in for my 3000 service, we'll compare again and at that point I can make a determination whether to get the sensor fixed. I first need to get a straight answer (probably from Germany) as to what the 5.9 means.... is it total quantity, or just quantity in the sump?

BudC

Steve,
That 5.9 should be liters and it should be the total oil in the crankcase. I have an E320 and it shows 7.7 liters out of a capacity of 8.0 liters after 7,300 miles. I don't know exactly what it was when I bought the car because I didn't know how to check it. I had at least 5K on it when I started checking it and I think it's dropped just a bit since then.

I'd tell Schumacher's that you expect the car to show the same as their fancy machine.

pratas

really? I got 1 Manual, 1 brief introduction, 1 for audio system, and 1 is service booklet (this one combine with E and CLS)

I can find the technical data section on my manual (total 490 pages) and it lists all data regarding the whole E family

E200 Kompressor
5.5L

E240, E240 4MATIC, E320, E320 4MATIC, E350, E350 4MATIC, E500 4MATIC
8.0L

E500
7.5L

E55 AMG
8.5L

E200 CDI, E220 CDI, E270 CDI
6.5L

E280 CDI, E320 CDI
7.3L

E400 CDI
9.5L

If you guys need other information such as coolant, dimensions, weight....just post here.

Best Regards,

khaug

My US-spec '05 CDI operator's manual states the E320 CDI's engine oil capacity with filter is 6.87 US quarts (6.5 L). See P. 461 if you have a US car and Edition B of the operator's manual. That's in the "Technical Data" section, "fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc." subject.

I recently changed my oil and filter. I was VERY careful to (1) drain all the old oil from the crankcase and (2) refill with 6.87 US quarts. My oil level now reads 6.7 quarts after sitting for a couple of hours. That's close enough to the stated capacity that I'm comfortable that everything is right, and I'm going to consider that a reading of 6.7 quarts represents a full crankcase.

It's hard to underestand how or why your dealer would have actually put 9 quarts in your car, especially in view of the less-than-6-quart reading you're now seeing. Does your car tell you that you need to add oil? I'd at least find another dealer to do the next service on your CDI!

Good luck.

CE750

clearly I got ripped at the dealer, since I now read (after letting the car sit a few hours) 6.3 which checks out with the 45mm height.. (26-51) being the range. My sensor isn't malfunctioning, it's reading properly if 7.3 is the ideal level. Whether 7.3 or 6.5L capacity (for US spec), it would have been impossible, unless they flushed oil thru (unheard of) to use 9 quarts, and at $5.5/qt that is enough to by some Thai lunch or a couple of cold one's...

I guess I need to take this up with the service manager.

CE750

Email me everything you have on the 320CDI, check your PM for my email.

thanks man.

brianhn1

Was bored and checked the oil level for our E320 CDI: 7.6L

Also checked the E500 and saw 7.1L

jimbo1mcm

I thought I was going crazy. The owner's manual for my 2005 E320 CDI says that the oil and filter change should be 6.5 liters. I have a WIS program on my computer, that the MB guys use. There is a note under the 21.11.01 job, which is the oil change and filter. Here is the note:

6.10.04 Figure Modified from 6.5 liters to 7.3 liters. Figure modified in line 1001 for engine 648.961 (ours without a particulate filter)( The line they are referring to is the one that says the capacity is 6.5 liters)
So, until someone tells me differently, I am using 7.3 liters as the official capacity with filter.

CE750

Jimbo.. good call.. but then I wonder if the 26-51mm range is for the 7.3 figure? Cause I'm at 45mm according to their test equipment now which reads 6.4 Quarts (about 6.05L) on my car's sensor.

C5DRVR

Just wondering if anyone came up with a definitive on this discussion. My oil changes for my 2005 CDI regularly take 7.5 qrts to read the 6.87 on the service menu. I am very careful to let the car sit between readings and I drain all the oil out from the bottom. What gives ? Are there any MB techs out there that can weigh in on this? Is the service display quarts or liters?

Mnymaker

How did you drain the oil? Do you have a pump or is there a drain plug under there somewhere?

pinebaron

My 07 E320 Bluetec takes a complete 9 quarts from empty. I have had two oil changes at the dealer and one I did myself.

Jlight

Pinebaron
Just wondering - at what mileage did you change your oil?

pinebaron

850, 3500, 11000 (I corrected these when I looked at my notes); next change at 16500 which is fast approaching.