zerocover

So I recently got an interesting message on the cars display.
The car told me to "Check oil level at gas station". Turns out I was 2 quarts low on oil. Is this even remotely normal? I understand the extened oil change interval is not the best for cars but this seems a bit much.

I take it this means the car has burned 2 quarts of oil since the last oil change, about 10,000 miles ago. On a car that only has 27,000 miles.

Has anyone else had to top up their oil?

aigooalex

i got this everytime when i'm getting close to 3000 miles and i find it riduculous! i have only 47000 miles and i guess my car is eating more oil than i thought!

samaritrey

strange i wonder if you have the same issues as karo? My car i thought was burning oil but it has not since the last oil change. about half way though service a and it is still ok. i am at 145k and have a different motor though. I thought i was burning oil the last two changes but all of a sudden stooped so i don't know if there was a leak around my oil cap or oil filter. (just replaced oil cap)

W203E35

Guys this isn't normal.

They changed my oil breather and PCV Valve and I had leaking Cam plugs. I was still getting this message and finally I found the oil leak and it was again leaking cam plugs.

Let me try to find my thread I had a huge thread about this.

Again this isn't normal.

W203E35

Please read here.

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...need-help.html

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...rt-called.html

LILBENZ230

This is an M272 issue. Through 2005 (the last year of the M112 and M271) the cars had electronic dipsticks that would alert you well before you were 2 quarts down. And my car, with 83k miles, doesn't use any through 13k mile intervals.

W203E35

The m272 shouldn't use any oil as well. Maybe max 2 quarts through the 13k interval depending on driving but again mine now doesn't use any.

You run your filter through 13k miles? Didn't they drop this down lower because no more fleece filter? I read all the scares of using 13k with paper but I can not comment since I don't own a M271. How's the quality of the paper filter? I heard that crap brakes apart.

johnand

I concur, it is NOT normal. My M272 doesn't use a drop of oil with 10-12K change intervals, at 70K miles.

W203E35

Hey John, where have you been? Did you go on vacation or something?

LILBENZ230

Yes I run my paper filter for 13,000 miles. I had the oil analyzed last change at 68,000 miles and it was okay. I've changed it again at 81,000 but haven't sent that off yet.

e24kgold

Mine burns 1/2 qt. for 13k. Been doing it since 45k and I have 129,200 now

Norwichdelta06

hmm our cars are not suppose to burn oil....due to full synthetic.. well a tiny bit but not 2 quarts

W203E35

Well MB considered .8 quarts for every 1,000 miles OK. No joke this is what I was told and found the document in WIS. Although I feel this is BS. 2 is even a lot but I could live with that. Again I do not add any oil and neighter should any of the M272 guys.

johnand

Yep, much needed vacation

phister

interesting, i just changed my oil out 2 weeks ago and I haven't gotten that message at all. I'm about to creep up on 80k. I know hondas burn about a quart on the vtec engines.

zerocover

Update 3 quarts lost, assuming the dealer filled it up last time. (does it even make sense to skimp 1 quart on a $500 oil change)

I had to add a quart to just get the oil up to the bottom of the dip stick, 2 more after that to fill it up. The oil seems to be in pretty good condition though, I'm banking on a leak, dealer apt is set for tuesday.

phister

yea sounds like a leak somewhere. is there oil on any area of the engine where it looks like its been leaking? You should try running the engine and seeing if you can spot it from the engine compartment or from underneath.

W203E35

+1
It definitely sounds like you have some kind of oil leak.

Take of the engine cover including the the intake and feel behind the engine where the cam plugs are. There should be no single drop of oil. If you feel oil then it's most likely your cam plugs. The more I hear this the more it seems it's common.

JoeVal

It may have been a policy decision, but there is a widespread lack of knowledge as to why the possible oil consumption.

Synthetic motor oils have the property of forming a very thin and effective lubricating film between the sliding parts. This enables the lubrication of the combustion chamber for the whole travel of the piston, since the oil ring (third ring in the piston) slides over the oil film. Though this means adding about 20-25% to the life of the engine, oil left in the combustion chamber during the exhaust stroke is released with the fumes product of the combustion, thereby creating the oil use.

Fluid lubricants, being the most economical parts of the car for their role and importance, should not be disdained nor the car found at fault due to a few extra coins going to preserving the car integrity and extending its life.

zerocover

Update:
Dealer has checked the car over. No problems found.

"The low oil level is due to a combination of not knowing how much oil was put in last time (so they didn't fill it up) and normal consumption."

I have an service coming up in a few weeks, I'll be doing it myself this time so I can properly monitor this situation. (then again it might be best to have them do it so they are liable)