oil consumption
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From: Atlanta, GA
C230 coupe 6sp
oil consumption
What kind of oil consumption figures are you guys and girls getting on your C230 coupes? My car has about 3500 miles on it and the low oil warning came on and said to add 2 qts. I checked the dipstick, and sure enough it was barely showing on the end. I know it was full when it was new because I checked it as soon as I got home. So it has used 2 qts in 3500 miles. Doesn't that seem pretty high?
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From: Westwood, NJ
2004 Civic Si. FWD for the Win!
That sounds comparable to mine. I've added 3 1/2 quarts in 10k. Checked it yesterday, and it was fine.
When I go in for my A service, we're going to start an oil consumption test; the service manager didn't think the consumption was a good thing, but wanted to wait until the A to start off the test.
Mine started high like yours, and has tapered off. I think that there's something not right with it, but the dealership knows, which is the main thing. I'd talk to someone in service - when I got my first 2 QT low warning, I called the service dept., brought it in, and they jacked it up and could not find anything. If I were you, I'd call them, if only to log it in for your car.
When I go in for my A service, we're going to start an oil consumption test; the service manager didn't think the consumption was a good thing, but wanted to wait until the A to start off the test.
Mine started high like yours, and has tapered off. I think that there's something not right with it, but the dealership knows, which is the main thing. I'd talk to someone in service - when I got my first 2 QT low warning, I called the service dept., brought it in, and they jacked it up and could not find anything. If I were you, I'd call them, if only to log it in for your car.
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From: Atlanta, GA
C230 coupe 6sp
Yeh, I just talked to my service advisor. He also said it sounded high for this car. He said the M class had problems, but not these engines. He said I could bring it in any time, or wait until the 1st service for the test. I will keep track of it closely for the next 1000 miles, and see if it is getting better or worse.
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'01 C240/6
You guys are much more easy going than I.
If my new car were burning through 2 quarts every 3500 miles, I'd be freaked/pissed.
(unless I were just leasing the car, then I may not be as concerned, because then if anything bad happened during the rental period, I'd just turn it back in. But if I were buying the car, I'd be worried. If you are planning on keeping it long term, I'd be concerned about the long term health of the engine. If you plan on selling after a few years, I'd be concerned about not disclosing high oil consumption to a potential buyer. It may be hard to sell a car that is chewing through that much oil).
If my new car were burning through 2 quarts every 3500 miles, I'd be freaked/pissed.
(unless I were just leasing the car, then I may not be as concerned, because then if anything bad happened during the rental period, I'd just turn it back in. But if I were buying the car, I'd be worried. If you are planning on keeping it long term, I'd be concerned about the long term health of the engine. If you plan on selling after a few years, I'd be concerned about not disclosing high oil consumption to a potential buyer. It may be hard to sell a car that is chewing through that much oil).
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From: Atlanta, GA
C230 coupe 6sp
Well, The service advisor did say that he was concerned, and that I should keep a close eye on it. Believe me, if it comes down to internal engine work, I will be firm on getting a replacement car vs. have them take the engine apart. But if it gets better as it breaks in more, I really don't see any reason to drive myself crazy over it. Since I've never kept a car for more than a couple of years, it will always be under warranty.
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From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
I'm amazed at what is considered "OK" oil usage by dealers. Modern engines regularly go 200K miles without ever reaching what they consider "normal". Two quarts every 3500 means something is wrong and what could need "breaking in" when most cars don't go through oil like that when new? If it's not leaking oil then its burning it and your plugs/valves/exhaust etc. are going to be slowly coated with crud until the problem manifests itself in performance problems and utlimately a big repair bill. I'm not a professional mechanic but excessive oil consumption is not rocket science. If it does 'go away' after X miles to me that means max .5 quart every 5K miles. None of my last 10 new cars burned any oil between changes clear passed 100K miles.
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'01 C240/6
Speedfrk, when you sell the car, are you going to disclose the high oil consumption? If not, you are going to have an unhappy buyer in 3500 miles when the light comes on! (esp. when he checks the computer and sees you knew about it!). Hopefully, its leased!
Mleskovar, I am amazed at a *lot* of things dealers do and say! I agree with you, that oil is going somewhere.
On the upside, I do think that sometimes it takes a while for the rings to seat, and oil consumption can sometimes go down. At least it was like that in the old days, I have not really heard about that phenomena much on modern cars.
A lot of people seem to be having this problem. Kind of troubling.
Mleskovar, I am amazed at a *lot* of things dealers do and say! I agree with you, that oil is going somewhere.
On the upside, I do think that sometimes it takes a while for the rings to seat, and oil consumption can sometimes go down. At least it was like that in the old days, I have not really heard about that phenomena much on modern cars.
A lot of people seem to be having this problem. Kind of troubling.
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From: SF Bay Area
2002 C230 K
Originally posted by SoCal240/6
On the upside, I do think that sometimes it takes a while for the rings to seat, and oil consumption can sometimes go down. At least it was like that in the old days, I have not really heard about that phenomena much on modern cars.
On the upside, I do think that sometimes it takes a while for the rings to seat, and oil consumption can sometimes go down. At least it was like that in the old days, I have not really heard about that phenomena much on modern cars.
Although, I have yet to notice any excess oil consumption on my C230K (2300 miles) but this is via the FSS's normal measurement, I've been carrying the instructions for "dyno mode" in my pocket for days, but have yet to determine the exact oil level.
BT
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From: Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada
2005 smart cabrio; 2008 Mercedes-Benz B 200
chewing oil?
2 US quarts in 3500 miles is 0.336 L/1000 km.
In the technical forum, MBTech 208 relates that M-B considers up to 1.0 L/1000 km to be "normal" oil consumption.
Most other manufacturers that I'm aware of consider 0.5 L/100 km to be "normal".
M-B will do nothing about a car that uses oil at this rate, unless there is a leak.
I would not worry; you don't mention if you checked the oil level when the car was delivered, so maybe the "amount consumed" is somewhat less than you think. The car I drive every day now has burned between 0.2 and 0.35 L/1000 km ever since it was new, and it's still going strong 161,000 miles later.
In the technical forum, MBTech 208 relates that M-B considers up to 1.0 L/1000 km to be "normal" oil consumption.
Most other manufacturers that I'm aware of consider 0.5 L/100 km to be "normal".
M-B will do nothing about a car that uses oil at this rate, unless there is a leak.
I would not worry; you don't mention if you checked the oil level when the car was delivered, so maybe the "amount consumed" is somewhat less than you think. The car I drive every day now has burned between 0.2 and 0.35 L/1000 km ever since it was new, and it's still going strong 161,000 miles later.
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From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
>In the technical forum, MBTech 208 relates that M-B considers up to 1.0 >L/1000 km to be "normal" oil consumption.
>Most other manufacturers that I'm aware of consider 0.5 L/100 km to be >"normal". \
Do your math, these numbers have to be wrong. A liter of oil every 625 miles?
Or .5 liter every 62.5 miles?
>Most other manufacturers that I'm aware of consider 0.5 L/100 km to be >"normal". \
Do your math, these numbers have to be wrong. A liter of oil every 625 miles?
Or .5 liter every 62.5 miles?
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From: Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada
2005 smart cabrio; 2008 Mercedes-Benz B 200
math lesson
Originally posted by mleskovar
Do your math, these numbers have to be wrong. A liter of oil every 625 miles? Or .5 liter every 62.5 miles?
Do your math, these numbers have to be wrong. A liter of oil every 625 miles? Or .5 liter every 62.5 miles?
1L/1000 km.
That is what MBTech208 said M-B considers to be normal oil consumption. Don't shoot me, I'm only the messenger.
Your math, on the other hand, is not correct! It'd be 0.1 L every 100 km, not 0.5 L...
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From: Bloomington, IN
1997 Toyota Tacoma 4x4
Re: math lesson
Originally posted by Mike T.
My math is correct.
1L/1000 km.
That is what MBTech208 said M-B considers to be normal oil consumption. Don't shoot me, I'm only the messenger.
Your math, on the other hand, is not correct! It'd be 0.1 L every 100 km, not 0.5 L...
My math is correct.
1L/1000 km.
That is what MBTech208 said M-B considers to be normal oil consumption. Don't shoot me, I'm only the messenger.
Your math, on the other hand, is not correct! It'd be 0.1 L every 100 km, not 0.5 L...
Thread Starter
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From: Atlanta, GA
C230 coupe 6sp
I have heard that using synthetic oil will cause the rings to take longer to seat. I know that the motorcycle manufacturers don't recommend synthetic oil during break-in. So maybe that has something to do with it. But I will keep a close eye on it and see if it continues to use oil at this rate for the next 1000 miles. Plus at 5.00/qt this stuff is expensive!
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From: Arlington, VA
2002 C230K Orion, Oyster leather, Auto, Sunroof, Bose, Teleaid, CD Changer
I have 7,500 miles on my C230K and have not used a drop of oil.
It's an automatic but I drive it pretty hard. Sounds like I'm lucky!
It's an automatic but I drive it pretty hard. Sounds like I'm lucky!
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From: Nashua, NH
2008 VW GTI
I had been reading this board long before I took delivery of my car so the first thing I did was check the oil level on the dipstick at delivery. It was at the full mark. I check it now every couple weeks while I'm getting gas. I have 4700 miles and put in 1/2 quart @ around 2000mi.
If we all have the same engine, why are some burning 2 qts and others only 1/2 qt in 3000 miles? That's a HUGE difference and I'd be concerned.
If we all have the same engine, why are some burning 2 qts and others only 1/2 qt in 3000 miles? That's a HUGE difference and I'd be concerned.
