Automatic Oil Checking
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Member
Joined: Apr 2004
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Automatic Oil Checking
Oh, for a good old dipstick!
I drove to work (27 miles highway), parked, and came back outside 10 minutes later to check the oil. Diagnostic screen told me to add 1 quart to reach full capacity. OK, I'll grab a quart at lunch. Went to Autozone, parked, bought the oil and looked around a bit. Came back to the car after 10 minutes, checked the screen and now it tells me the oil level is fine. WTF? Since then (Tuesday), I have checked it twice every day after highway driving (and observing the waiting period) and readings are always inconsistent. All I can think is that 1)the engine oil level is bordering on needing a quart, or 2)the system is unrealiable and not to be trusted.
Thoughts?
I drove to work (27 miles highway), parked, and came back outside 10 minutes later to check the oil. Diagnostic screen told me to add 1 quart to reach full capacity. OK, I'll grab a quart at lunch. Went to Autozone, parked, bought the oil and looked around a bit. Came back to the car after 10 minutes, checked the screen and now it tells me the oil level is fine. WTF? Since then (Tuesday), I have checked it twice every day after highway driving (and observing the waiting period) and readings are always inconsistent. All I can think is that 1)the engine oil level is bordering on needing a quart, or 2)the system is unrealiable and not to be trusted.
Thoughts?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 3
From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Add a little and see if it stops happening. If it does, then the oil level was indeed a little low - around the point where it might need a quart or so, but the system couldn't measure it with any better accuracy.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 3
From: Ashburn, VA
'19 GLC 300, '19 TM3SR+
Originally Posted by tonewheel
V, are you saying that, in your experience, you believe the system does a good job gauging the accuracy of the oil in the pan?
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Joined: Nov 2004
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Originally Posted by tonewheel
Oh, for a good old dipstick!
I drove to work (27 miles highway), parked, and came back outside 10 minutes later to check the oil. Diagnostic screen told me to add 1 quart to reach full capacity. OK, I'll grab a quart at lunch. Went to Autozone, parked, bought the oil and looked around a bit. Came back to the car after 10 minutes, checked the screen and now it tells me the oil level is fine. WTF? Since then (Tuesday), I have checked it twice every day after highway driving (and observing the waiting period) and readings are always inconsistent. All I can think is that 1)the engine oil level is bordering on needing a quart, or 2)the system is unrealiable and not to be trusted.
Thoughts?
I drove to work (27 miles highway), parked, and came back outside 10 minutes later to check the oil. Diagnostic screen told me to add 1 quart to reach full capacity. OK, I'll grab a quart at lunch. Went to Autozone, parked, bought the oil and looked around a bit. Came back to the car after 10 minutes, checked the screen and now it tells me the oil level is fine. WTF? Since then (Tuesday), I have checked it twice every day after highway driving (and observing the waiting period) and readings are always inconsistent. All I can think is that 1)the engine oil level is bordering on needing a quart, or 2)the system is unrealiable and not to be trusted.
Thoughts?
Guest
Posts: n/a
I've had this happen once while driving, got the low-oil level alert. I checked the actual level with dyno mode and it turned out I was a little low, yet not down a full-quart.
Rapid acceleration, hills, and weather seems to affect the reading so use dyno mode to verify hw much there is first before you add a full quart. Usually you'll only need 1/2.
Rapid acceleration, hills, and weather seems to affect the reading so use dyno mode to verify hw much there is first before you add a full quart. Usually you'll only need 1/2.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 196
From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
Dyno mode oil check....
After an extended oil drain from the sump plug and replacement of the filter I added measured amounts of oil at intervals to check the accuracy of the dyno mode. Here's what I got:
Added Dyno Mode Readout
6 qts. 5.8
1 qt. 6.7
.5 qt. 7.1
.5 qt. 7.5
Started engine and ran for 3 minutes
none 6.5 (filter fills up)
.5 qt 7.2
8.5 qt. total put in
This is consistent with what I was getting after MB serviced the car as well. I believe the oil level sensor is accurate but I'm not too sure about it's calibration.
Added Dyno Mode Readout
6 qts. 5.8
1 qt. 6.7
.5 qt. 7.1
.5 qt. 7.5
Started engine and ran for 3 minutes
none 6.5 (filter fills up)
.5 qt 7.2
8.5 qt. total put in
This is consistent with what I was getting after MB serviced the car as well. I believe the oil level sensor is accurate but I'm not too sure about it's calibration.
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Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 315
Likes: 2
From: Orlando, FL
2008 E350
Originally Posted by amdeutsch
Verify it using the dyno mode and see what you get.
Could someone please explain what Dyno Mode is? I can't find it in the manual.
(I checked TFM before posting) 
Thanks.
GGM
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 315
Likes: 2
From: Orlando, FL
2008 E350
Also, could someone please clarify if the car does a check of oil level on its own? Does it do one after shutoff and store messages for the next startup? Or is it something that I must do on my own on a regular basis. Again, I checked the manual before posting.
Thanks.
GGM
Thanks.
GGM
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 196
From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
dyno mode....
apparently is accessed differently depending on what year/model you drive. One of the features is checking oil level to the .1 quart/liter. search on dyno mode in this/w203 forum.
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,230
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From: Gaithersburg, MD
2002 C240 6-spd (ret)
I don't mind the auto oil sensor, but for the life of me, I don't know why they couldn't give us a dipstick. I was told by my service person that the '05s have a dipstick, though I'm not sure he's right.
