Rixter

Hi Guys,

I had a "check oil level" warning come up yesterday. The car is 5 months old and has done 5,000 Kms.

I check the oil using the dip stick (my W203 had an auto old check feature, W204 don't have that feature apparently) and it seem like the old lvl is very low.

Just wanted to check if this is normal?

shellback

I would bring the car back to the dealer and have them check it out. 2 days after my service A, I got the Cruise Control is Inoperative message when I started the car in the morning. It never happened again. I told the dealer about it the next day and they told me to not cancel the message next time and bring the car in for them to check out.

Rixter

...so do you think that this is an issue or is a common thing with new engines...

JimPap

No, its not a common thing.

Take to dealer before you burn up the engine.

jrct9454

Well, I can tell you that MB is not going to get its pants in a bunch over 1-1.5 liters of oil use in the first 5000kms. All the service people are going to do is add oil, and send you on your way, which you could just as easily do at home.

Our V6s [since 1998 in my case] have never used a significant amount of oil between changes, but the 4 cyl has been know to do so. It's much too early in the life of this engine to know whether there is a problem or not, but I'll be very surprised if your service dept has anything to say except "normal operation".

BenzRulez

Have you been driving aggressively and breaking hard? It will use lots of oil if you do that to a new car.

My suggest is add more oil and monitor it

Will617

It's sounds like a little much tho. But A new engine will use a little oil during the break in period. Just make sure you contact the Dealer and buy the same type of oil. It is not recommended to use synthetic according to some Companies. If it persists I would bring it in to service.

Rixter

Thanks guys , really appreciate your feedback. I will post the "verdict" from the dealer.

axhoaxho

The exact same thing happened on my 2006 C230 -- the light came on after just a few thousands of miles. I talked to the dealer and they suggested it was normal during the break-in period. The oil comsumption will lower after the cylinder rings are well seated after the break-in.

My dealer gave me a quart of 0-40W motor oil, and asked me to add half a quart first, drive the car for a day, and check the oil level. If the light still came on, then add the rest half quart of motor oil, drive it another day, and try again.

They suggested to add oil half a quart at a time, so not to risk overfilling the engine.

The light went off, as they suggested.

I am not sure if my case is related to yours, just want to share my experience

With best regards,

Rixter

I went to the dealership yesterday, they tell me that although its not that odd for the car to need an oil top-up, it also seems that the oil consumption is quite high - ie: there oil level was quite low.

The topped it up and sent me away saying that they have logged it with MB and will let me know if an "oil weight" check would be required.

I donno if i should be worried about it as i was driving for about 30kms with very low oil or should i just let it be for now and see if it happen again??

crow944

I got the check oil at next service station message at about 9000km.
I just added 1 litre and it was ok.

Rixter

soo you think it arnt a big deal??

wat surprises me is that the car is brand new (5kms on the clock) and it needs a top up....

Azn_C300

If you get the indicator go off again after another 5k, I'd bring it in and demand they do more than just a casual check. With the amount of oil this car takes, that's a lot to burn through in only 5000km

Rixter

totally agree - hence the concern

RLE

I don't know who these "companies" might be, but the one that designed and built the car says "use synthetic." Since 2001.

zankok

to my knowledge im under the impression that the synthetics r only good when the engine is freshly new, when the engine gets old we tend to need thicker oil so it protects the engine abit better
i dunno D:

The Mercster

What is the general consensus here about oil level checking in general?
Do you just wait for the low-oil level warning light to come on and then top-up, or should we be checking the dipstick regularly anyway.
Reason I ask is, I'm normally in the camp of wait until the onboard electronics tell me so. However, just out of curiosity, I checked the dipstick yesterday and the level was at the minimum level. I would have expected it to be at about half-way between min and max, given it's a recent purchased car. I haven't got any warning lights, so what do I do? Top-up or not?

Uga Uga

I would top-up

jrct9454

The dipstick is there for a reason. Bring the oil up to the proper level.

RLE

Rather that go through a long and involved explanation here, I will just say that you are 100% wrong.

Will617

Mobil 1 0W-40 for initial fill and oil changes recommended by MB
I don't always believe everything somebody tells me that's why I told him to "contact the Dealer" and check for himself. Not all Manufacturers recommend it and most people still don't believe it or want to spend the xtra $$ on synthetic.

" You never walk alone "
Liverpool

lx Raven xl

You probably have checked the oil when the engine was hot. Check the oil first thing in the morning when the engine is cold . This will tell you the exact oil level in your car. DO NOT TOP IT UP if you have checked it while the engine was hot.

The Mercster

I did check it when the engine had cooled down. But I did make another school boy error. The car was parked on a slight slope when I first checked, hence why the low reading, I guess. I checked again yesterday and that time the car was parked on level ground, and the oil level is fine.
Looks like, after all, the car's sensors can be relied upon and were giving me the correct info all the time. Better rely on the car's electronics that an error-prone human!

Rixter

okk... here's the update from the dealer. Apparently, when the car is delivered, it comes wit thin oil compound. they have booked me in for a oil and oil filter change (free of charge) and will add a thicker compound oil.

Apparently, this has been an issues with some cars and adding thicker oil has fixed it

i think its a lil but....

ColoradoDriver

Does not sound right! Maybe that is the situation Down Under, but it sounds to me like the dealer is just adding heavier weight oil to mask the real issue. In the US we run 0W40 Mobil 1; I would not go any thicker in a new engine.