Oil consumption rate for C220?
I purchased this c220 (the current model) diesel about 6 months ago and it appears to me that its consuming too much engine oil.
So far i have driven a little more than 5000 km( roughly 3000 miles), and the oil level indicated by dipstick is abt 1/4 above the minimum level mark. That is abt 1.5 litres ( sorry, not sure abt how it translates to imperial unit) of engine oil gone.
The warning message havent shown up yet, but i think it'll drop below the minimum level pretty soon.
I did some research on the internet, it seems not many people have experienced this problem.
I dont drive the car particularly hard, although i mainly do journeys as short as 15 km.
I contacted my dealer, but surely they wouldnt easily say their cars have problems. They say new cars consumes more oil and the oil consumption will drop after the first oil change or something
Do you guys think its normal? The owners manual says 0.7 litres for 1000 km is normal, but i think thats rather ridiculous.
Thanks for reading. and if you ever experienced similar problems or have some knowledge of this issue, please reply. Thanks agian
Last edited by slei4235; Dec 22, 2009 at 04:21 AM.

Half a litre during the first 5000 km can be very normal. I've often added a litre after the first 20 000 km but actually on our 204 I have not added any oil (different engine).
The 0.7 is not supposed to be "normal" in the sense that it would be typical but more of a figure where the factory considers the engine does not need any repair. It is quite a ridiculous figure, even for an engine that has been driven a lot.
As the oil level was low I took the opportunity to change the oil & filter at this time.
Since this change the oil level barely moves .
So relax & enjoy your little diesel.
Half a litre during the first 5000 km can be very normal. I've often added a litre after the first 20 000 km but actually on our 204 I have not added any oil (different engine).
The 0.7 is not supposed to be "normal" in the sense that it would be typical but more of a figure where the factory considers the engine does not need any repair. It is quite a ridiculous figure, even for an engine that has been driven a lot.
Yes, I bought this car new and it now has 5000 km. and yes i parked the car on level ground and left the engine to cool down before checking the dipstick.
I think the difference between the minimum and maximum mark is 2 litres, right? Thats what the owner's manual tells me.
Therefore, it has consumed 1.5 litres for the first 5000km
does the warning message only come up when the oil level is below the minimum mark i.e. two litres gone?
As the oil level was low I took the opportunity to change the oil & filter at this time.
Since this change the oil level barely moves .
So relax & enjoy your little diesel.
Did u change the oil and filter yourself or send the car for a service?
I think having driven only 5000km is quite early for a service
BTW, i live in sydney as well
You are correct in saying that the oil change was done early & MB do not think it is necessary to do the A service early.
My old fashioned thinking is why is the car using oil during this run in period ?. Answer:- It is bedding in the rings to the bore & all other moving surfaces for that matter hence a little more oil passing the rings into the combustion process.
Surely this bedding in results in increased metal in the lubrication system.
But MB think the modern oil & filters will handle this & they are most likely correct.
I usually keep my vehicles for 15 years hence the extra care.
Regards, John, living between Taree & Port Macquarie.




