Kemmy

I have just purchased a'09 C300 4matic, has high miles but runs out good. I changed the oil with Mobil 1 0w-40, filter. Sucked oil from dip stick tube. My owners manual states capacity of 8.5 qt. I removed over 8 qts. I read a thread where it states '08 and '09 manuals were in error and 4matic's only used 7.4 qts due to different oil pan used for front drive shaft. I added 7 qts, run at idle for a few min. checked for leaks, shut of for 10 min. oil was 1/4 " above min., added 1/2 qt more, oil now in center of min and max. I did add remaining 1/2 qt. (total of 8 qt) Drove 10 mi. Let it set overnight. Oil level 1/4 " below the max. My question is, what is the capacity? How much do some of you use when changing oil. Should I keep level at max or just below reguardless of what a manual states? I have read many threads from this sight, very useful. I know this has been talked about before but wanted to post because mine looks like 8.5 qt would put it at max. and from what I read it should be 7.4 qt.
I am checking over and doing routine service before I put the car in use.
Car was dealer serviced by the book. I have always changed oil on all my cars and want to with this one as well. Sorry for being a long post.

Glyn M Ruck

There is always confusion about how much oil Benz engines take. Depends on how much you get out. Try & run on the max line. It reduces the stress on the oil charge. More oil = better cooling & contaminants spread over a greater volume.

kevink2

When the dealer sucks out the oil, he does it from the top of the dip tube with a sealed adaptor, and gets most of the oil out. Refill is about 7.5 Q's.

When you use the common DIY method of inserting a nylon tube down the dip tube, it does not reach the bottom with the 4MATICS ... I tested this out and found the adaptor the dealer uses. (Glyn thought I was a nut at the time )

If you used the Mitvac 7400 or 7201 extractor, you can use the included rubber coupling bushing to axt as the $30 adaptor.

Try advanced search of W204 forum, using my "name" and oil and adaptor.

.

Glyn M Ruck

I don't recall thinking you were nuts ~ you are not.

Kemmy

Thanks for your inputs. I did use an adapter to suck the oil out the top of the dip stick tube. I remember reading your post on this and when the oil stopped and only come out in very small spurts I put a small tube down the dip stick tube and could get no oil out. Through the top did a more complete removal for me. I took out almost 8.5 qts, it was at the max line before I started. I will keep it at the max line. Just wanted to know how much others have to use to reach the max line.
Since I am just "learning" the car, it was a used car I will have questions, I do search before posting. I am always thank full for answers from those who know these cars.

Pete7874

A bit of a side question related to the extraction procedure. When you guy extract the oil, do you keep the oil fill plug closed and oil filter housing closed to ensure no pressure loss, or does it not matter?

FYI, last time I extracted oil (using the MB adapter), I removed about 8.5 quarts, but I was only able to put in about 7 quarts of fresh oil before I hit MAX. So it would seem that (A) I did not extract it all, and (B) the dealer overfilled the engine during a previous oil change, which we all know they do all the time.

Glyn M Ruck

Presume you started engine to fill up filter housing etc etc. before checking level?

Pete7874

Sucked oil out, replaced filter, poured new oil in, ran the engine for a little bit then shut down and checked oil level after a few minutes.

Glyn M Ruck

OK - Then something was screwy!

kevink2

With the MB adapter, you should leave the oil fill cap loose to be sure you don't create a vacuum in the crankcase. This is true for RWD's when a plastic tubing insertion method is possible, if the tubing is a tight fit in the dip-tube.

not sure what "no pressure loss" means ??

Your experience with your last oil change is exactly what I went through with the same 08 4MATIC. In your case answer (B) is correct ... dealer overfilled. Unfortunately, this implies you have not been checking your oil level, as it would have been overfilled??

Now the OP has an 09 4MATIC, which seems to take 8.5Q to fill, just like the RWD models. I wonder if there were a year or two, after 08, where the capacity was 8.5Q's, like OP. Later, the Owner's Manuals changed the capacity of the 4matics to 7.4Q's.

.

Pete7874

Basically I thought that you were supposed to have vacuum in there for the oil to be sucked out. I guess I thought wrong. Maybe that's why I was not able to pull it all out.

The car came like that when we bought it (CPO). I saw that it was over MAX level of the dipstick, but did not have an extractor at that point to remove some.

I thought someone already compared the part numbers (for the oil pan), and there was no change from 2008 to 2010, so the capacity should not have changed either. It'd be interesting to see what 2008, 2009, and 2010 owners manuals in other parts of the world list as oil capacity.

kevink2

You want a vacuum at the bottom of the dip-tube (using the adaptor). But a vacuum over the top of the oil in the case tends to want to lift the case oil up, offsetting the extractor suction a bit.

Part number comparison was done as you said, yet we have the OP results vs our results, all in the USA.

Kemmy

On my '09 c300 4matic sport, I such oil out with an adapter on top of the dip stick tube. My first change took out 8.5 qt. Saw lots of posts here saying 4matic's take 7.4 qt. I filled with 7.4 qt, warmed up, stopped let stand 15 min. Oil level was right in the middle of dipstick between add and full. I thought there might be some oil in the top of engine yet so went on a short drive, got to operating temp. parked in garage overnight. Next day triple checked oil level before starting and still in the middle between add and full. I added 1 qt let stand 10 min. recheck and is dead on the full. Drove 20 mile trip, garaged next morning still dead on full. Checked on two oil changes, same results. Operators manual says 8.5 qt capacity but saw posts stating there were errors on some manuals. I have been going by the dip stick and using 8.5 qt when I change. Raises the question is there different pans used. With help from others here, I found to change front differential fluid MB says remove drive shaft and drive gear to add oil in front differential, don't know if there is a running change in the year as an attached document had a series of vin. numbers the instructions applied to. Would imply not all are the same. I always feel better when I have official documentation. Looks like Kevink2 has the same question so I expect there are others as well. As to the question asked on removing oil, I have not experienced any problems extracting oil from dip stick tube, with a good sealed adapter and opening the filler cap before starting, as mentioned before.