Dipstick Reading - Art or Science
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Yorba Linda, CA
2013 C250 Sport
Dipstick Reading - Art or Science
I am no mechanical cripple by any means but the dipstick readings on my C250 have me scratching my head. Checking the dipstick on a cold engine shows oil all the way to the max mark. Checking it on shutdown after a drive it is at the min mark. Now I know that some engines are a little slow on drainback and this can affect the stick reading, but how long do you have to wait to get an accurate reading with this thing? I suspect I'm not the first to encounter this as I've read of some who have put 7 quarts of oil in a C 250 after an oil change. So clearly there is some ambiguity going on here that can be very misleading.
Would anyone like to comment or share their experiences?
Thanks
Frank
Would anyone like to comment or share their experiences?
Thanks
Frank
Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 143
Likes: 7
From: Central Kentucky
2014 CLS550-4M, 2013 C350-4M Coupe
I have noted the same issue with my '13 C350 4MATIC (M276 engine) when checking the dipstick / oil level. With a cold engine, it will always read low when I check it initially. There must be some kind of negative pressure created in the dipstick tube as the engine cools. When I check it a second time (still with a cold engine) it reads in the normal oil level range. I have never experienced something like this in any of the (many) other cars I've owned.
Once the engine is hot and then shut off it takes a fair amount of time for the oil in the engine to drain back into the pan (longer than in other cars I've owned).
The manual recommends:
Park the vehicle on a level surface.
To check the oil level with the engine at operating temperature, switch the engine off and wait for approximately five minutes.
Pull oil dipstick out of the dipstick guide tube
Wipe off oil dipstick.
Slowly slide oil dipstick : into the guide tube to the stop, and take it out again.
If the level is between MIN mark and MAX mark the oil level is correct.
Once the engine is hot and then shut off it takes a fair amount of time for the oil in the engine to drain back into the pan (longer than in other cars I've owned).
The manual recommends:
Park the vehicle on a level surface.
To check the oil level with the engine at operating temperature, switch the engine off and wait for approximately five minutes.
Pull oil dipstick out of the dipstick guide tube
Wipe off oil dipstick.
Slowly slide oil dipstick : into the guide tube to the stop, and take it out again.
If the level is between MIN mark and MAX mark the oil level is correct.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,282
Likes: 57
2013 C250 Sport
I have noted the same issue with my '13 C350 4MATIC (M276 engine) when checking the dipstick / oil level. With a cold engine, it will always read low when I check it initially. There must be some kind of negative pressure created in the dipstick tube as the engine cools. When I check it a second time (still with a cold engine) it reads in the normal oil level range. I have never experienced something like this in any of the (many) other cars I've owned.
Once the engine is hot and then shut off it takes a fair amount of time for the oil in the engine to drain back into the pan (longer than in other cars I've owned).
The manual recommends:
Park the vehicle on a level surface.
To check the oil level with the engine at operating temperature, switch the engine off and wait for approximately five minutes.
Pull oil dipstick out of the dipstick guide tube
Wipe off oil dipstick.
Slowly slide oil dipstick : into the guide tube to the stop, and take it out again.
If the level is between MIN mark and MAX mark the oil level is correct.
Once the engine is hot and then shut off it takes a fair amount of time for the oil in the engine to drain back into the pan (longer than in other cars I've owned).
The manual recommends:
Park the vehicle on a level surface.
To check the oil level with the engine at operating temperature, switch the engine off and wait for approximately five minutes.
Pull oil dipstick out of the dipstick guide tube
Wipe off oil dipstick.
Slowly slide oil dipstick : into the guide tube to the stop, and take it out again.
If the level is between MIN mark and MAX mark the oil level is correct.
Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 134
Likes: 10
From: Montreal, QC, Canada
2013 C300 Sport 4Matic, 2000 Mustang GT Vert. Supercharged
I have noted the same issue with my '13 C350 4MATIC (M276 engine) when checking the dipstick / oil level. With a cold engine, it will always read low when I check it initially. There must be some kind of negative pressure created in the dipstick tube as the engine cools. When I check it a second time (still with a cold engine) it reads in the normal oil level range. I have never experienced something like this in any of the (many) other cars I've owned.
Was scary the first time I've checked it!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 120
From: London ON Canada
2012 C300 4Matic Sport Sedan
Pulled the stick out when cold not a drop of oil I **** my pants, put it in again than pulled it out it was spot on (did it once more to make sure and it was perfect)
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 36
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From: Yorba Linda, CA
2013 C250 Sport
Just for fun I called my dealer service department yesterday and without any coaching basically confirmed the procedure Antique Ace posted. The service guy said the engine should be warmed up and allowed to sit for about 5 minutes before checking. I followed that protocol last night and the reading was spot on. After having done an oil change on Saturday this all over the map thing with a hard to read dip stick was making me nuts.
Oh, and on the subject of the dipstick, it appears that the Germans engineered the dipstick with the serrations on it so that they would collect oil and fill in the grooves making it easy to read. NOT! Especially with fresh oil after a change. More like impossible. Sorry, but a plain metal stick with a couple of dimples punched in it for full and add is still the best IMHO.
Oh, and on the subject of the dipstick, it appears that the Germans engineered the dipstick with the serrations on it so that they would collect oil and fill in the grooves making it easy to read. NOT! Especially with fresh oil after a change. More like impossible. Sorry, but a plain metal stick with a couple of dimples punched in it for full and add is still the best IMHO.
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Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 143
Likes: 7
From: Central Kentucky
2014 CLS550-4M, 2013 C350-4M Coupe
That's exactly what I experienced (no oil on the dipstick) (and pretty well sums up my reaction too). LOL.
