mrwolf

Every few days i've been getting the "check engine oil level when next refuelling" message on the dash. Went and bought the recommended engine oil and topped up until the dipstick reads exactly half way.

Got the same message again but the oils not low.. Anyone had this before?

Thanks

elric

I've have an 08 C350 but I've been getting this error was well. My dipstick was showing a little over the minimum after a 30 minute drive so it might just be a tad low. I am going to add a little after I get home to see if it goes away, but I'll post here if it doesn't.

Only 5k miles on my car, so I am not sure why it is so low already.

mrwolf

Only 1800 on mine..

bizguy4u

Do a search and you will find its probably a faulty "Oil Level Sensor"

Its a know problem and the SA will know about it if you advise them!

Glock Guru

Maybe it's just the "return to dealer so we can install the rest of the Performance package lite".

mrwolf

lol. Now wouldn't that be wonderful

MNL ICE

Check where you park overnight...coz mine came ON also and I found out my car has an oil leak.

mrwolf

Ok thanks, I will look underneath the car and check if there are any leaks.

CynCarvin32

The 6.2L AMG Lump tends to eat oil regularly until you get it fully seated and broken in. I have had to add over 4 quarts to my S63 so far and 9k miles thus far. It eats about a quart every 1,500 miles right now. It has gotten better and now looks to not be eating any oil at all.

I have had this happen to an E350 as well.

Just check the oil level and add a quart or two of oil when it needs it. Get your dearership to give you 2 quarts to carry around in the trunk.

Its normal for this motor to eat oil so dont worry that you have a bad motor. The harder you drive the more it will eat oil also.

Enjoy the little beast.

gravedgr

I've seen a lot of threads on oil consumption and I've never seen anyone conclusively say any engine *should* burn oil.

mrwolf

"the harder you drive it the more oil it will eat"

Ah ok i see. Well, that would probably explain it. I've been a naughty boy.

Hans Delbruck

If it is only filled halfway up the dipstick, I wouldn't be surprised to get the add oil light. You might just need to add more.

FWIW I haven't had any oil consumption at 3000 miles now. Then again, my opportunities to open it up are rare, but I do try....

Untertürkheim

The shop foreman at my MB dealer said that there is a bullitan regarding that engine, that the engine oil should be topped up to maximum level instead of the usual mid-point.

Glock Guru

Why would the manual tell you to only add oil to the half way point and not the full point if the engine was low on oil?

CynCarvin32

MB Service manual says it should. They do not issue a repair until the car consumes a great deal of oil and has been broken in. Around 10k miles every recent car I had stopped eating oil.

There is a TSB for this motor says consumption is normal and another saying that loud tappets are also normal.

CynCarvin32

True. But most cars stop eating oil as they break in.

I checked the S63 before leaving for a road trip and it had zero oil consumption in lat 1k miles. Before it would be almost a quart low already. Its finally broken in and seated.

My E350 used to puke blue smoke on a warm start up (when it sat for say 15 minutes) but the minute it hit 10k miles it all went away. MB has a TSB for the 350 motor saying have the tech drive the hell out of the car at high rpm to resolve oil consumption and blue smoke issues. It just needs to be broken in.

gsrjc

So I went out to check out the oil dipstick and got confused with the readings. So the dipstick has 3 red plastic marks. Can someone help me identify which one is the upper and lower mark?

My oil after 1800 miles was above the bottom red plastic mark. So does that mean according to the manual that I should add a quarter of oil? I have never see the oil engine light turn on though.

Balz

It should be in between the top and the middle red marks...I had to put a quart in around 2K miles

gsrjc

Okay, so the highest red mark out of the three marks is concerned the top?

Balz

yes sir...that's my understanding from volume 32 of the owners manual...lol...I have to call the service department again today so I'll double check for you...

gsrjc

Thanks, let me know what you find out because the picture in the owners manual doesn't look anything like what the C63 oil dipstick looks like.

gravedgr

Don't those statements contradict each other?

[edit: deleted my other question]

I realized I was repeating myself.

Ausmbtech

If the oil didn't make it to the end's of the valveguides or to the top piston rings then you would have some pretty severe wear issues. That's how the oil is burnt. It's considered to be a normal function. Ever wondered why modern diesels need a oil rated for particulate filters (like a cat), it's because they burn enough oil for it to matter!

All engines burn oil, newer engines burn fuel much cleaner than before so the oil doesn't get "topped up" as much by contaminants.

Also remember that the 63 engine is a large bore engine with low tension piston rings and very short piston skirt. This combined with large piston oil squirters spraying oil directly at the base of the piston and Mobil1 0w-40 makes for a much higher rate of oil consumption than your average engine.

I would be VERY surprised if you DIDN'T need to top the oil up every 3000mi/5000km

khearon

I'd take that car back to the dealer! We spend too much hard earned cash on these cars for incidents like this!

Ausmbtech

There could still be a fualt with the oil level sensor, coding in the instrument clustor or the incorrcet dipstick has been fitted.

If you oil level is correct on the dipstick and you're still getting the warning message then it's time to go back to the dealer