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I've searched around but it's not really clear what the 3 red tabs on the oil dipstick stand for. Some say the middle one means its okay but if it's slightly below then you need to top up or if it says 'check oil..' you should still top up. Others say that the 1st (the one at the bottom of the dipstick 'pole') is minimum.
So to be crystal clear, if my oil is exactly at the middle (2nd tab) and I get the check oil level and next refueling. Should i just add a bit more synthetic oil?
I think that's a good idea, and this is coming from the expert (me) of checking oil level every gas stop (RX-8 owner.) Now if the manual listed the size of your oil tank, then divide that by how may tabs on the stick to see what those levels are.
Or here is another thing you can try: when your oil level is at mid (second tab like you said), add 1 quart of oil from a 2 quart bottle and see how much the level changed, and this will give you a very good idea what those tab levels are. Hope this helps.
I've searched around but it's not really clear what the 3 red tabs on the oil dipstick stand for. Some say the middle one means its okay but if it's slightly below then you need to top up or if it says 'check oil..' you should still top up. Others say that the 1st (the one at the bottom of the dipstick 'pole') is minimum.
So to be crystal clear, if my oil is exactly at the middle (2nd tab) and I get the check oil level and next refueling. Should i just add a bit more synthetic oil?
Thanks!
MB failed to properly document the AMG dipstick readings in the owners manual.
We added a full quart of oil on the recommendation of the dealer mechanic when the level was measuring at middle tab.
Subsequent engine starts from cold occurred with belches of smoke from the tail pipes.
It appears adding an entire quart from the middle tab results in an overfill condition for our 09 C63.
Once the overfill condition is eliminated, we get normal smoke free start ups.
West of Mt. Pinos in some twisties, we got the add oil at next fuel stop message. It was about 105 degrees F.., we pulled over and added a full quart immediately. This seemed to produce the overfill condition too.
It certainly appears as if the instrument message comes on at "too high" an oil level to add a full quart.
The simple remedy for both "the message to add" or "dipstick indication at middle tab" may simply be, add only in increments of "1/2" quart at a time.
#1) The top tab is the full indicator. Notice the top and middle tabs are the same with additional raised little bits on them. The top tab indicates full and the middle tab indicates add a litre.
#2) The top tab is the full fill mark and will not cause or have anything to do with puffs of smoke on start-up.
#3) When my engine was new I needed my first ltr. of oil at 800km and it used another 5 ltrs. over the first 7000km. It also smoked a couple of times on start up in the first few thousand km. This was after I had started it and and shut it down before the engine warmed up, starting it again later it puffed.
After 7500 ish km the oil consumption steadily dropped and it never smoked again. Over the last 4000 km it has used virtually no oil at all.
Finish breaking in your engine running it hard, change the oil every 5000 to 8000 km, keep the oil level to the full mark and you will have a very happy, internally clean engine that does not puff and uses very little oil.
MB failed to properly document the AMG dipstick readings in the owners manual.
We added a full quart of oil on the recommendation of the dealer mechanic when the level was measuring at middle tab.
Subsequent engine starts from cold occurred with belches of smoke from the tail pipes.
It appears adding an entire quart from the middle tab results in an overfill condition for our 09 C63.
Once the overfill condition is eliminated, we get normal smoke free start ups.
West of Mt. Pinos in some twisties, we got the add oil at next fuel stop message. It was about 105 degrees F.., we pulled over and added a full quart immediately. This seemed to produce the overfill condition too.
It certainly appears as if the instrument message comes on at "too high" an oil level to add a full quart.
The simple remedy for both "the message to add" or "dipstick indication at middle tab" may simply be, add only in increments of "1/2" quart at a time.
GL
Thanks for the information. I added about 1/2 a quart and the message hasn't come back yet for the last week. So everything should be fine. I'll have to check the dipstick to see where it is indicating now.
#1) The top tab is the full indicator. Notice the top and middle tabs are the same with additional raised little bits on them. The top tab indicates full and the middle tab indicates add a litre.
#2) The top tab is the full fill mark and will not cause or have anything to do with puffs of smoke on start-up.
#3) When my engine was new I needed my first ltr. of oil at 800km and it used another 5 ltrs. over the first 7000km. It also smoked a couple of times on start up in the first few thousand km. This was after I had started it and and shut it down before the engine warmed up, starting it again later it puffed.
After 7500 ish km the oil consumption steadily dropped and it never smoked again. Over the last 4000 km it has used virtually no oil at all.
Finish breaking in your engine running it hard, change the oil every 5000 to 8000 km, keep the oil level to the full mark and you will have a very happy, internally clean engine that does not puff and uses very little oil.
#1) The top tab is the full indicator. Notice the top and middle tabs are the same with additional raised little bits on them. The top tab indicates full and the middle tab indicates add a litre.
Where in the book does it say that?
#2) The top tab is the full fill mark and will not cause or have anything to do with puffs of smoke on start-up.
Maybe. What's your technical source?
#3) When my engine was new I needed my first ltr. of oil at 800km and it used another 5 ltrs. over the first 7000km. It also smoked a couple of times on start up in the first few thousand km. This was after I had started it and and shut it down before the engine warmed up, starting it again later it puffed.
After 7500 ish km the oil consumption steadily dropped and it never smoked again. Over the last 4000 km it has used virtually no oil at all.
Finish breaking in your engine running it hard, change the oil every 5000 to 8000 km, keep the oil level to the full mark and you will have a very happy, internally clean engine that does not puff and uses very little oil.
Cheers
We run our oil 7500 miles whether it needs it or not. Works good, lasts a long time..........
The top two tabs look the same - kindof squarish, lowest one is more just a plastic circle/dot at the very tip of the stick. They are all sorta orange/red and plastic. That's what mine looks like anyway.
This is what I was told by a Mech at the strealership.
Bottom tab (end of stick) means your *&%$ if your oil level is running there.
Middle tab to the raised plastic tab means need to add oil.
Upper tab to the raised plastic tab means car is full and happy.
Was told its approx. 1.5 to 1.6 quarts from bottom raised tab to upper raised tab. Do not add if its between the tabs and the engine is hot or not sat for at least 30 minutes, Best check when cooled off and sat.
Can be inbetween the rasied tabs while engine is hot due to oil still in upper engine parts. Was told when cold, oil should not be above the raised tab due to possable engine problems, or Emission Control System problems.
Hope thsi helps.
#1) The top tab is the full indicator. Notice the top and middle tabs are the same with additional raised little bits on them. The top tab indicates full and the middle tab indicates add a litre.
#2) The top tab is the full fill mark and will not cause or have anything to do with puffs of smoke on start-up.
#3) When my engine was new I needed my first ltr. of oil at 800km and it used another 5 ltrs. over the first 7000km. It also smoked a couple of times on start up in the first few thousand km. This was after I had started it and and shut it down before the engine warmed up, starting it again later it puffed.
After 7500 ish km the oil consumption steadily dropped and it never smoked again. Over the last 4000 km it has used virtually no oil at all.
Finish breaking in your engine running it hard, change the oil every 5000 to 8000 km, keep the oil level to the full mark and you will have a very happy, internally clean engine that does not puff and uses very little oil.
Cheers
Hi all,
Read through the manual and the posts on this topic, but I'm unclear how to tell if my oil is full or over-full?
The plastic red mark (the highest one of the three on the dipstick) is covered in oil. Does this mean it's overfilled?
I had oil at the lower most red mark earlier, which of course means it's on the low side. I added 1L (~ 1 Q), which the manual says is the difference between the lowest and highest red marks.
But now it looks over-filled. Thoughts?
I measured as it says in the manual, hot engine (100C oil temp), then after it sat for 5 min on level ground.
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
I think you're fine on the high mark. The issues that can come to bear via overfilling, mean if you add like a gallon extra.
I just changed my oil tonight. Got a solid 9qt out through the dipstick with a Mityvac. Put 9qt back in, and now I'm just a hair above the lower mark. I'd rather be on the upper one.
I think you're fine on the high mark. The issues that can come to bear via overfilling, mean if you add like a gallon extra.
I just changed my oil tonight. Got a solid 9qt out through the dipstick with a Mityvac. Put 9qt back in, and now I'm just a hair above the lower mark. I'd rather be on the upper one.
Thanks. Did you get the oil temp up to 100C and wait 5 min before checking?
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
Originally Posted by Surge
Thanks. Did you get the oil temp up to 100C and wait 5 min before checking?
Sure did. A little confused. Perhaps I'm not on completely level ground in my parking garage. I did get a solid 8.5L out of the car, so I just put back in what I took out really. Will see when I go for a (low-rpm) drive on Wednesday...
The manual says the difference between the lowest mark and the top mark is 1L.
I was on the lowest mark and added 1L, and now I'm just past the top of the top mark.
Clearly the difference is not quite 1L. This may help shed light on your situation as well. Seems like the difference between the middle and top marks (2 and 3 in the manual) is not large at all ( 0.5L)?
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
That helps, thanks. Still it's a little disconcerting to basically empty 2 5qt jugs into the crankcase and still be on the low side... Will report back.
Did you check the level on the dipstick prior to the oil drain?
FYI- assuming you have the dipstick with the 2 red plastic marks, the manual claims it's 1L (1.1Q) between the lowest tab and the highest.
However, that wasn't quite right. In my case I was at the bottom and added 1L (exactly) and now I'm just above the top mark.
So the dipstick just doesn't seem to be all that accurate. I really wish there was an electronic level (like in a Porsche).
Is there always oil on the top red marker?
Mine has oil half-way up the top red marker. I don't know if that's because it's overfilled or if oil is always there.
(note: I have oil between the top and lower marker as well, not like in the photo)
2012 C63;1971 280SE 3.5(Sold);2023 EQS 450 SUV 4 Matic (Wife's)
When I do an oil change, with the oil cooler drained as well, I add 10 liters (10.6 quarts) of oil and my level is the same as in the post Surge made just above. I would not fill it any higher or I think the rod ends start to hit the oil in the sump and that causes problems with idle roughness and is not good for the engine or the oil probably.
I don't want to sound special ed but I'm always having a problem getting dipstick readings. I'll add oil bc the dipstick reads low, but the level won't budge at all. Then all of sudden it will all appear at once. Same thing with my other car.
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