Just drove home from dealer and visiting friends (about 110 miles after oil change), first oil change had been done. I decided to let car sit for about 30-45 minutes... engine is definitely still warm.

Observed oil level to be ABOVE upper red mark about 1/8 inch. Is this equivalent of about a quart too much? Understand that upper level (FULL) is just below upper red mark. Therefore if oil is completely covering it and 1/8 inch above that should = an extra quart... correct?

Personally I think your oil is way to hot still to check it... wait till tomorrow morning after the car is sat overnight and cooled down.

If ur car is not idling rough, I would not worry about it too much. Ur engine will burn that 1/8 excess in no time.

Believe it or not my dealer mistakenly gave me an E class manual... and it states:

"the engine should be switched off for approximately five minutes if the engine is at normal operating temperature."

Question is: is it full just below the upper red mark? OR considering oil is COVERING the whole red piece is that the equivalent of an extra quart?

I'm thinking it's OVER by a full quart +

I'm not sure how much extra is there, but it looks very minimal.. Less than a quart for sure. U can fill up to the last/upper red mark.

My last oil changed was like urs, but my car is not idling rough so I didn't bother going back to the dealer to have them pump the extra out.

When you say "up to" do you mean the bottom of ? Because the oil is covering it completely and is above it 1/8 inch. I thought the very bottom of upper red is full. If you notice the bumps that are on the red section are indicating upper and lower range.

Between the two markers is 2 jugs 946ml each of mobil 1... but don't forget when the oil is hot its expanded so it takes up more space in the engine which maybe giving you a reading that it looks like its over filled.

Like I said I don't think 5 min is enough time to let everything cool down and settle in the engine for a good reading.

Same reason why I let my engine drain out for a good hour when I change my oil I want to get as much out as possible... even after sitting for an hour with the plug out its still dribbles out.

Another good trick I picked up is inspect both sides of the dip stick one side can show over and the other side could be within spec.

Oh, I understand ur question now. To be honest, I'm not sure if it has to be below the last red mark.. But do u feel ur car acting differently?

Engine has been sitting 30-45 minutes not 5.

Other side is actually higher and as far as acting differently.. no, however overfilling can cause damage to engine. It causes the oil pump to be unable to lubricate and if the camshaft contacts it... very bad things will happen.

Just check it in the AM, this engine will stay warm for hours.

The biggest problem when an engine is overfilled is that it can get to the point of the oil hitting the crankshaft. This will cause the oil to foam and foamed oil will not pump with pressure as liquid oil does. However if the oil is foaming, you should be able to see it on the dipstick in the form of tiny bubbles. That's something to look for after a warm up drive. You are rite to find out exactly where the full line is and how much overfill is allowed.

The acceptable filled level is between the two upper red marks.

THEREFORE - it is over by at least a quart, correct?. Just great... and tomorrow dealers are closed and I need to be at work 6:30 AM Monday - Friday
Not to mention, engine could already have damage (seals, etc.)

I looked at a regular C class manual (different dipstick) but the gist seems to be low-full by one quart is the metal section between the red marks. If that
holds true for this style of dipstick... I'm over a quart +.

Metal section in between = 1 Quart


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Your over reacting...

My understanding is the space between the red markers is 2 quarts of oil or 1892ml for us Canadians... the low end is low and the high end is full.

My best advice to you right now is to go have a drink, a snooze, wake up in the morning measure your oil and realize you worried over nothing.

If you want I can go out side and take a shot of my dipstick and oil level I have a C63 its been sitting for a day or two now.

I doubt the dealer overfilled your car... but then again that's why I do things myself

Scan of page from Owners Manual would be better (showing dipstick and levels). Thanks.

and it IS possible he overfilled my car. His oil hose did NOT have a quart meter attached to it. He guesstimated, started engine for 30 seconds and checked oil... which the owners manual (C Class PDF) says NOT to do !

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Chill bro, your engine will not explode. As I said earlier, my oil looked to be the same as your pic when I had my oil changed a month ago... and I went to check again after reading your thread, and the oil is at the upper red mark.

Like others have said, let the car sit overnight first & re-do the reading. I'm sure it will show a bit lower than your pic... if not, you can bring it to your dealer anyday at your convenience to have them pump out the excess.

It's not as urgent as you may think as I had the same issue. Only worry if your engine is shaking at idle. Some may disagree with me here, but my engine oil has stabilized as our engine burns oil soooo quickly.

Without all that new fangled garbage they use at Mercedes dealerships that's how you do it... add oil check the dipstick... nothing on the dipstick add more oil... till you get the proper level on the dipstick.

When I do mine I put about 8 quarts then check the dipstick and add oil accordingly. Its supposed to take 8.5

There might be a way with star diagnostics to measure the exact level of oil in the engine... some of my other cars could do this that never came with dipsticks.

C63 only filling quantity between upper and lower markings is 1.6 us qt or 1.5 L

You're way over filled.


I dont know about the rest of the guys on this thread, but oil is supposed to be checked HOT, at running temperature. As we all know oil expands when the car is at running temperature, that is the correct oil level, when its hot and running, not when the car is sitting in your garage cold.

I run mine hot 2mm's over the min mark. Check both sides of the dip stick and take the middle of the two. Anything over that and the engine just seems to burn it off quickly.

Yeah, well everyone's got an opinion...and that's fair enough.
I actually check my oil when the engine's cold, then I know EXACTLY how much oil is in the sump, after the oil's had a chance to drain back from the engine....I've always done it that way.
Cheers, Pickles.

Overfilling your engine can cause damage. The crank counter weights pick up oil from the tray and at high RPM the excess oil create excess drag and stress on the crank, rods etc. The crank counters weights spinning through the oil also cause it to aerate reducing lubrication.