jamieh

My E300 TD OM606 has registered the Min Oil Level Warning on the cluster display about a week ago and when I checked the oil level after the car had been standing idel for 1.5 hours it was at the max point on the dip stick. The message was displayed again today and I check the level immediately and its was about 30% above the min level.

I will check it again after its been standing a while but I suspect it will be close to max.

The car is due its service in the next 2000 miles or so.

I have not had to put any oil in since its last service.

Over the last few years I've normally put about a litre of oil in before the Service.

Do you think I should put a litre in now or is it just the sensor being over sensitive ???

Musikmann

You were wise to check the level with your dipstick. Our electronic oil level sensors can go bad. Mine is "too sensitve" also. When my oil measures at the full mark using the dipstick, I get a REDUCE OIL LEVEL message from the car. I would not add any oil now, just continue to monitor with the stick. If/when it begins to really bother you, I would have a shop check that sensor.

jamieh

thanks Musikmann - I'll continue to monitor.

alirashed

Hi can any one tell me that, how much oil the car consumes within 2000Kms of usage as mine has consumed almost 25% after the resent oil change. the car starting is absolutly alright specially in the morning and in winters. but yes i have changed the Oil brand recently. please help me on this.. thanks

tirona

what oil brand/grade are you using? what's your location? driving style? does the coolant look normal or does it look oily? i don't know what's considered normal consumption for a diesel engine like yours, but 1/4 of oil capacity in 2000km (1.25mi) seems pretty excessive to me. but if you are using a thin gasoline engine oil in hot climate than wouldn't be surprised. you mention you just changed oil brands, did excessive oil consumption start after this change? if so than most likely it's the oil.

alirashed

Dear Sir,
i have changed the brand from Liquimoli to Shell helix Ulta..its the synthatic motor oil grade 10/40. and am in the east the temperatures here are 20 degree right now. but one thing i do remember that when i was changing the oil i also changed the filter and after removing the filter i drained the remaining oil from the engine as well. and then i added the oil and the new filter. before starting the car i checked the oil level it was showing full on the dipstick but after using it for 2000Kms it reduced oil. and yes the coolant is absolutly normal. this car is driven only 100,000 Kms.

tirona

are you sure shell helix ultra 10w40 is a diesel engine approved oil? you want to use a diesel engine oil and not a gasoline engine oil in your diesel engine.

RichardM98

Currently MB has only two oils which are approved for MY98-04 diesel engines. Also use a fleece media filter and FSS to determine service cycle.

Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5W-40

ELF Solaris LSX 5W-30

Both should say something like "Mercedes Spec. 229.51" on back of container.

Shell Helix Ultra is a 229.3 spec oil for gasoline engines prior to MY05.

It took me a while to find it but MB considers oil consumption of 0.8 l / 1000km to be excessive for warranty purposes. But that is on 112/113 gas engines not on diesels. Oil consumption is measured very carefully using the small divisions on the dipstick over a distance of 500km.

alirashed

Dear Sir,

I have checked on the back side of the oil container, it mentions grade 5-40 and its good for both gasoline and diesel engines. but the oil rating of 229.5 is not mentioned at its back. last evening i have added 2.5 liters of oil to top up to it max level.

should i change the oil type i am using in right now, if yes then which brand should i go for...? or should i keep it with the same oil and monitor its level on every 1000Kms.

please advise.

RichardM98

If you can find one of the two approved oils in your location, I would use one of them. The Mobil 1 may be easiest to find. But many owners use a high quality oil which is not approved and report no problems.

However, I don't believe the oil brand will have much if any effect on the amount of oil you are using. That is a separate issue.

To check your oil consumption -

With the engine at full temp, find a level spot that you can park in regularly. Turn off the engine and wait 5 minutes. Pull the dipstick, wipe if off, reinsert it, wait 15 seconds. Pull it out and lay it flat on a piece of white paper towel. If the oil is very clean it will be hard to read on the dipstick but the stain on the towel will help. Count the number of small marks down from the max line and record. Record odometer reading. Drive for about 500km (312 mi). Repeat level check with car in same spot as before. Add oil in small amounts until level is back up to where it was the first time. The amount it takes time 2 is your consumption per 1000km.

RichardM98

You must run the engine before checking the final oil level since the filter (especially fleece) will absorb oil and reduce the dipstick reading.

tirona

oil brand doesn't really matter, as long as you use a good diesel engine oil. shell rimula are great diesel oils, a 5w40 or 15w40 should work. actually any good 15w40 diesel engine oil should work fine.
also since you were using liquimoly before, these are the oils liquimoly recommends for you, if it worked before no reason to change it. http://www.liqui-moly.de/liquimoly/w...oil_guide.html

alirashed

Thanks for a valuable advise, i will do it accordingly and will keep monitoring the oil after every 500Kms.

many thanks once again.